The newest Topeak Backloader X with metal wishbone is even much better than the old one. I love it as it is rocksolid! The BIG advantage over Ortlieb is the Topeak harness: it becomes dirty and remains on the bike while the clean inner sack goes into the tent with me. 🤗
I've been researching packs for the last couple of weeks. I ended up choosing the Topeak Backloader myself. While the Ortlieb has a lot to offer, it's been around a while. Still, it's due for a redesign. Personally, I'd get a backpack rain cover for the Topeak. It can be whipped out and bungeed around the pack in a minute or two. A soaking wet pack (even with a dry bag inside) is going to take on a lot of weight. Better to keep it dry from the jumpstart with something that barely weighs a few ounces and takes up little space inside the pack. Any generic $4 pack cover will do plus getting one in high visibility yellow will help during poor weather "if" on the road. Thanks for a great review. It's always good to hear from someone who's got a lot of miles on the gear they're giving their impressions on.
I like that i can pack my clothes in the drybags and stuff my wet raingear outside of the drybag to keep my clothes dry. As well, its so much nicer to pack the drybag inside the tent while its raining and then just insert it into the mainbag without standing in the rain to pack the Ortlieb. Great review
Agreed on grabbing and running into your tent and leaving the wet outer layer pack on the bike. Good point on the rain gear outside of the dry bag! Didn't think of that. Or even dirty clothes too! Thanks for the input! :)
Thank you for a great and comprehensive review. I have Ortlieb panniers which are fantastic but the Topeak seat bag looks to be the best option for me.
Thanks for your review! Especially the collapsing thing, as that's not to be seen on a glance. And it's not the cheapest Backloader around :-) One comment about the screws Ortlieb uses though: I used the Ortlieb Backrollers qutite a lot, and one of the screws of the rail broke when I came to close to some pollard. In hindsight I consider this a feature, since the bag remains waterproof and intact. I even bought the plastic nuts after I came home, since the metal one wouldn't brake. Which means the bag would rip open and the hole for the screw will be damaged.
Good points on the Topeak bag about the seat post connection which is more snug than the Ortlieb. I elected to get a mid size Topeak bag as I still have a rear rack that I also have installed and use for 2 rear panniers and my tent on the rack. By using a mid-size bag it allowed my tent to fit on the rack. Having an inner waterproof bag was also good for the stuff I didn’t want to get wet yet I could place a rain jacket in the backloader that could be quickly given excess to or replaced without getting other stuff wet, the inner bag was also a good camp pillow.
Hi Donald! I've been avoiding racks for some time now doing endurance cycling events BUT my friends and I went on a bikepacking adventure this fall, and particularly for my winter sleeping bag which is much bigger, I might be switching to using a front rack and rear pack in some instance. Just got an Old Mountain Man rack to try and I'll be able to review that soon enough :)
Thanks for sharing this. I find your review more useful than the one made by people doing this for years. It's great you covered even the small bits like the firm end on Topeak where it attaches to the seat post. I'm about to buy the Topeak bag but since I need to buy it online I'm not sure about size. I won't be camping out so just need to use it for clothes/stuff to move from one place to another. Is the one you own 10ltrs or 15ltrs? I'm thinking of getting either 6ltrs or maybe 10ltrs but not sure yet.
Sorry for my delay! I can't say for certain because I don't have the tags anymore and it doesn't say on the labels. It is for sure the 10 or 15 (I think it is the 15 though by the looks of it). It's hard for me to tell you what to get cause each person has different needs but, in my personal opinion, bigger might be best. You can always roll it down more if you need less room but you can't get extra material if the 10L isn't big enough :)
Excellent review. By the way, did the bag ever sag on a long ride over bumpy roads? I mean, is there any danger of the bag sagging and scraping the rear tire?
Hay, cagefreed:) Thanks for the great review. I have one question that bothers me lot. How's your experience while riding with some stuff inside the bag. It's stiff or does the bag move around? Greetings from Germany
Hi Erik! Thanks for the comment. In my experience, I didn't have any problem with the bag moving around. I think as a whole, all of these types of bags move a little, but it isn't noticeable. So it probably moves slightly, but it doesn't move all over the place or anything. They generally stay put in place. :)
the main reason why I returned back Topeak Backloader to the shop was its low stability. The seat post connection has a bad quality and a bag constantly move around.
Yes, I have the exact same problem. Tried it with a narrower bag once but by my second day of riding, I had scabs! 😂 I avoid them now and use other things.
This was a really beneficial review. Thank you. That inner bag is what intrigued me in the Topeak... it is a bit weird to see how small the inner bag is compared to the outer. Have you measured how many liters the inner bag holds, is that 15 liters?
I'm not sure. It's a bit hard to measure that because it tapers down so the way to measure that requires 3 standard measurements and I have different measurements at different places. :) Not sure if that helps. ha
@@cagefreed Thanks. I bought the backloader for myself. Seems like a very solid bag. I will just measure it by pouring water in the inner bag and seeing how much there goes until I cannot properly close it anymore.
wow, I returned a topeak back loader because of bad quality of a seat post connection. I wasn't able to connect it strictly to the tube under the seat so the bag could not be secured stably and was constantly dangling :( I decided to return back their backloader and ordered Ortlieb, so now I'm happy with it, the connection and durability of the bag is the perfect. It costs much way expensive than Topeak but... btw Topeak Front Loader is superb!
I recommend the TailFin AeroPack (the entire assembly with the [carbon] rack, the panniers and the AP20 / AeroPack) - it's so much better than any of the extant alternatives. But - do go for the more Ultra-Durable panniers rather than the Super-Light ones (the latter, though feel really nice, are highly puncture-prone). Their mounting system, the overall workmanship, the design are superior to any other racks, panniers and trunk bags I have used, including Vaude and Ortlieb. They are the Apple, the Tesla, the Lamborghini of racks and cycle bags, besting even the likes of Ortlieb, Vaude, Axiom, Tubus, etc. in finesse / elegance / sophistication.
The newest Topeak Backloader X with metal wishbone is even much better than the old one. I love it as it is rocksolid!
The BIG advantage over Ortlieb is the Topeak harness: it becomes dirty and remains on the bike while the clean inner sack goes into the tent with me. 🤗
I've been researching packs for the last couple of weeks. I ended up choosing the Topeak Backloader myself. While the Ortlieb has a lot to offer, it's been around a while. Still, it's due for a redesign.
Personally, I'd get a backpack rain cover for the Topeak. It can be whipped out and bungeed around the pack in a minute or two. A soaking wet pack (even with a dry bag inside) is going to take on a lot of weight. Better to keep it dry from the jumpstart with something that barely weighs a few ounces and takes up little space inside the pack. Any generic $4 pack cover will do plus getting one in high visibility yellow will help during poor weather "if" on the road.
Thanks for a great review. It's always good to hear from someone who's got a lot of miles on the gear they're giving their impressions on.
Thanks for checking it out! More coming soon! 😊
Have you ever considered using one of those waterproofing sprays?
I like that i can pack my clothes in the drybags and stuff my wet raingear outside of the drybag to keep my clothes dry. As well, its so much nicer to pack the drybag inside the tent while its raining and then just insert it into the mainbag without standing in the rain to pack the Ortlieb. Great review
Agreed on grabbing and running into your tent and leaving the wet outer layer pack on the bike. Good point on the rain gear outside of the dry bag! Didn't think of that. Or even dirty clothes too! Thanks for the input! :)
Thank you for a great and comprehensive review. I have Ortlieb panniers which are fantastic but the Topeak seat bag looks to be the best option for me.
thank you for this review, I was debating between the two, but now I cant justify the extra $$ for an Ortlieb.
Thanks for your review! Especially the collapsing thing, as that's not to be seen on a glance. And it's not the cheapest Backloader around :-)
One comment about the screws Ortlieb uses though: I used the Ortlieb Backrollers qutite a lot, and one of the screws of the rail broke when I came to close to some pollard. In hindsight I consider this a feature, since the bag remains waterproof and intact. I even bought the plastic nuts after I came home, since the metal one wouldn't brake. Which means the bag would rip open and the hole for the screw will be damaged.
Thank you so much for this comparison.
Hello Cage, thank you for this comprehensive review! Looking forward to some more Bikepacking content! :) Greetings from Germany!
Good points on the Topeak bag about the seat post connection which is more snug than the Ortlieb. I elected to get a mid size Topeak bag as I still have a rear rack that I also have installed and use for 2 rear panniers and my tent on the rack. By using a mid-size bag it allowed my tent to fit on the rack. Having an inner waterproof bag was also good for the stuff I didn’t want to get wet yet I could place a rain jacket in the backloader that could be quickly given excess to or replaced without getting other stuff wet, the inner bag was also a good camp pillow.
Hi Donald! I've been avoiding racks for some time now doing endurance cycling events BUT my friends and I went on a bikepacking adventure this fall, and particularly for my winter sleeping bag which is much bigger, I might be switching to using a front rack and rear pack in some instance. Just got an Old Mountain Man rack to try and I'll be able to review that soon enough :)
Thanks for the review. I really appreciate.
Thanks for watching! :)
Thanks for sharing this. I find your review more useful than the one made by people doing this for years. It's great you covered even the small bits like the firm end on Topeak where it attaches to the seat post.
I'm about to buy the Topeak bag but since I need to buy it online I'm not sure about size. I won't be camping out so just need to use it for clothes/stuff to move from one place to another. Is the one you own 10ltrs or 15ltrs? I'm thinking of getting either 6ltrs or maybe 10ltrs but not sure yet.
Sorry for my delay! I can't say for certain because I don't have the tags anymore and it doesn't say on the labels. It is for sure the 10 or 15 (I think it is the 15 though by the looks of it). It's hard for me to tell you what to get cause each person has different needs but, in my personal opinion, bigger might be best. You can always roll it down more if you need less room but you can't get extra material if the 10L isn't big enough :)
Good Video. I Was between Ortlieb and Topeak myself. Now not anymore. Thank s
Glad it helped!! 😊
Great review..Topeak for me.
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Sound like the topeak is a solid choice, thanks
Perfect for my decision!!!! Thanks!!!!
I'd also take a look at my newest RouteWerks front pouch review. It is my new favorite!
Excellent review. By the way, did the bag ever sag on a long ride over bumpy roads? I mean, is there any danger of the bag sagging and scraping the rear tire?
Hi Shyam. No, it didn't that is why I much prefer this to the Ortlieb - I had problem with sag with that one. With this one, it has been fine.
Hay, cagefreed:)
Thanks for the great review. I have one question that bothers me lot. How's your experience while riding with some stuff inside the bag. It's stiff or does the bag move around?
Greetings from Germany
Hi Erik! Thanks for the comment. In my experience, I didn't have any problem with the bag moving around. I think as a whole, all of these types of bags move a little, but it isn't noticeable. So it probably moves slightly, but it doesn't move all over the place or anything. They generally stay put in place. :)
Thank you very much! You really helped me out! Have a great day
the main reason why I returned back Topeak Backloader to the shop was its low stability. The seat post connection has a bad quality and a bag constantly move around.
Hi! I am 6,4 tall and while pedaling, I lightly touch the bag with my thighs. I wonder if this is normal? Do you have similar issue?
Yes, I have the exact same problem. Tried it with a narrower bag once but by my second day of riding, I had scabs! 😂 I avoid them now and use other things.
This was a really beneficial review. Thank you. That inner bag is what intrigued me in the Topeak... it is a bit weird to see how small the inner bag is compared to the outer. Have you measured how many liters the inner bag holds, is that 15 liters?
I'm not sure. It's a bit hard to measure that because it tapers down so the way to measure that requires 3 standard measurements and I have different measurements at different places. :) Not sure if that helps. ha
@@cagefreed Thanks. I bought the backloader for myself. Seems like a very solid bag. I will just measure it by pouring water in the inner bag and seeing how much there goes until I cannot properly close it anymore.
you should mention that you compare the topeak to the ortlieb :)
should get you more clicks
Ha! thanks for the input! I will change the description :)
Updated! :)
That's what brought me here!
so nice
wow, I returned a topeak back loader because of bad quality of a seat post connection. I wasn't able to connect it strictly to the tube under the seat so the bag could not be secured stably and was constantly dangling :(
I decided to return back their backloader and ordered Ortlieb, so now I'm happy with it, the connection and durability of the bag is the perfect. It costs much way expensive than Topeak but...
btw Topeak Front Loader is superb!
What size is your Topeak?
I believe it was the 15L. :)
Good
I recommend the TailFin AeroPack (the entire assembly with the [carbon] rack, the panniers and the AP20 / AeroPack) - it's so much better than any of the extant alternatives. But - do go for the more Ultra-Durable panniers rather than the Super-Light ones (the latter, though feel really nice, are highly puncture-prone). Their mounting system, the overall workmanship, the design are superior to any other racks, panniers and trunk bags I have used, including Vaude and Ortlieb. They are the Apple, the Tesla, the Lamborghini of racks and cycle bags, besting even the likes of Ortlieb, Vaude, Axiom, Tubus, etc. in finesse / elegance / sophistication.