Tailfin System Evaluate: Lastly, an Elegant, Versatile, and Bomber Bikepacking Equipment

Most bikepacking luggage and body packs are nice should you like issues that burst aside on the seams, zippers that fail underneath heavy hundreds, Velcro that works for just a few weeks, and that rhythmic sway and bounce that retains your stability on edge.

I’ve struck out repeatedly to search out bike luggage that may stand as much as the precise rigors of tough gravel using and bikepacking within the mountains of Colorado. So I had precisely zero qualms about peeling away the thready stays of my present luggage to check Tailfin’s sharp-looking bikepacking ecosystem. 

Have you ever heard of Tailfin? I hadn’t both. They’re a small Bristol, U.Ok.-based firm making an enormous splash within the bikepacking bag scene. The package I checked consists of three parts: Cargo Cages (cages that connect to plain bottle cage bosses and fork cargo bosses) and Cage Packs (straps to those cages), Body Luggage, and its revolutionary AeroPack/Pannier combo. 

Over relentless miles of gravel grinding, rocky path bashing, commuting, and bikepacking, I’ve come away impressed with the package in nearly each regard — sturdiness, versatility, experience high quality, and aesthetics. After 4 months of intensive use within the mountains of Colorado, from commuting to bikepacking, I’ve come away each impressed and hungry for extra from Tailfin.

Briefly: Tailfin’s spectacular amalgamation of baggage and racks are exceptionally top quality, sturdy, and effectively suited to any bicycle journey. The Cargo Cages are low profile and may maintain absolutely anything, from matching Cage Packs to ski boots. The Body luggage are light on bikes, don’t roll or bounce, and stand as much as burly trails. The revolutionary AeroPack is a refreshing tackle the rear rack and seat pack that elegantly integrates Tailfin’s panniers and different equipment.

Tailfin Bikepacking Equipment Evaluate

Cargo Cages and Cage Packs

I stumbled throughout Tailfin’s bikepacking lineup for the primary time earlier this spring once I was in search of cargo cages for bike-to-ski adventures. They labored nice for attaching my ski touring boots. Now, I’ve three Massive Cargo Cages ($60) completely affixed to my Canyon Grizl gravel bike — one on every fork leg and one beneath the downtube. 

A ton of firms make cargo cages lately. What drew me to Tailfin’s system was the combination between cage and pack and the low-profile leave-them-attached cages.

Gravel bikes like my Grizl are peppered with bolts to connect equipment like these cages. Every fork leg has the usual 3-bolt weight-bearing sample that matches the cages, however they will additionally connect to plain 2-bolt water bottle mounts.

These 79g cages are slick and, so far as bikepacking goes, aerodynamic sufficient. I didn’t really feel the necessity to take them off between adventures into the backcountry. And in addition to, they got here in helpful carrying my espresso thermos throughout typical commutes and a bottle of wine throughout grocery runs. Distinctive, detachable platforms on the backside of every cage helped help the burden of heavier gadgets and in addition enhanced their skill to suit longer gadgets when eliminated.

The cages combine with the particularly designed waterproof Cargo Cage Packs ($40-60) utilizing stealthy black TPU ski straps. Additionally accessible in 1.7L and 5L capacities, the 3L luggage on every leg went a good distance when packed strategically.

I packed rolled-up clothes into every one to maintain issues gentle up entrance. They didn’t look overly safe at first look. However the ski straps laced by way of lash tabs on the pack that locked them to the cage. They have been impressively bounce-free on bumpy filth roads, too.

• Choices: Small or Massive Cargo Cages
• Quantity: 1.7L, 3L, 5L
• Weight: 115g-183g (Packs), 38g-90g (Cages)
• Mount: Direct mount to cargo mounts or bottle cage mounts
• Value: $40-60

Prime Tube Bag

Tailfin hooked me with the cargo cages and packs, so I attempted one other product. At first contact, I chuckled at how overengineered the Prime Tube Bag ($70-80) felt for a easy frame-mounted snack pouch. And I imply that in a great way. Tailfin’s engineers weren’t messing round.

Tailfin makes this snack pouch with a rubbery-feeling 210D Hypalon and Ripstop Nylon material. It was springy and resilient. When it folded, it sprung again into its regular form.

Apart from the strong development, What actually set it other than opponents was the common V-Mounts. Tailfin makes use of them on its body packs and prime tube luggage. These intelligent concave ft are rubberized, in order that they didn’t slip and reduce vibrations on the similar time. They combine with the included TPU Voile-style straps to suit actually any body’s prime tube.

The bag latched on so effectively that it didn’t want every other strap to connect to the stem or head tube to maintain it from rolling across the prime tube. It additionally has a direct mount possibility for frames with accent mounts on the highest tube, like my Grizl, that proved equally strong.

With 0.8L, 1.1L, and 1.5L variations accessible, these prime tube luggage are fairly versatile. The 1.1L I examined felt plentiful for on-deck snacks and electronics like my iPhone. It has a small wire port on the entrance to attach a battery to a handlebar gentle.

The bag is tall sufficient that my knees bounced off it once I was climbing out of the saddle. That is inevitable with any medium to massive quantity prime tube pack. It’s doable to flip the bag round and mount it in entrance of the seat put up to maintain it away from your knees, although. That’s the route I took on my mountain bike. 

Tailfin Prime Tube Bag Specs

• Choices: Flip or Zip
• Quantity: 0.8L, 1.1L, 1.5L
• Weight: 138g-199g
• Mount: Direct or common V-Mounts
• Value: $70-85

Body Packs

I couldn’t assist myself; I needed to strive the Tailfin Half Body Bag ($140-175). I’ve had extra body luggage meet an early demise than every other bike accent I’ve ever used. Tailfin clearly did its homework. It claims its body packs are probably the most “technically superior body luggage on this planet.”

Actually, I didn’t doubt this declare. This bag felt prefer it’s from the longer term in comparison with lots of the hand-sewn, arts-and-crafts-style body luggage I’ve Velcroed into my entrance triangle. 

The waterproof 210D Hypalon and Ripstop Nylon 3D welded exterior regarded and felt impressively sturdy, and the tech goes a lot deeper than that. The pack sports activities an “inside carbon house body,” which prevented the bag from bulging into my leg zone. It additionally massively elevated the bag’s longevity.

Tailfin labored out the house body to maximise the pack’s width with out interfering with the rider’s knees by way of intensive R&D and real-world testing. I couldn’t complain after many days within the saddle. Taiflin dialed in all the pieces in regards to the body bag — no sag, wag, or bulge.

Tailfin splits the bag into two compartments, every with its personal full-length aspect zipper. On the rider’s left is a really shallow compartment with mini-organizing pockets excellent for a multitool, map, pockets, and different slim requirements. The rider’s proper zips open to the extra cavernous cavity, which has roughly 3 L of house contained in the model I examined.

Like the highest tube bag, the body bag attaches to any body utilizing three rubberized V-mounts and TPU ski straps. A fourth mount and strap secured it to the down tube close to the top tube. Tailfin nailed it within the match division. The body bag match snugly into the entrance triangle of my Canyon Grizl prefer it was custom-made.

Of all of the items of the Tailfin bike bag ecosystem, the Half Body Bag is presumably probably the most elegant and versatile. It is available in 9 totally different sizes (2.3L-6.5L) to suit the overwhelming majority of hardtail frames on the market.

I’ve ordered the mistaken measurement of multiple body pack by chance resulting from clumsy measuring. Tailfin solved the becoming dilemma with an on-line becoming device that spits out the biggest quantity pack that may suit your body. 

Like the highest tube bag, I by no means felt the necessity to take away the Body Pack between storage-dependent rides as a result of it stayed out of the way in which and didn’t vibrate or bounce. Even higher, the Prime Tube Bag and Body Pack’s V-mounts are the identical width, that means they will share ski straps for simplicity. The most effective half? There’s not a scrap of Velcro anyplace. This bag will survive the lengthy haul.

Tailfin Body Bag Specs

• Choices: Wedge or Half Body Pack
• Quantity: 1.9L, 2.3L, 2.7L, 3.0L, 3.5L, 3.8L, 4.5L, 5.3L, 6.5L
• Weight: 208g-334g
• Mount: V-Mounts
• Value: $130-175

Tailfin AeroPack

Seat luggage can add a ton of quantity to a bikepacking package, however they often have so many points. Nothing in bikepacking is extra annoying to me than bag wag. That’s what Tailfin addressed with the launch of its AeroPack, which mashes a rear rack, seat bag, and non-compulsory panniers collectively. 

The Tailfin AeroPack is a bit bit difficult to elucidate, so hold with me. The rack is the inspiration of the entire system. It consists of a fork that straddles the rear wheel and attaches to your bike’s rear axle or rear triangle of the body.

The highest of the fork connects at a hinge to a horizontal fork whose different finish attaches to the bike’s seat put up. That horizontal fork integrates into an 18L waterproof roll-top pack, and this completes the AeroPack. The AeroPack is on the market because the 772g AeroPack Carbon ($525) or the 1,081g Alloy AeroPack ($385), every rated to hold a 59.5-pound payload.

The legs of the AeroPack can connect to the bike in just a few other ways — axle mounting, direct mount, or body mounting, that are all detailed in Tailfin’s intensive informational library and how-to guides. I went the axle mounting route, changing my Grizl’s axle with Tailfin’s Common Through Axle. 

As soon as put in, the Aluminum AeroPack was rock-solid and adventure-ready. Given its aero design, the drag was minimal, nevertheless it actually stood out as soon as I hit the filth. The rack merely refused to rattle and bounce, loaded or unloaded. Bag wag was nonexistent. It felt like an extension of the body, which is in regards to the highest reward I can provide a rack.

The bag supplied versatile, watertight storage, and I defaulted on including my tenting package. My NEMO Hornet tent poles match completely lengthwise, and there was loads of house for the remainder of the tent, a beefy sleeping pad, and even my Western Mountaineering Alpinlite sleeping bag. 

As soon as closed, it labored effectively. However I couldn’t assist however think about that extra of a tube-style bag, with a gap going through the rear of the rack, could be simpler to function. It could sacrifice among the beneficiant overstuffing capability, nevertheless it could be simpler to open, shut, and match the realm between the rear of the saddle and the tire. 

The AeroPack has two wraparound straps to maintain issues tidy and compressed, which have been additionally helpful for attaching odds and ends. I discovered them helpful for attaching moist garments that wanted to dry, an additional set of footwear, a fishing rod case, and even my skis.

I ended up leaving the Aeropack put in on my bike more often than not. It’s straightforward to take away if I get the urge — it took underneath 20 seconds thanks to 2 silver fast-release pull tabs on the dropouts and a easy locking ladder strap on the seat put up.

After just a few months of use, one of many quick-release pull tabs and locking bolts on the fast-release dropouts disappeared, rendering one aspect of the rack free. I used to be capable of zip-tie it briefly within the discipline, and I reached out to Tailfin to see if it was a typical prevalence.

The model stated {that a} small batch of dropouts suffered a thread locker challenge however that the issue was remedied. It’s been sending recent dropouts to all of the affected riders. Inside days, I had a alternative set put in to maintain the adventures rolling.

Taifin AeroPack Specs

• Choices: Alloy or carbon
• Quantity: 18L
• Weight: 724g-1,026g
• Mount: Axle or body mounts
• Value: $385-525

Rear Panniers

The AeroPack comes with or with out mounts for Tailfin’s household of rear pannier luggage, which are available Extremely Sturdy, Tremendous Gentle, or Mini Pannier varieties. The luggage connect on to the legs of the Aerorack utilizing a intelligent, low-profile hook and latch system.

The Extremely Sturdy Pannier Luggage I examined are each cavernous (22L every) and waterproof. I had extra packing house than I knew what to do with. Garments, jackets, a camp chair, an enormous pot, a laptop computer, no matter. For weekend journeys, I didn’t assume too laborious in regards to the packing technique. The panniers simply ate all of it.

What impressed me probably the most in regards to the pannier setup, apart from the clear aesthetic and reliable waterproofing, was its composure in actually tough terrain. Bouncy luggage may be jarring and downright harmful when roads and trails get steep and rocky, however the system was rock strong. The luggage and I rode in concord. 

Riders needing some storage however not fairly as a lot as a pannier bag will probably be excited to search out three accent mounts on every AeroPack rack leg. These cyclists can mount cargo cages and packs, water bottle cages, and different equipment as a substitute of the massive pannier luggage. 

The rack and panniers require some meeting. It could have been difficult with out directions, and Tailfin was means forward of me on this one. A good-looking, accented man held my hand by way of the meeting course of through crisp educational movies on its web site. 

Tailfin Rear Pannier Bag Specs

• Choices: Mini Panniers, Tremendous Gentle Pannier Bag, or Extremely Sturdy Pannier Bag
• Quantity: 5L-22L
• Weight: 310g-740g
• Mount: AeroRack pannier mounts
• Value: $80-165

Conclusions on the Tailfin Bikepacking System

Gear doesn’t typically wow me and a motorcycle bag has by no means impressed me, however I used to be an enormous fan of this package. It was troublesome to smell out flaws in Tailfin’s bikepacking ecosystem in addition to the dropout bolt debacle. The Tailfin group and its athletes have put within the R&D and real-world testing to provide totally baked Cargo Cage, AeroPack, and body bag methods.

Are they a bit bit heavier and dearer than many prime opponents? Sure. And I feel it’s justified.

Tailfin didn’t want to inform me the overarching design ethos as a result of it was so obvious as I began placing its gear to the check. These luggage have been sturdy, high-performance, completely weatherproof, and straightforward on the eyes. They felt futuristic in comparison with most of the bike luggage and bikepacking methods in the marketplace at the moment.

The modularity of the system signifies that this package will match the wants of all kinds of cyclists. Bikepackers will recognize the huge pack quantity and bounce-free experience. Street tourers will recognize the aerodynamics and straightforward removing. Commuters will probably be thrilled with the obsessive waterproofing and quick-release pannier luggage.

Tailfin is onto one thing, and I’m wanting to see what they give you subsequent.