Tailfin Aeropack Alloy
From £239, tailfin.cc
Yep, that’s nearly half a monkey for a pannier rack, but bear with us, because this is one of those rare pieces of kit that might just justify its whopping pricetag.
The main draw here is versatility, or rather uni - versatility. The Aeropack fits any road or gravel bike, with one strut wrapping around the seatpost and the other two attaching to a modified quick release skewer or thru-axle. First installation takes less than two minutes, while subsequent removal or reinstallation takes seconds as there are no bolts to loosen, just sprung clips.
The Aeropack comes with the Trunk Top Bag – fully waterproof, roll-top, 20-litre capacity – but if more stowage is your thing the rack is also available with pannier mounts (£289), which accommodate Tailfin’s proprietary pannier bags. Said bags are similarly waterproof roll-top, 9kg rated and with 22-litre capacity, so the total max load is 66 litres/27kg, which isn’t bad for a pannier rack that weighs a claimed 860g including the Top Trunk Bag, with each pannier bag 600g.
Yes, the Aeropack Alloy with double panniers costs £469, but that’s cheaper than a new touring bike. And if you want even more, a 750g carbon version is available from £299, or £559 with bags.