AeroPack X Rigid Seat Pack

After scouring the web plus several e-mails back and forth with the Tailfin staff I decided to buy an Aeropack X plus the seat post extender, third party pannier adapters and light mount. The bag is nice and confidence-inspiring, but I have quite a bit of mixed feelings overall.

First, there is the buying experience. I'd rate that quite low. For some reason it is impossible to order things that are not in stock. This makes absolutely zero sense to me. Combined with the fact the accessories seem to be in stock only sporadically, and with re-stock deadlines missed repeatedly, it makes for a frustrating experience, continuously checking for stock. I also found the specifications on the homepage lacking (solved by e-mails). Related, I also found the shipping slow compared to competitors. The best part of the buying experience is the customer service, which is prompt, helpful and friendly.

Second, the assembly process. I found the general instructions OK. However, this didn't remedy the fact that alignment of the threads in the metal frame and the corresponding holes in the fabric was quite poor. This made installing screws much harder than I anticipated. In the end I needed a second person stretching the fabric while I screwed in the various screws. Things didn't get better when I received the light mount, which had the further complication of being manufactured with the incorrect hole size. A bad thread didn't exactly help. Much cursing followed. In the end I had to drive a screw in from the inside of the bag to clear the bad thread. I also would like to see instruction for all parts be made available - e.g. third party adapters does not seem to have any instructions (however trivial it may be, it would still help). W.r.t. screws: Adding a smooth bore for the first couple of mm to each thread hole might allow the screws to slot into place, preventing cross-threading and easing assembly.

Third, the size of the bag. The capacity is listed as 20 l. Let me just put it like this: Either a competitor known for their panniers is understating the volume of their bags or Tailfin is overstating theirs. There is no way I can cram the same amount of stuff in my Tailfin as in a standard 20 l pannier (I checked). Granted, the bag does soak up a lot of stuff, and the straps allows one to strap e.g. tents on the outside which is a nice addition. This is problem arises in part by the pack to seat post separation. I ride a size L Giant Revolt, which almost all the seat post visible and my saddle in a neutral fore/aft position. Even with the extended seat post adapter the front top of the bag hits the back part of the saddle, effectively preventing me from utilizing a lot of the supposed capacity. This is frustrating.

The bag itself, once bought and assembled, is really nice. The process of installing on/removing it from the bike takes about two tries to get right, and from then it's very easy. Packing is made easy by the wide opening. Straps and buckles are well thought out and seem to be good quality. I might be a bit worried about the durability of the fabric, specifically the part rubbing my saddle, but time will tell. The ride quality is very, very good compared to panniers and a rack. Both regarding wagging and aerodynamics. I just wish that it sat further back, to allow using the full volume, and for easier (un)packing with the bag mounted on the bike.

A bunch of the launch videos from Tailfin teased the release of anything cage-style cages being released. I would really like to see this product added to the line up. Having invested in this nice system, I would prefer not adding panniers, but the bag just isn't big enough for me, even with a handlebar roll and half-size frame bag.

TLDR: Very nice bag, frustrating buying and assembly experience, capacity effectively smaller than hoped. Good ride quality.

My partner is very much liking her AeroPack X, and I will most likely be buying one for myself in the future. I chose the AeroPack for her as she wanted an aerodynamic storage solution for her road bike, and the aeropack had the best combination of that, volume, and overall structural rigidity. The bag and parts quality is high, and the capability to take on/off the bike quickly is a win. The overall design is a winner and has no match on the market.

A few quips, as I could not give this product a 5 star rating. The aluminum screws are a bit soft, and I was afraid of cross-threading or stripping them upon installation. Be careful here. One did start to round off at even the slightest angle of the hex wrench. The bag holes did not line up perfectly with feeding the screws through and into the internal frame, which caused an awkward attempt to screw in from one side while aligning with my head in the dark, deep bag from the other. Maybe some more refinement needed there.

We have Hexlox on all of our bikes, and I was disappointed to see that the thru axle was not compatible with these products or any other security platform I have seen. While I may be able to recess a magnet into the axle to secure a Hexlox nut, the recess is so deep there would still be room to insert enough of a hex wrench to unscrew the axle. IMHO this area of the product could be made much better with a bit of consideration to security. I'd like my rear wheel to remain on the bike when locked up outside.

Finally, I need to find a way to secure the stacking straps when the bag is empty and rolled down tight. I have not found a way to tighten them enough to not hang loose and flap around. I know they are removable, but it's a bit of a pain to thread them back through the slits in the underside of the bag when you need them.

Overall though, this is an excellent product for the most important bits...getting out and riding. As I said, Ill probably be purchasing another to share across my two bikes...in carbon of course. The price is high, but worth it. It's not a perfect product, but it's overall design sets it apart from anything else on the market.

Easy to assemble. Very solid bags