Saddlebags have been the traditional way to carry extra gear for bike packing or longer rides. However, as the saddlebags get larger or have heavier items you end up with side-to-side-sway which can compromise handling. Tailfin’s CargoPack (note, this was formerly the AeroPack Cargo) is one of their latest bags and offers expandable storage that integrates into Tailfin’s modular rack system. The CargoPack has a retail price of $205 for the bag alone which is a $35 premium over the standard AeroPack. For the complete setup the price ranges from $455 to $610 depending on whether you choose the carbon fiber or alloy arch. The bag has an impressive 18L capacity along with an additional 3L in the external mesh pockets. It’s a fully waterproof design with a built-in structure and reflective detailing for additional visibility.
The Tailfin CargoPack is a spacious and well made rear storage bag that integrates directly into Tailfin racks.
| Retail Price | $205 ($455-$610 with rack) |
| Rating | 9.0 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 747 (bag w/ connecting hardware), 1045 (w/ Carbon pannier + dropouts) |
| Likes | + Waterproof construction for riding in any weather + Large capacity offers impressive storage space + Premium quality materials and internal structure |
| Dislikes | – Black inner side walls makes it difficult to find things – Outer mesh pockets are loose unless you completely fill the main compartment – Buckle and strap take a bit of time to open and close if you want to quickly access an item |
| Where to Buy (US) | Tailfin |
UNBOXING
The Tailfin CargoPack comes in simple Tailfin branded cardboard boxes with all the pieces in separate boxes. What you get depends on which setup you choose and the attachment style that you select. Tailfin offers nearly every mounting variation you need from older QR bike setups to modern thru-axles.
MOUNTING
Tailfin has designed their rear rack system to be completely modular which means you can buy the full rack set with everything included for the bag separately if you already own a Tailfin rack. As a set, the CargoPack can be utilized either with the aluminum or carbon rack with or without the pannier attachments. The CargoPack comes with an attachment bracket that connects the bag to the quick-release seatpost mount. At the rear of the bag you have slots for a mounting bracket which is used to attach the bag to the rack itself. That attachment point also has a quick release which lets you switch between different bags while leaving the arch on the bike.
The bag can also be combined with the Tailfin’s full rack using a special connector for more versatility. Tailfin also has a number of accessories such as rear cargo mount or a taillight mount that bolts onto the rear of the bag to let you mount lights or gear. We attached the seatpost simulator which is a small round plastic piece that bolts onto the rear of the bag. With our QR bike, we swapped out our standard QR axle for Tailfin’s wider QR axle that accommodates the metal clamp attachment of the arch. Tailfin even offers a bolt on tabs that utilize eyelet mounts on frames, but the weight rating for that setup is lower than the axle setup. After a little fiddling with the parts we were able to quickly attach the two adapters to the bag and attach the full setup to our bike.
FIT & FINISH
The Tailfin CargoPack takes the same 18L capacity of the AeroPack bag but adds additional versatility and easier access. As with the standard AeroPack, the CargoPack is a fully waterproof bag with Tailfin’s premium material and design. It’s clear Tailfin has done extensive research and development to refine all the details of the bags and ensure it can hold up to a long weekend ride or multi-day cross-continental tour. Tailfin has designed the bag to directly integrate into their rear mount system with an internal aluminum structure instead of a traditional rack with bag attachment.
The bag has a roll-top opening that is similar to a standard dry bag design with a buckle system that lets you adjust how much you pack. Carbon rods are integrated into the structure of the bag so that it retains its shape even when the bag is empty. The exterior of the bag has a durable fabric construction that is mostly black with a few different textures on the pockets and sides. Additional slots on the rear of the bag allow you to strap on lights or other accessories. The big difference with CargoPack are the mesh side pockets though, which give you quick access to smaller items. There is a pocket on each side which lets you add up to 3L of additional easy-access storage.
Once you’ve rolled the bag up and buckled it, there is a single center rubber strap to cinch everything down tight. As with the Tailfin toptube bags, even the strap feels high quality with built in slots to tuck away any extra length. The length of the strap can easily be adjusted by either pushing the excess into the side pocket or pulling it out to create a longer length when the bag is more full. Tailfin has added their clever air valve to the bag as well which can be twisted open to release air as you roll the bag up, and then closed to make the bag fully water tight again.
If you are not familiar with Tailfin’s rack system, it’s a clever rear arch design that can be directly mounted to a frame or attached using axle adapters. Tailfin offers the rack in either a lightweight carbon version or a more affordable alloy version. The alloy version saves you about $70 – $110 depending on whether you add the pannier mounts and adds bolt-on side mounts for additional water bottle cages. We have the carbon version for this review which has a beautiful exposed carbon fiber weave and clean lines that looks more like a wide bike fork than a rack system. The pannier attachment option adds round attachment points to the top of the rack and rubber pads on the bottom for the bag to rest against.
ON THE ROAD
Even though we do not do multi-day epic bike packing rides in exotic locations like some of Tailfin’s riders, we were excited to use the bag for long rides. Installing the rack was easy once we figured out where all the adapters went and only required basic tools. The entire rack and bag can be installed and removed in under 15 seconds thanks to the clever quick release attachments which let us adjust the bike from lightweight racer to endurance bike setup. All the components are high quality with metal construction at the critical points and thick rubber straps elsewhere.
Once on the bike, the 18L capacity gives you enough space to bring enough food and gear for any type of adventure. For centuries or single-day rides, the bag can be too large which makes us hopeful Tailfin will offer a sleeker minimal variation of the AeroPack in the future. Otherwise, the bag works well with most of the weight down low in the arches with no swaying. Aside from the sensation of slightly more weight in the rear when you are walking the bike, the bike handling is largely unaffected and even acts as a fender with the bag deflecting any water spray or mud. The large inner pocket is cavernous with its single compartment design which means you may have to spend time sifting through smaller items to find it. We would have liked to see some inner dividers and a bright liner on the sides to help find things.
We also felt like the mesh outer pockets were too loose and unsecure causing our smaller snacks to fall out mid ride. Unless you have the bag really full, there simply isn’t enough tension on the mesh which means we wouldn’t really trust it for valuable items. Accessing items inside the bag takes a bit of time with the rollup bag and strap, but it’s waterproof and secure. We also used the rear light attachment which worked perfectly to mount lights like the Magicshine Seemee 300 as standard seatpost mounts can be partially obscured by the bag.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Tailfin CargoPack to be a well made and high-capacity bike bag. Tailfin has designed the CargoPack to integrate directly into their modular rack system for a sleek and rattle-free setup. The bag itself has the high quality material and waterproof design found on other Tailfin bags. We were impressed with the 18L capacity and quick release attachments that allow the bag to be quickly attached or removed from a bike. The bag design lets you bring enough food and gear for any adventure while leaving your jersey pockets empty. As far as negatives, we would have liked to see a bright inner liner on the sides and found the mesh outer pockets to be too loose unless the the bag was filled up. That said, the Tailfin CargoPack is a sleek and versatile bag for riders looking for the ultimate bag setup.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Tailfin. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.