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review

Specialized/Fjällräven Top Tube Bag

6
£50.00

VERDICT:

6
10
There's lots to like about this top tube bag, but there are better, cheaper options out there
Slimline
Cable port access
Great colours
Various mounting options
Two internal mesh pockets
Not fully waterproof
Bag can move around
Weight: 
147g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Specialized/Fjällräven Top Tube Bag is a high-quality and attractive 0.8L capacity design that offers convenient access to snacks, keys or your phone on the move. It can be attached to a frame via straps or screws, although ours had a tendency to move left or right when attached with straps, and the two-way zip on ours was a little stiff in operation. It's also rather expensive.

For options beyond top tube bags – frame bags, seatpacks and more – check out our guide to the best bikepacking bags.

Measuring 26cm long, 10cm high and 6cm wide, it's a relatively long, low and narrow thing. Its 0.8L capacity is good enough for a bag of sweets, keys, a wallet and a phone (my iPhone 14 Pro fitted nicely), and I even managed to squeeze in an inner tube.

Two elasticated mesh pockets allow you to keep items tucked out of the way, but when not in use they don't take up any interior space, so you can simply chuck all your stuff into the main compartment.

2022 Specialized-Fjallraven Top Tube Bag - mesh pocket inside.jpg

The bag is made out of Vinylon F material, which is soft but durable and 'a long-time Fjällräven favourite'. It's a really good material that's surprisingly weather resistant, even after longer bouts of rain, but sustained heavy rain will eventually find its way through.

The lining is recycled polyamide 210D and waterproof, but the seams aren't taped, and the zip isn't waterproof, either, so a Ziplok bag might be wise if you want to protect things from moisture.

The sides are foam padded for a bit of protection, and the base of the bag has a plastic stabiliser to help it keep its shape.

There's also a 'weather-resistant' port that runs through where the top strap mount is located at the front of the bag, allowing you to run a cable through to charge your phone, GPS or light as you ride.

I'm not a huge fan of the two-way zip – I prefer to keep things simple – but it does mean you can keep the bag partially open at either end, to access different things while on the move.

2022 Specialized-Fjallraven Top Tube Bag - zips 3.jpg

I found the zip on ours a little on the stiff side, and since the zip pull cord isn't particularly big, it's not the easiest to operate on the move. There's a garage to keep the upper zip in place.

2022 Specialized-Fjallraven Top Tube Bag - zip 2.jpg

To keep the bag in place, there are two straps to attach it to your top tube, and one to wrap around the headset spacers (or seat tube, if you prefer to have it positioned there). The latter is thin enough to accommodate various stack heights, and you can mount the strap in a low and high position. A foam spacer is included should you need it. All the straps are the simple hook and loop (Velcro) variety.

2022 Specialized-Fjallraven Top Tube Bag - logo.jpg

During testing I found that the bag had a tendency to drop slightly left or right, which meant my knees would inevitably start rubbing against it a little. This happened no matter how tight I fastened the straps, though part of me can't help wondering if the combination of a titanium frame with a slippery wax coating on top was contributing to this.

2022 Specialized-Fjallraven Top Tube Bag - top tube straps.jpg

If you have the option, the bag comes with two holes on the base to enable you to bolt it to your frame. I tried this on my Bombtrack Beyond+ and it was rock solid, even without using the headset strap.

It comes in four colours: Ochre, Ox Red and black, as well as the green on test, so you can keep all your S/F bags matchy matchy. The trademark S/F logo is attached to either side of the bag, and the reflectivity gives you a little bit of extra pop at night.

Value and conclusion

Oddly, the bag retails at £55 on the Fjällräven site, but £50 on Specialized's. Either way, it's still a pretty pricey top tube bag, up against some stiff competition.

Restrap's 0.8L Top Tube Bag is a bit of a benchmark product as far as top tube bags go. Mike rated the bag's design, choice of materials, waterproofing and the fact it's made in the UK. (S/F's stuff is made in Asia.) It's also £15 less, so a bit of a bargain by comparison.

The S/F bag is slightly cheaper than the 76 Projects Ass Top Tube Bag, at £59.50, which can only be mounted with bolts – but off.road.cc reviewed it and thought it was excellent.

> 15 easy ways to carry stuff on your bike

Overall, the S/F is a decent option if you want a bag that will stand out from the crowd, and there are some nice features included. Its slight instability is a bit annoying, but if you have top tube mounts then you're good to go.

There's no getting away from the price, though, so unless you already have some pieces from the S/F collection, you might want to look at the cheaper and better options available.

Verdict

There's lots to like about this top tube bag, but there are better, cheaper options out there

road.cc test report

Make and model: Specialized/Fjallraven Top Tube Bag

Size tested: One size

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Specialized/Fjallraven says, "Two-way zippered top tube bag with a large opening for easy access to biking essentials. Semi-soft design with a reinforced base that attaches with Velcro straps or screws to the top of the frame. The pack is made from durable Vinylon with a recycled nylon lining and foam-padded sides. Inside mesh pockets keep track of your smaller items. Seams are not taped, but the lining fabric is waterproof. Part of the Specialized/Fjällräven series for urban rides and bikepacking adventures."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Fjallraven:

Weather-resistant design in Vinylon F with recycled nylon lining.

Sturdy attachment system using Velcro straps or screws.

Weather-resistant cable opening on side facing forward.

Foam-padded side panels and plastic stabilizer in the base.

Dimensions: 25 x 9 x 5 cm

Height: 10 cm

Width: 26 cm

Depth: 6 cm

Volume: 0,8 l

Weight: 139 g

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Good build quality and material choice.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

A slight issue with bag sway, but otherwise it performed well.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

The material is quite rugged and easy to clean.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

It's £15 more than the excellent Restrap offering, and at this price you might expect the bag to have slightly better waterproofing.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Plenty of storage, though the slightly tricky zip means it's not the easiest to access on the move.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It's a great looking product with colours to suit a variety of frames (and tastes).

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It's not the easiest bag to access while you ride.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's pricier than the superior Restrap Top Tube Bag, though cheaper than the excellent 76 Projects Ass Top Tube Bag (which can only be mounted with bolts).

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a decent top tube bag that looks and feels great, but is slightly let down by a couple of minor issues and quite a high price tag.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 6'4  Weight: 175lbs

I usually ride: Condor Italia RC custom build  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, mtb,

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3 comments

Avatar
srchar | 1 year ago
0 likes

That's a lot of money for a small picture of a fox.

Avatar
0-0 | 1 year ago
2 likes

£50 for a pencil case with straps.

Avatar
ChuckSneed | 1 year ago
1 like

So it's good, except for how it's leaky and loose, two pretty fundamental issues? Sounds like a great use of £50

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