Bikepacking has been Experiencing a huge jump in popularity lately thanks to events like the Great Divide Race, Arrowhead 135, and the Iditabike, but bikepacking isn’t just for the super hardcore racer. It’s an excellent way to explore the area around you by just riding out your front door and seeing where that dirt road goes. I land somewhere in-between those two groups, I love a good race, but I also just love to get out on my bike and ride with no purpose so when Scott of Porcelain Rocket offered up a set of bags to test I jumped at the chance.
You may not have heard of Porcelain Rocket but they have been around for several years now, preferring to grow by word of mouth and reputation rather than making a big advertising push. In any case I did not offer any real input as to what I wanted out of the bags other than the color, Hot Pink! So when I got the bags I was not sure what to expect. Upon opening the package I pulled out 3 bags – A Seatbag with a roll closure and some interesting extras like bungie webbing on the bottom to hold your camp shoes. A Handlebar bag made to hold an Outdoor Research 10L Drybag and finally an Accessory pocket that straps onto the Handlebar bag via some removable straps. My first impression was, man is the construction of these bags excellent, All the seams are captured with Grosgrain ribbon, the zippers are heavy duty and the bags just feel durable. The bags mounted up on the pugs like they were made to fit. (sort of the point of custom bags, heh) When they were stuffed with a bit of kit and ridden around the block and off some curbs felt very stable and really did not interfere with pedaling or braking. I will be putting them to the test in the upcoming weeks so keep an eye out for my first impression review after I get some dirt and sand on them.
The Seatbag stuffed with a puffy jacket, fleece, a baselayer and a pair of camp pants.
Here you can see the map pocket sewn into the Handbar bag
The Accessory pocket straps the the handlebar bag for when you need a bit more room for camera gear, food or even a small jacket.
Nice! Gotta love the hot pink color.
I hadn’t heard of these until recently but liked what I saw enough that I just put a deposit down on a handlebar/saddle bag combo.
all bags need some sort of “accessory” pocket in my opinion. Youll never know when youll need it.