Topeak Toploader

Topeak's Toploader is a very nicely made top tube bag that's big enough to swallow a decent amount of things that you'd want to hand, without being so bulky that it gets in the way. It's a useful luggage option for all sorts of riding.

Top tube bags are mostly sold as a bikepacking thing at the moment, because bikepacking is cool. Most of us aren't out bikepacking every weekend, but a top tube bag is still a useful thing to have. It's a place to store things you might want to have easy access to – snacks, a camera, your phone, money, and so on – and it's easy to throw on the bike if you need it. The Toploader has just three Velcro straps; it takes half a minute to fit.

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A bag in this position has to walk a tightrope between being useful and annoying. Too small and you won't be able to get the stuff you need in it. Too big and you'll catch your legs on it all the time. I'm happy to report that the Toploader is just about right. The 0.75l compartment will swallow your phone, some flapjacks and some change quite easily. There's a movable divider to split the space into two for a bit of organisation, and the zip has a nice big toggle and is easy to use.

Once you've got the straps nice and tight it doesn't move about too much; sometimes you'll catch a leg on it, and when you're climbing while out of the saddle you find you need to keep the bike a bit more upright than you would without it, but it's not that intrusive. If you find it too bulky attached to your steerer you can turn it around and fit it between the top tube and seatpost instead. It's not quite as accessible there but it's more out of the way.

The Toploader isn't waterproof, but even fairly persistent rain didn't work its way through the zip, and if it's really hooning it down then there's a built-in rain cover to keep your stuff dry, which lives in a side compartment and fits using two Velcro straps; it's easy enough that you can do it as you're riding.

> Beginner's Guide to carrying stuff on your bike

Who can make use of a bag like this? If you don't like to stop on a ride then it's a great place to store food for the journey, especially in changeable or cold conditions where you're wearing multiple layers and your jersey pockets aren't that accessible. It's great for audaxing, touring or bikepacking too: a bit of easily accessible extra space. There are plenty of bags like this out there, and the Toploader is a good example and a bit bigger than some more triathlon-orientated options. It's not cheap but it is nicely designed and made, and it's built to last.

Verdict

Good extra luggage space for keeping your essentials to hand