This has been one of the best things I've gotten for my bike, back when I had no rack but also had no passengers. The main compartment, as far as I can tell, will remain dry against heavy downpour if you fully zip it up. I've had it since it first went on the market and it still hasn't failed me on this front.
The size is just large enough for a helmet and mine spent many days in it, safe, while I went to class. Side pockets, while not designed to secure valuables, I've put straps and a helmet bag for that extra bit of protection when I put my hemlet in the main compartment.
The top compartment, I've used to stash the shoulder strap and put my street directory (in a zip-lock bag). It will get damp on the inside in heavy rain, but will dry quite well if left in the sun a little. Its water resistance is enough to keep things pretty dry if they are only in a basic plastic jacket as things only get wet if they are in contact with the top layer and wick the water in.
Oh, a small side point regarding the cable. Run it to the left side of the bike. It's a matter of convenience only. the cable also comes in handy if you happen to need some way to secure, say, another helmet by just stringing around the mouth guard. Might even fit through the D ring if you're lucky.
Downsides:
- the pack isn't easily removable particularly due to the cable despite it being sold with a shoulder strap. But as the cable is the security and basically the whole point of getting this, the shoulder strap is that part that should be considered the Blue-Moon item when you would actually take it off your bike. That said, the bag is ridiculous to carry around without attaching the strap as it lacks handles so don't consider it a reason not to have one with it at all times.
- The size is a little small, in my opinion. The height is about right, but the other 2 sides could be increased a little. More than one occasion, I've found it a little small for my shopping, which all fit fine into my shopping basket. Still, it's bigger than many I've come across including many hard cases.
- BYO a mini lock for the top compartment if you like. The zips have the hole to lock them together, but no lock. Wouldn't mind an included one that used the same key as the main one securing the cable.
- Pacsafe seems to have taken it off their product line up, which is firstly a damned shame, and secondly, makes it difficult to get what is a bloody good and long lasting bit of kit.
Posted: 09/08/2012 at 14:04
