Race-proven – How the Tailfin AeroPack measures up when it matters

During the past year, the AeroPack has been thoroughly put through its paces by some incredible cyclists in ultra cycling events all over the globe, including the Transcontinental Race, Race Through Poland, Bike Nonstop US, Across Andes and Race Around Rwanda.

When it comes to choosing your kit for a long-distance bike race, you need bike packing equipment that is functional, easy-to-use, aerodynamic, reliable and robust. The AeroPack ‘S’ range has been designed and engineered to be all of these. Here’s how and why:

AERODYNAMIC ADVANTAGE

The AeroPack offers matched aerodynamic performance to a seatpack, but with improved usability and ride quality. The pack has a nominal capacity of 20 litres, however if your frame allows it, it can be filled to as much as 27 litres. The benefit of a large capacity bag is it allows you to do away with a non-aerodynamic bar bag. During our wind tunnel tests, we discovered a bar bag can create as much as 20 Watts of drag at around 20mph.

EATING GRAVEL FOR BREAKFAST

Creating the most robust and reliable product is our highest priority when designing any of our gear. However, the AeroPack arguably has to take this to the next level and offer an unparalleled level of durability to ensure that our equipment won’t let you down in your darkest hour. Given that the AeroPack is designed to fit almost any type of bike and those bikes are raced across every kind of terrain from slick tarmac to rowdy singletrack, we make sure our gear has been rigorously tested in the lab, in the field and also by independent reviewers…

Read the bikepacking.com review to find out how Cass thrashed the AeroPack

Stability, whatever the surface, is guaranteed: the rigid wishbone-shaped carbon or alloy frame offers exceptional agility, with no sway or rattle. It can take on gravel, cobbles, and rutted tracks and it won’t move a jot. During its time out on the road in the world’s most rigorous bike races, it has encountered various crashes and scrapes and lived to tell the tale. This is partly thanks to its rigidity and partly thanks to its modular design. If any part breaks or tears, there are the parts to fix it: you don’t have to buy an entirely new set-up.

Our custom-built vibration testing equipment vibrates the pack at 7Hz and 20mm amplitude
Field testing in the Peak District National Park in the UK

THE TIME OFF THE BIKE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE TIME ON THE BIKE

When you’ve not slept for 36 hours and you’re starting to feel a little ragged around the edges, you do not want to waste time looking for something in your bag. The AeroPack makes it easy to access your gear on the bike thanks to a roll-top opening and direct access pocket. And when it’s off the bike, the wide-mouthed, top-opening design means you spend less time packing your gear. 

Ben Davies with a custom Dyneema Pack, taken during TCRNo7
Ben Davies on his way to his second place finish, TCRNo7

THE PROOF IS ON THE PODIUMS

In the last year, AeroPack riders amassed some impressive results. Ben Davies came second overall in TCR No 7; Peter Anderson came second in Bike Nonstop US and Niel Copeland has just come third in the Race Around Rwanda.

Their feedback about the AeroPack has been both positive and insightful…

“The minimal impact on the bike’s natural handling is probably the biggest selling point to me. For me it’s really important, even when racing and touring, to have a fun-handling bike that I can throw around. There was no swaying and the bag felt planted on the bike. There was also no requirement for “learning” time, first getting on the loaded bike as you do with panniers or saddle bag. 

Climbing out of the saddle there was no rocking. I was comfortable both in and out of the saddle.

Descending feels slightly better than a saddle bag which can be put down to the stability of the bag and the slightly lower centre of gravity. This is a very good thing on my race set-up, as due to my pushed forward position I tend to get a light rear end which leads to some pretty sketchy descending. 

I can’t notice any additional weight over a saddle bag. Rigidity is definitely more important than minimal weight impact. 

The bag doesn’t catch in sidewinds and there is no thigh rub unlike a frame bag.
I packed with the heavier, less used items at the bottom of the bag. However I didn’t necessarily have to do this as everything is incredibly accessible. An example of where this is incredibly useful is when I pull into a petrol station etc and get the opportunity to do a quick charge of electronics. Previously I would be reluctant to open my bag to grab the charger as it was a pain to find then close.


The size of the bag was ideal. I managed to get ~3 wraps to close the bag which proved plenty waterproof. 
On a recent trip, prior to getting on a ferry, I massively overpacked the bag with food meaning the opening had 1 fold over at max – the straps were just long enough to close and I didn’t get the feeling anything would fall out etc. While this isn’t something I’d do in TCR, I would in fast touring so was a good test.”

Ben Davies

” The AeroPack is a game changer for bikepackers.  Having a large opening on top of the pack means we no longer have to do the ‘yard sale’ to retrieve items at the bottom of conventional seat packs.  Not to mention the AeroPack is super easy to install/uninstall, lightweight and has almost zero sway.  I love everything about the AeroPack! It checks all of the boxes for my bikepacking needs. “

Peter Andersen

Want to find out more? Check out the AeroPack S rigid seatpack here and the AeroPack S Series trunk rack and trunk bag here.

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