Rack Pack / Top Rack Bag needed?

[Bike-Rich]

Hi all,

Great forum section!
I've got my bike and racks sorted. Next on list is camping gear and i'm sure I'll learn a lot from reading on here.

I've settled with Ortlieb front + rear panniers (+bar bag with map holder) but noticed there is also a 'top rack or rack pack' available that is designed to site above rear panniers on the upper flat part of rack. It seems most practical to keep on a tent in same place so all I would use bag for would be to put the tent in which seems a bit pointless.

Just wondered if anyone made this purchase and found it to be a useful addition?

Thanks

[jamesgilbert]

I just put the tent in an appropriately sized Alpkit dry bag and attach it securely to the top of the rack.

[Weekender]

Would not be without my rackpack, only thing I carry in it is an uncompressed sleeping bag, every thing else is in the panniers.

[Bike-Rich]

Thanks guys,

Would not be without my rackpack, only thing I carry in it is an uncompressed sleeping bag, every thing else is in the panniers.

Once the sleeping bag is in, is there much room for anything else?

Which pannier do you keep your tent in?

Is your Rack Pack held onto the rack by bungee/rope or is there a mounting system for this?

Thanks

[lisap]

I don't often use panniers on tour as I prefer my trailer but when I do I have a small Ortleib rack pack which goes on top of my rear pannier rack and is secured with 2 bungees in a X shape. The outer goes in a separate bag to avoid contact with the inner when wet but they end up in the rack pac together. My tent is a small one person Mountain Hardware Sprite and the poles fit perfectly however my 2 person MH Approach tent poles are to long.

I always put my uncompressed sleeping bag in one of my front panniers with other things to balance out the weight. I find if it's compressed It's harder to put other things in due to the shape of the stuff sac. It balances easier loose and I often put more fragile items in the middle of it.

[MuirSR]

Is your Rack Pack held onto the rack by bungee/rope or is there a mounting system for this?

Of the Ortlieb rack packs, both the small (24 litre) and medium (31 litre) bags can be held in place by the Ortlieb panniers.

The rack packs have four fasteners: two on top and one each side. If you undo the side ones, this gives you a male and female connector at each side of the bag; undo the central connector on each pannier bag and you also get a matching pair of connectors which enables you to connect pannier to rack bag, two connections on each side of the bike.

When not using panniers, if I'm on an upright, I hook one of the rack pack handles over the saddle and then secure the pack in place on the rack with a couple of bungees; if on the recumbent, one handle hooks round the headrest and I use bungees in a similar way.

[Bike-Rich]

Very helpful, thanks very much.

[slowpeddler]

I use the Ortlieb medium rackpack with back rollers. The rack pack solves all my camping problems for packing tent, trangia etc. I think the large size is designed for motor bikes but the medium is perfect for cycle camping.

It really is quality kit and waterproof to boot so you could put clothes in as well. It has more space than you will ever need. Just make sure you keep any other heavy stuff in the bottom of the panniers to ensure the handling is OK.

John

[Bike-Rich]

I use the Ortlieb medium rackpack with back rollers. The rack pack solves all my camping problems for packing tent, trangia etc. I think the large size is designed for motor bikes but the medium is perfect for cycle camping.

It really is quality kit and waterproof to boot so you could put clothes in as well. It has more space than you will ever need. Just make sure you keep any other heavy stuff in the bottom of the panniers to ensure the handling is OK.

John

Thanks John.

So your tent and cooker goes in the rack pack with still a bit of room? Where do you put your sleeping bag?
Would the small rack pack be too small do you think?

Thanks

[slowpeddler]

Hi Rich

I use a Snugpack Softie 6 and it goes in a rear pannier with my beloved Exped downmat. In the rackpack with the tent goes my Ergolife chair and Trangia. Always near the top of the rackpack is my wet weather gear. I cycled the Ems Cycle path from source to the sea in 2010 but the northern section was grim in that the rain was cold and horizontal and despite the wonderful shelters along the path, I started to suffer from hypothermia (in July!!) I got to the bike hotel in Emden, warmed up in the shower for half hour and spent the rest of the day in bed recovering. After that, I vowed never to go on on a tour without serious wet-weather gear. That is, in addition to my Altura Nightvision I now take my Carradice cape, helmet cover and overshoes. I don't take many clothes as I wash as I go, so spare clothes only but always a warm top to put on. Not a part of this thread but the Carradice cape is the greatest bit of kit ever. I've never been wet when I've used it and it has the effect of raising your body temperature a couple of degrees when the rain is cold. If you go touring in Germany you have to take the right wet weather gear, it was my mistake.

I take a folding outer cover, inner tubes, spare v brake blocks, the basic tools and they go in a supermarket bag at the bottom of the other rear pannier.
john

[Bike-Rich]

Really helpful and useful post John, much appreciated.

Is your rackpak the small or medium type?

Thank you,

[bigjim]

Just put your tent in a plastic bag and strap it down. Why do people want to add ever more weight?
Weight is a curse on tour.

[slowpeddler]

Hi Bike-Rich
My Rack pack is the Medium and bright yellow. On the bike, it doesn't look oversized and the compression straps keep it nice and compact. It is very well made and I am quite impressed with it. I also take with me on tour a small rack net just in case I need to put any clothes/bananas etc on top.

It will also double as useful general weekend luggage as all the straps mate up and nothing dangles.

John

[Sweep]

Rose bikes do a version of this medium bag - 31 litres.

Looks like the Ortleib one but branded Rose and cheaper. Different colour/less choice of colours.

Been thinking of getting one.

Might be an economical goer if ordering other stuff from them - their prices can be good.


http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/ortl ... aid:553764

[Sweep]

I also take with me on tour a small rack net just in case I need to put any clothes/bananas etc on top.

Very wise - still aghast at losing a quality hi-viz and Karrimor Pertex that fell from the side pocket of the maybe rather too neat Ortleib Bike Packer Pluses.

In future any light bits that won't quite fit are being netted to the top of the rack