Review of Topeak Aero Wedge Pack DX Bicycle Seat Pack with Fixer (Small)

Topeak Aero Wedge Pack DX Bicycle Seat Pack with Fixer (Small)
By: Topeak Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 1
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Very nice, but a bit small

On: 2008-04-22

As a bag to hold my keys, spoke wrench, a pair of tire irons, a few Allen wrenches, a combo screwdriver and a spare inner-tube this just isnt quite big enough. I may just get a door key and security gate key made and keep that to a minimum, but I will be looking for the medium.

Whats Great:

1. The attachment system. No need fishing around in your seat bag because you will never remember just how you wrapped that Velco, just take it off and use it like a tool box. Also great for walking across a busy bike trail and helping someone with everything in your hand. Also, you can easily swap your bag from a road to mtn bike so you always know you have a properly stocked stash of repair goodies on your bike. No cannibalizing from one to the other until you are stranded on a country road far from home with the sun setting. They sell the mounts by themselves for like $5.

2. The semi-hard side luggage approach. The bag holds its shape well, and like a camera bag, doesnt let metal tools bang against your frame and seat.

3. The top and bottom compartments which allow delicate things like spare inner-tubes and your bike computer to be stowed away & above the sharp metal bits. Top & bottom because things like screwdrivers and tire irons are L-O-N-G and vertical partitions would just make a bag worthless for carrying such essentials.

4. The water-proof zippers that keep your greenbacks from turning into rust-sodden scraps out of the laundry. I think this bag will float too - at least for awhile. For mountain bikers that would be very nice when crossing rivers and streams - especially with the reflective bits helping you spot it as it floats away.

5. The reflective tape - but they could do so much better here by using an orange reflective coating on the whole back side above the current white reflective stripe.

6. The very thoughtful fold of heavy nylon that acts like a belt for lights with belt-clip attachments. Then you dont have to clutter up your seat-post with drag-inducing and ugly mounts and you can stow the light in the delicate section so if you crash your light wont go skidding into the bushes never to be seen again. It would really suck to crash on the trail and then get clocked by a car as you limp home in the dark.

Whats Not Great:

1. Its too small IMHO, and I am a "the bigger the bag the more junk youll fill it with" guy - but then you have to judge that for yourself.

2. They should slather the back of this bag over with orange reflective stuff so you can ride legally without a normal reflector. Also, how about some reflective bits on the sides? Your lights have 200 degrees of coverage, so why not follow that philosophy here?

3. It should have a pump holder on the bottom with about 3-4 solid inches of Velcro. Pumps are vital and expensive, and they need to be held very securely. The handles on many large duffel bags are held together with about a 4" swath of Velcro - something like that. Maybe even two 3" swaths. More is better here.