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Good tri backpack?

William JenksWilliam Jenks
in Community Forum 🏠

The backpack I currently use for race days is wearing out.  It's only "sort of" a triathlon bag anyway, so I'm not going to cry when it does finally get too worn to use.

Which backpack do you guys like/use?  I do require it to be a backpack style bag, since there are a bunch of races around here where you have to ride your bike a reasonable distance from the parking lot to the transition area.

Comments

  • mariannemarianne
    my husband ordered Rudy sunglasses and part of the kit was a backpack. so I got the backpack and it has a spot for helmet and etc. I also took it to Guatemala and used it like a regular backpack and all of my friends wanted to know where I got it from!! yes i have seen the IM backpacks too but hey the Rudy one was "free" to me and I gladly took it and no regrets! smile.. m
  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    I have an old TYR backpack. The newer models are a bit nicer as they have a waist support strap which is really pretty important when you consider how heavy these packs can get! I love it because it's huge and easy to get stuff in/out of and there's lots of pockets (inside and out). My one complaint is that the zipper to the bottom compartment (which is supposed to expand the pack to put your wet wetsuit) rusted shut. Its really corroded now and simply impossible to unzip- so that whole part of the pack is now useless to me.

    I also have the USAT pack (came with the SWAG at Du Nationals) and I find that pack to be way too small.
  • gjordangjordan
    I use the LG and like it alot. Have had it 2 years. It has so many compartments I don't know what they are all for. It also comes with a small foldable chair that I do not use. The only problem I had was a gel pack leaked and gummed and inside compartment and zipper. But, after I wipped it down with water everything was fine. I picked it up at a race in Florida.
  • manconamancona
    For the money, i think the TYR backpack Nemo mentioned is the best buy. It has tons of room, a good design and a very fair price. The quality is not the best, but it works for the purpose. My complaint would be I find it not to be the most comfortable to ride with.

    I love the Zoot tri bags that I now have. They are awesome and very well designed, but you will pay more for them. The straps and frame are made much more like a try hiking bag and therefore it is much more comfortable to wear and ride with.
  • left.right.repeatleft.right.repeat
    Check out Rocket Science Sports. They have some great packs. I have used one for over 2 years and really like it. There are compartments for running shoes and run stuff, bike shoes and stuff in another pocket, a waterproof section for your wetsuit, another area for other stuff - some clothes or a towel. A couple of places for bottles on the outside, a transition mat included, a few outside pockets and a rain cover.....all in all, I vote it worth the money. Rocket Science Sports is a Texas company owned by a guy who used to work for NASA....hence the name - Rocket Science Sports.
  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    I bought a USAT branded backpack a while back ( http://www.usatstore.com/Details.html?cat=905&item=UTTBP ) that seemed reasonably priced, tri-designed, and of a fairly high quality.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    @Nemo - I think the race swag bag you have is probably very similar to what I'm using. My kids got them at Youth Nationals and I can't remember if mine is exactly the same or came from another race as swag, but they are very similar. Cheap zippers, etc., but have a few accessory pockets. Much like the USAT ones that go for around $40-45. Does the TYR bag have a name other than "triathlon bag"? They have about 378 different kinds of goggles.... :-)

    @George A chair???? Oh my! Is this a small hiking backpack?

    @mancona Hmmmm.... Zoot? hmmmmm... wonder how that one came up :-) I will look!

    @Bryan Thanks! I had definitely eyeballed the RS pack, but never held one, so it's very good to know you like it.

    Thanks for all the good pointers! May just come down to what I can get a good price on!
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks

     @Al. Thanks. That's pretty much the bag i have now...I think it's the one I referred to that my kids got. It's lasted ok, but I'm a little harder on these things than I should be, perhaps. I want something a little heavier duty. @Nemo, George, and Mancona... i assume the items you're talking about are the ones on this page? Matt, are you recommending the ~$150 model, or one of the others?

    @Bryan - which bag do you have? Rocket, Elite, or Real Joe?

     

    Thanks!

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    quick sidenote to have you check out what Fuelbelt has for sale. Certainly not a wide selection, but good stuff. I know of a couple of clubs that have done bulk orders from them to get these packs with their logos on them, etc.

    P
  • gjordangjordan

    William,

    I have this one www.all3sports.com/product_info.php and it's on sale for $79.99.

  • Mark StovallMark Stovall
    +1 on George's bag. I love it.
  • carls10carls10

    This is the bag I have and no I do not have any affiliation with Zoot   I absolutely love it, use it for training and racing on a very regular basis.  Lots of pockets, compartments, removable wet suit pocket and very sturdy waist and shoulder straps.

  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch

    Unlike goggles, I think TYR only has one transition bag.  It's called the TYR Transition Bag (original, huh!?).  You can get it at almost any swim, tri, or outdoor online dealer for <$50.  Here is one option : <a href="http://www.trisports.com/tyrtrbapa.html">http://www.trisports.com/tyrtrbapa.html

    So for the money it's awesome.  I have to second Mancona's comments about riding with it though- it is a bit clumsy for that purpose.  Oh- and I should find a copy of a pic one of my friends took of me carrying that thing- it's hysterical because the bag is almost as big as me when the bottom is unzipped!

  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    Since 2004, I've been using a Kona bag (can't find a link). it's orange and black, has a drawstring at the top and only one pocket on the outside, wetsuit zipper section in the bottom and it also came with a transition mat.

    This year, TriBike Transport, sent me a BlueSeventy bag: http://www.blueseventy.com/products/detail/transition_tz_bag
    I dig this one! Lots of pockets and it'll even fit my aero helmet in the helmet 'section'.
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