Restrap Race Top Tube Bag
The Race Top Tube Bag is a long top tube bag with a 2 litre capacity. It is manufactured by the British company Restrap. They also have warehouses in Europe, so availability is not a big problem. It's a direct competitor to a similar bag from Apidura, because besides the same volume and shape, it also sells for a similar price tag - around 2,000 crowns.
The bag features waterproof materials and a double-sided, waterproof zipper, but we'll talk more about its rain protection. At first glance, it catches the eye with mesh pockets on the sides. It includes internal plastic reinforcement that helps the bag hold its shape. Weighs 239 grams, which is slightly more than the Apidura (+39g).
🗃️ Useful external pockets, but poorer internal organization
It attaches to the stem with a specially designed "rubber band". Although it gives more work to attach the bag, it holds all the better afterwards. Definitely a good move for me. In the front of the bag there is a wide dryer fixed to the bag. There are three eyelets in the back where any dryer can be used. At the very end is a buckle to attach to the seatpost. If you don't want to scuff up your frame, I recommend using some sort of protective film.
The bag fits on the frame tube quite well. However, when I dismount the bike and tilt it to the side, the pannier always shifts a bit. It's due to the length - the type of pannier. What was a bit of a bummer was that I bought the pannier directly from the manufacturer, but they sent it to me in a small box that came slightly bent and I couldn't get it back to a straight shape.
The net pockets are the best thing about the bag Acepak has similar ones, but these are more flexible and fit more. I've carried things like a camera in one pocket, so there's plenty of room and things don't fall out.
I would have expected some pockets inside the bag for better organization, but unfortunately I didn't get them. Or rather, there is a rubber belt, but it can't hold much. Since I carry the bag on a mountain bike, the top frame tube is not in a straight line and things tend to slide to the back of the bag. Everything falls out of the rubber strap anyway.
I use the plastic reinforcement compartments as pockets. I don't think the manufacturer intended such use, but better than nothing. Stuff is hard to mine out of, so it's handy for things you don't need that often. It's a good place for a powerbank or toothbrush for example 😉.
🚿 It's almost waterproof
The bottom of the bag is quite thin, and if I have some heavier stuff inside - like a cell phone - it rubs my frame a lot in the field. I don't think it could do any damage, but it's definitely not pleasant. As a solution, I started putting a choke under my heavier stuff to cushion the impact.
What I still miss is a cable outlet in the front of the bag. I needed it because I had a power bank powering the light. I finally solved it by making a hole in the bag under the rubber band that holds the bag to the headboard, which I ran the cable through. I didn't lose waterproofing thanks to the rubber, but threading the cable through it was an activity I only wanted to do once.
And finally, about that claimed waterproofness. I complained about this directly to the manufacturer - the answer? They don't have waterproof seams, or rather they don't have them taped. And it is through the seams that a small amount of water gets into the bag. You have to drive through intense rain for hours to see the contents. It gets wet. I've tried taping the seams at the top with waterproof patches, but haven't had a chance to test it in real conditions.
The zippers feel pretty solid to me and I trust them much more than the ones on the Apidura. I'd be careful not to stuff too much stuff inside, though. The zipper needs to be able to unzip without too much resistance. It's one-handed without a problem.
📐 Summary
That complete waterproofing is a shame, but I carried the bag on the 2020 Mil and on the Tour Divide and survived. I've totally fallen in love with the pockets on the sides, and I carry all sorts of odds and ends in there that I don't have to unzip for.**
I regret the lack of organization of the internal contents, sometimes things get jumbled up and it's hard to find things. There is a lot of volume in there, after all, and a couple of pockets would be deserved.
Advantages
- Side pockets
- Reliable zipper
Disadvantages
- Not 100% waterproof
- No cable outlet
- Weak bottom
Overall rating: 4/5
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