Tailfin Prime Tube Packs Evaluation

It’s in all probability honest to say that these of us right here who’ve tried Tailfin’s distinctive bikepacking merchandise, such because the easy-to-fit AeroPack or the noiseless Mini Panniers, have come to understand that when there’s a brand new launch, it’s unlikely to come back in half measures. Tailfin gear is invariably totally different from anything available on the market, designed with a stage of element and imbued with an engineering confidence that we don’t typically see within the bikepacking world. Their merchandise additionally are typically out there in a considerably bewildering vary of choices that may take a second or two to wrap your head round.

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The complete lineup: 5 prime tube luggage, three of which have zip closures and two of which sport flip tops.

As petite as they could be, Tailfin’s new prime tube packs are not any totally different. At first look, a line-up of 5 fashions, starting from 0.8L to 1.5L in capability and sporting a alternative of two totally different openings, would possibly certainly appear just a little extreme. Nevertheless, it’s the 1.1L variations of their model new prime tube packs – be it with a zipper closure or in flip-lid flavour – that can seemingly be the Goldilocks measurement for a lot of bikepackers. That is the mannequin that Tailfin positions in direction of each gravel using and mountain biking, because of a slim, tapered profile that ought to go well with quite a lot of Q-factors and a capability that’s beneficiant with out being extreme.

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The 1.1L Flip Prime prime tube pack, with contents that may comfortably nest inside. Its excessive partitions guarantee there are not any escapees.

First issues first. What makes this new vary of prime tube packs totally different from the numerous others we’ve seen from different manufacturers thus far? For probably the most half, it’s Tailfin’s proprietary attachment system that all of them share. These V-Mounts, as Tailfin dubs them, are a revised model of the system used of their downtube luggage, utilizing an analogous mount in a rubberised boot, at the side of the model’s personal grippy, Voile-style straps.

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Tailfin’s proprietary V-Mounts embrace slots for Voile-style straps that wrap round your prime tube. The rubberised boot will also be eliminated for direct mounting to eyelets, in case your body has them.

Teamed collectively, it means these prime tube packs keep stubbornly in place over the very roughest of terrain with out leaning to 1 facet or scuffing your body’s end. They’ll additionally wrap round every kind of body configurations and dimensions, like a slim metal tubeset or my extra advanced Jones titanium Spaceframe, as seen under. Spectacular!

There are three straps included – two quick and one lengthy – to cowl totally different headtube junctions, body supplies, or designs.

What’s extra, these V-Mounts, mixed with the highest tube pack’s HDPE plastic base, provide sufficient inherent construction that there’s no want for the form of steerer tube stabilising strap that we’re used to seeing, a minimum of with out units like DrJ0n’s DeWidget or Rockgeist’s Spacelink. That is really very intelligent. Not solely will this please these with minimal spacers between their stem and headset, it additionally permits the pack to be positioned a centimetre or two down the toptube, guaranteeing that your prime tube bag and stem luggage are now not perpetually wrestling for area—a match that, in my expertise, stem luggage typically win.

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There’s no want for a stem strap, and it’s also possible to place the highest tube bag additional down your prime tube to keep away from any battle with stem luggage.

Every bag even comes with three straps – two are an ordinary quick size and can go well with most conventional metal, titanium, and aluminium frames, whereas a 3rd, at 36cm, can attain all the way in which round thick, hydroformed headtube junctions or equally bulbous carbon designs, the place there’s no room to string a strap by. This strap isn’t picured as my samples didn’t ship with them, however the ultimate variations will.

A full Tailfin setup, together with AeroPack, 10L Mini Panniers, cargo cage, and a 1.1L zip closure prime tube bag.

These of you with frames that sport direct mount prime tube eyelets aren’t overlooked both. The rubberised boots are pre-cut with a slot, permitting the included bolts to safe the bar bag on to your body for an particularly neat end – you’ll be able to see this in motion in Neil’s video under. There’s even two bolt positions, providing a level of adjustment potential.

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Every mannequin may be direct mounted to your prime tube if in case you have provision to take action in your body, utilizing the included washers and bolts.

Supplies-wise, all of the packs use a lighweight model of Hyperlon/Diamond Ripstop Nylon we’ve seen on different Tailfin gear, which is 3D welded and has proved completely strong over the couple of months we’ve been utilizing them, together with commuting round city, burly mountain bike rides, and numerous native bikepacking journeys. As for the 2 types of closures, one design encompasses a waterproof zip that’s provoved simple to entry one-handed and fully snag-free, whereas the opposite consists of Tailfin’s personal tackle a magnetic Fidlock – the Magazine-Lock, that comes with each an elasticated wire and a magnet for an particularly safe, constructive closure that hasn’t popped free regardless of numerous rough-stuff path rides.

Scroll by the carousel for element photographs of the zip closure mannequin. This zip may be operated one-handed and has proved proof against mud and rain.

Selecting between the flip lid or zip closure will largely be down to non-public desire, although every has its delicate benefits and drawbacks. As an illustration, the zip model may be simply accessed one-handed and on the transfer, which is an actual boon, while the flip lid tends to shut in on itself, making it just a little extra difficult to dip into whereas using. Nevertheless, because the zip runs the size of the bag, we did really feel the necessity to take care that smaller contents, like a tube of chapstick, didn’t unintentionally work their manner out when the pack was open, particularly on frames with extra steeply angled prime tubes. In distinction, the extra boxy proportions of the flip lid pack does a greater job at maintaining all the things trapped inside.

While each are principally waterproof, the flip lid pack must be extra proof against heavy deluges or being overlooked within the rain, although it could actually typically take extra adjustment to verify its skirt is in place. Then once more, when you’re aurally delicate to your setting, the zip does jangle a bit, and I seen the black end chipped just a little too.

Scroll by the carousel for element photographs of the flip lid closure mannequin, with options each an elasticated wire and a magnet.

Whichever you favor, each function the identical ‘taco-shell’ facet panels – additionally comprised of HDPE – that assist these packs maintain their form. I’d notice, although, that they’re not as stiff as most prime tube luggage I’ve tried prior to now. On the one hand, which means awkwardly formed gadgets can dictate the form of the bag to a point, however on the opposite, the packs usually tend to deform if prime tube clearance is tight, so there’s much less likelihood of inflicting hurt to delicate elements of the physique. I discovered the zip model tends to carry its form higher. In actual fact, after my manufacturing samples had been initially despatched to me, Tailfin added two carbon struts to their flip lid mannequin to enhance its inside construction. These are held in place utilizing the present velcro, and you’ll select to run them or not.

Each packs embrace an elasticated mesh facet pouch, which is right for maintaining a telephone in place, a powerbank, or a set of keys. And each function replaceable {hardware}, although the flip lid could be extra sturdy in the long term, provided that it’s zipper-free. In actual fact, you’ll be able to even exchange the elasticated wire if it will definitely wears out.

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That is the 1.1L zip closure mannequin, which has proved to be basic measurement for each day rides and bikepacking. It’s slim sufficient for a vareity of crank Q-factors.

Backtracking a bit, let’s speak briefly concerning the supersized 1.5L variations. Each are moderately boxy, and visually, they do look very massive. Except you’ll be able to solely run a small framebag and also you’re taking a look at making up some further quantity (which these luggage can definitely do), they’re in all probability overkill for shorter bikepacking journeys and day rides and are higher suited to expedition-style undertakings. Due to their inherent measurement and peak, the following weight that can seemingly end result in the event that they’re packed full, and the shortage of stiff facet panels, there generally is a very small quantity of oscillation on actually bumpy roads – even when the mounting system ensures that they keep fully in place in your prime tube they usually by no means find yourself leaning to 1 facet. And, as a result of they’re that bit wider (see under for diagrams with actual proportions of all fashions), I did discover my knees sometimes brushed in opposition to them when biking zestfully out of the saddle. Except for expeditionists, fats bikers will certainly hit it off with this measurement.

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Right here’s what you’ll be able to cram into the 1.5L flip prime mannequin – notice Huesos’ path snacks!

The smallest prime tube bag – at a diminutive 0.8L – will go well with anybody who values an particularly low Q-factor, riders whose pedalling fashion tends to incure knee rub, particularly out of the saddle, anybody with an eye fixed on the scales, and people who solely must pack the fundamentals. It’s definitely lighter, slimmer, and has a extra discreet profile. Surprisingly, nevertheless, it’s nonetheless capacious sufficient to suit my iPhone 7 Plus together with just a few snacks. I preferred it greater than I anticipated and located it an ideal day-to-day prime tube bag that I barely seen was there, nevertheless I used to be throwing the bike round beneath me.

The 0.8L zip closure prime tube pack is gentle, slim, and nice for day rides. It’s additionally good for individuals who typically expertise knee rub with luggage, particularly out of the saddle.

What else? All fashions have ports that enable a battery to be routed to a lightweight or a powerbank to be charged from a dynamo gentle just like the Sinewave Beacon I lately reviewed. All luggage are additionally tall sufficient that my ageing iPhone 7 Plus might slot inside with out points, sitting on a detachable, shoe insole-like pad that gives safety from vibrations and dampens noise. Though all fashions have mesh pouches, I do assume the most important mannequin would profit from extra dividers, particularly to assist contents from jostling round if the bag isn’t full.

A cable port, mixed with an elasticated facet pouch, makes charging from a dynamo or powering lights very tidy.

I’ve come to count on a superb stage of end from Tailfin merchandise, and while total high quality was excellent, I ought to notice that the 3D welding on the Flip Lid model wasn’t as neat as their panniers. I’m being fussy right here, admittedly – and once I talked about it to Tailfin, they promised the following batch shall be improved. Talking personally, I’m not a fan of extreme branding, and while these packs are higher than some on this regard, I feel they might be toned again some extra. At the least the branding and logos are reflective, although.

The Flip Lid fashions embrace elective carbon struts to assist the highest tube pack hold its construction. All zip-closure fashions include an extra stealth black zipper pull.

Value-wise, the 1.1L Flip Lid sits above a basic just like the Revalate Magazine-Tank ($59) and a UK competitor like Apidura’s Bolt on Prime Tube Pack (£45). However do not forget that the Tailfin model does provide the benefit that it could actually both used with provided TPU straps (that are a step above Velcro) or with bolts, fairly aside from any variations in stability.

Lastly, these prime tube luggage are warrantied for 5 years, and spares and rebuild kits can be found. As talked about, the elasticated cords on Tailfin’s Magazine-Lock may be simply changed. The zip model additionally ships with extra zipper pull for individuals who favor the whole black stealth look. Personally, I’d go the opposite manner – I’d wish to see some Tailfin luggage with a splash of color!

Listed below are the total proportions of every bag, so you’ll be able to examine heights and widths, relying in your prime tube clearances, your using fashion, and the Q-factor of your cranks:

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Extra advertising and marketing imagery by Tailfin reveals the highest tube packs mounted to quite a lot of tubing profiles.

Tailfin Prime Tube Packs Evaluation Video

By Neil Beltchenko

• Mannequin: Tailfin Prime Tube Packs
• Precise Weight: 138-199g
• Place of Manufacture: China
• Value: $65-80
• Producer’s Particulars: Tailfin

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