RecumBum

I purchased the Nashbar Deluxe Rack Trunk Bag in September 2006 and mounted it on my Burley Django.

I selected this bag because it looked like it would have plenty of room, but primarily because it was on sale ($15.99). Since then, the bag has been on the bike full time, and has served me well.

Here’s what I like about this bag:

• I like the color scheme: black and hi-vis yellow – it’s very striking.
• It has a fairly large capacity (spec’d as 717 to 905 cubic inches).
• I like the hidden chamber under the lid of the bag; that’s a great out-of-the-way place to store things you don’t need that often, like tubes.
• I like the external pockets. I used one for tools, one for snacks, and one for my cell phone and keys.
• The main compartment has a single divider panel that can be moved. I normally set it up so that there’s a large space (about 3/4) up front for clothing and whatnot, with a smaller space (1/4) in the rear for miscellaneous stuff such as my camera and wallet.

Here’s what I don’t like about this bag:

• The sides of the bag are not rigid. Over time, especially with the internal divider removed, the bag tends to sag and collapse into a floppy, mushy mess.
• The bag is too long for my rack (to be fair, this is not the bag’s fault, but the fault of my mis-installed rack), and extends over the end of my rack, covering my rear reflector.
• When unzipping the main compartment, it’s too easy to open the expansion zipper by mistake, since they are so close to each other.
• The external pockets tend to droop over the sides and end of the bag.
• I think the bag’s a little heavy, at 1 pound, 2 ounces.

In the end, although I love the color and the carrying capacity, I’ve grown to dislike the way that it flows and sags around my rack. I think it just looks sloppy, and I’d prefer a cleaner, more streamlined look. I plan to keep this bag and use it for times when I need to haul a lot of stuff, but I want to find a better, more compact bag for everyday use.

Bottom line: Good bag for a great price.