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Restrap Race Top Tube Bag Review: Short and Sweet
Restrap just introduced its latest UK-made addition to their light and fast collection: the Restrap Race Top Tube Bag (Short). With its useful size, a stable and unique attachment system, and mesh side pockets(!), we had to give it a try. Find our review after some testing ahead of today’s launch here…
Over the last few years, I’ve managed to leave most of my accessory bags at home on various bikepacking trips. That list includes top tube bags, stem bags, and other such peripheral luggage. One of the reasons for this is because of my propensity to pack light, making accessory bags seem like overkill. Another is a slight obsession with a clean look. I’m often reviewing bikes, so for the sake of capturing well-defined photos of these rigs, it’s usually in my best interest to keep the bike frame visible and uncluttered. That being said, I like to have a single stem bag on the left-hand (non-drive) side of the cockpit to stow a water bottle, and more importantly, for the super-handy exterior mesh pockets that are common on this style of bag. For me, they’re the most easy-to-access, user-friendly storage possible for stuff like lip balm, snacks, wrappers, lighters, lens caps, or other small items that I’m juggling on the fly. When I saw that Restrap was announcing a new Race Top Tube Bag with stretchy mesh side pockets, I was intrigued. Read on for my impressions after trying it for a few weeks ahead of the release.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the brand, Restrap started making bikepacking bags with the release of their laced-up Loader seat pack back in 2014 along with the CarryEverything range of bags. Their designs caught on, and they’ve been expanding their lineup ever since. The company now has 40 employees and an extensive bikepacking-focused lineup, including its new Race series, featuring light and fast designs that cater to ultra-endurance athletes and folks wanting to keep their packed weight to a minimum.
The latest bag in the range is the 1.2-liter Race Top Tube Bag (Short). They actually released two similar bags prior to this one: the 1.5-liter Race Top Tube Bag Regular and a Long 2-liter version. The Short version I tested measures 240mm long x 120mm tall x 45mm wide and is closer to a “regular” sized top tube bag in my mind. It’s comparable, although maybe a hair smaller, to other popular top tube bags I’ve used, including the 0.9-liter Revelate MagTank and the 1-liter Oveja Negra Snack Pack (Large).
The Restrap Top Tube Bag Short can be attached to the bike via one of two different bolt-on eyelet placements or with the included hypalon top tube strap, one of Restrap’s Fast Straps made from a grippy hypalon material that I really like. The front steerer tube attachment mechanism is part of what makes this bag interesting. I consists of a triangular-shaped piece of Hypalon that cradles the stem and steerer and a threaded bungee that wraps around the steerer and hooks onto a plastic clasp on the right-hand side of the bag. It’s extremely secure and gives the bag an unshakeable stability while out on the trail. Even when loaded with heavy items like tools and a phone, there’s no chance of it going sideways, even on rougher descents. I swapped the Race Top Tube Bag between bikes a couple of times, which brought to light my only real complaint with it: I wish the bungee had some sort of sewn-on tab to make it easier to grab and remove. But it would be a simple addition, so perhaps I’ll make one.
The bag is constructed using a variety of different materials, including the main X21 body fabric and a yellow 210 Denier Nylon interior lining. Sandwiched between the two is a minimal plastic rigid structure that helps it keep its shape. It also has a textured foam base and a stretchy strap on the left side interior for securing a phone or cache battery. I used it for my iPhone 12 Pro, and it fit perfectly.
Restrap claims that the the X21, nylon lining, and YKK Aquaguard zip used on the Race Top Tube Bags “keeps inclement weather at bay,” but I haven’t used this one during a downpour to find out. I’ll update this post if and when I do. Note that you have to be mindful when securing the zipper to make sure it goes under the Hypalon zipper hood, otherwise it can smoosh that piece, expose the opening, and allow water to enter the bag.
In use, I really like the short version of the Restrap Top Tube Bag. It’s relatively thin, unobtrusive, and extremely stable, so it kind of just blends in with the cockpit. It also plays well with other bags and offers just enough room for items I like to keep handy. On a recent overnighter, I used it to store my BeFree water filter, some snacks, a multi-tool, and my phone. It worked flawlessly, even when loaded to the gills. Oh, and those stretchy mesh pockets are great. They’re not gigantic, but they’re perfect for smaller items. I used them mainly for lip balm, a snack bar, and trash, but they’re stretchy enough that you could easily overstuff them on the fly, which I imagine ultra-endurance racers will do while trying to maintain calorie intake. All told, they kept things secure and are even easier to access than the mesh pockets on most stem bags.
- Model/Size Tested: Restrap Race Top Tube Bag (Short)
- Claimed Weight: 120 grams (with strap)
- Place of Manufacture: United Kingdom
- Price: $83.99
- Manufacturer’s Details: Restrap.com
Pros
- Excellent size and high-quality construction
- Unique front Hypalon strap system makes it super stable
- Minimal strap and attachment system is non-abrasive and works with other bags
- Easy-to-operate, one-handed zipper
- Mesh pockets are great for small snacks, wrappers, lip balm, and other such items
Cons
- I’d like to see an internal flat side pocket for a wallet or passport
- A tab on the steerer bungee would be a good addition
Wrap Up
This is only my second experience with Restrap’s handiwork—I’m also testing the Race Seat Pack, which I also really like—but so far, I’m impressed with their attention to precision, craftsmanship, and the small details that make their bags unique. The Race Top Tube Bag has a lot of nice details, such as its ability to attach using the included strap or bolt-on mounts, all of the Hypalon elements, the internal organizer strap, and of course, its super-handy stretchy mesh pockets. It’s also supremely stable because of the unique steerer attachment system and minimal internal structure. If you’re looking for a lightweight, stable, and easy-to-use top tube bag with some interesting features, this one should be on your list.
Further Reading
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