Tailfin Aeropack S

From £239

Tailfin’s Aeropack S provides a neat solution to luggage storage without reverting to bulky panniers or unstable seatpacks and offers compatibility with even lightweight carbon road frames without traditional frame fixings.

It uses an effective quick-release mechanism that holds the rack and bag in place. You can opt for a replacement quickrelease, thru-axle or Fast Release frame as mounting options. Simply close the dropout around the mounting pin and push together until it clicks — rapid, secure and pretty foolproof. A cam-lock strap holds the pack steady to the seat post and is safe to use with carbon and aero posts.

The bag itself is made of fully waterproof material and I have never had an issue with water ingress. Even when loaded with everything I need for a multi-day trip there is enough roll-over material to provide sufficient sealing against even heavy rain. Two waterproof zips run along each side of the bag giving access to small items or the main compartment without needing to undo the whole bag.

It has a 20 litre capacity and the whole system is rated to carry up to 9kg. That’s capacious enough to swallow larger, bulkier items. Its top loading nature enables you to pack in an intelligent and efficient manner but it’s always good to pack things tightly as harder objects can rattle against the frame. The compression straps do a good job of reducing bulk and holding things in place. They can slip when very wet so it’s recommended to cross the straps over to keep them in place.

The Aeropack S performed flawlessly and the ease of packing and fitting make it the most impressive piece of luggage I have used. It is expensive but if you compare it to a decent rear luggage rack and top quality rack pack it actually isn’t too far off the price and with far more versatility.