Meet the reviewer
Fjällräven/Specialized Top Tube Bag: first impressions
Available in a range of attractive, earthy colors, the compact Fjällräven/Specialized Top Tube Bag is part of the range of bikepacking bags produced by Swedish pack and outdoor apparel specialists Fjällräven in collaboration with Californian bike brand Specialized, which includes an amazingly spacious handlebar bag.
• List price: $55 (US) / £55 (UK) / €57 (EU)
• Materials: outer: 100% vinylal; lining: 100% polyamide 210D
• Volume: 0.8L
• Size (HxWxD): 10cm x 26cm x 6cm / 4in x 10in x 2.5in
• Weight (empty): 139g / 5oz
• Compatibility: Can be used on most mountain and gravel bikes
• Colors: Ochre / Red / Black / Green
This bag is capacity-challenged compared to some of the more capacious members of its family, but what the Fjällräven/Specialized top tube bag lacks in size it makes up for in versatility and ease of access.
And when used in combination with the larger packs in the range – such as the frame bag which extends along the full length of the top tube, but is positioned underneath, enabling you use both bags simultaneously – it can be a really useful piece of kit.
To find out just how functional it is, and how it compares to the best bikepacking bags on the market, I’ve been testing this top tube pack out on the trails during a plethora of pedal-powered trail outings and multi-day rides.
Fjällräven/Specialized Top Tube Bag: style and design
With an excellent-quality two-way zip, and an aerodynamic design, this little pack can be positioned at either end of a gravel or mountain-bike’s top tube, either snug up against the stem of your handlebars or placed under the seat post. Two Velcro strips loop around the top tube and a rear Velcro strip goes around the bar stem or seat post (depending on your preference) to hold the pack in place. Once these three points of contact are secured, the bag is very firmly held in place.
This is a semi-rigid bag, with an outer made from hardwearing, weather-resistant Vinylon F material (waterproof in all but the most torrential rain), backed by a stiff casing and a 100% recycled polyamide lining.
I’ve been testing an early model of this pack, but the latest iteration has a weatherproof portal that allows you to run a cable out of the bag to and from a digital device – very handy if you have a phone, GPS navigating unit or bike computer mounted on your bars, for example.
Both of the zips boast color-coordinated cord pull loops, which make them easy to use even if you’re wearing gloves. The interior of the pack features mesh pockets on either side of the main compartment, which are excellent for organization, providing the perfect place for storing small items you might want to quickly lay your hands on, including your phone, credit cards and cash.
Fjällräven/Specialized Top Tube Bag: on the trails
I’ve been using the Fjällräven/Specialized range of bikepacking bags during a range of pedal-powered escapades over the last 12 months, including a great gravel-bike gallivant through the Yorkshire Dales to England’s highest pub, (where you can semi wild camp on the moor nearby), and during multi-day trips though the Peak District and across Dartmoor.
I love the fact that you can mount this tidy top tube bag at the front or the rear of the frame. With a sleek, narrow profile, it doesn’t rub on your legs while you’re pedalling if you do locate it beneath the saddle, but personally I prefer to positions it at the front, by my bars, where I reach in and easily grab snacks or check my phone.
The build quality is superb – the tough outer material is hardwearing and very easy to wipe down if (OK, when) it gets mucky. The zips are fantastic – very robust, they’re effectively weatherproof and the fact there are two zips offers you easy access with either hand, and allows you to keep most of the bag shut while you reach in and get what you need.
