Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

The expandable panniers make the bag a great gym bag, it carries my gym clothes on one side, shoes on the other. It rides well on the rack with the slide and lock system provided by Topeak.

The bag doesn't bounce, slides in and out easily. Never tried it in harsh weather though... Don't plan to neither, its nice to have the space last minute. When riding, I use it to carry my wallet and personal effects, and use the shoulder strap when I go into a restaurant or store.

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

I was looking for a larger storage capacity besides just a basic trunk, but full size panniers were much more than I needed. When I saw trunks with zip out panniers I knew I'd found what I needed. Still, I was a little concerned that the bag would not be big enough. I'm very happy to say nothing could be further from the truth with this bag from Topeak!

One can easily fit a number of library books in one pannier (including those oversized children's picture books), a fat 3 inch ring binder in the other pannier, a gallon of milk in the expanded trunk, and still have plenty of room for other things like wallet, bike lock, keys, tools, lights, backup batteries, etc. It's really amazing just how much can be put in this bag, and then it all folds up when you don't need it and you are left with just a slightly oversized trunk.

I highly recommend the QR rack from Topeak too. Just a slide and it locks into place, easily and securely. However, the extra long velcro straps mean it should fit any brand rack out there and stay in place reliably.

The only con I have is that in my old trunk the big area had mesh side pockets on the inside that I could stash my stuff into to keep it all from bouncing around. This bag is just all open. (There is a little bit of smaller inside pockets in the top lid section, but just a little bit.)

If you are like me and sometimes need more storage than a simple trunk but don't need the full sized pannier setup, this is perfect for the task. And an excellent bag!

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

I got this bag primarily for bike commuting to work. Previously I had been using a backpack but Texas summers are brutal and I'll take all the ventilation I can. It's hooked up to one of the purpose built MTX compatible racks which I got at the same time.

I was a bit skeptical at first but after a little use I have really come to like it.

Feature wise it's quite nice from top to bottom.
At the top it has a double strap handle with a cushy neoprene grip. It can come undone to give you full access to top. On the top is a mesh pocket and elastic strip. The pocket is good for wallets, keys and such. The strap can be used to sych down jackets or shirts. Though you might have to undo the handle to access it right.

Going down the bag you have double zipper that opens to the main compartment. Not water tight so if your planning on going in the rain consider a cover (Topeak makes custom covers).

Going further down the unit on the outside you run across the expansion zipper. This zipper when unzipped allows the top to expand out like bellows. The front of the top doesn't expand but the back does until the top is a bit like wedge. Turned out to be a pretty useful feature. I was really worried about lack of cargo room inside the main box, but with the expansion it allows me to handle a lot of stuff.

On each side is a padded side pocket. These side pockets are really just containment for the side panniers. If you don't need them you zip them up and it keeps them out of the way and the bag streamlined. If you do need them they are quick to deploy. Topeak recommends using a rack with side supports if you use the side panniers. So far I haven't had much call to use them. The middle trunk has been big enough to meet my needs. But if I ever need them they are there. Unfortunately they are not quite big enough to hold my medium sized Eagle Creek packing cubes. That would have been a sweet combo. If you don't need the panniers these things are kind of wasted weight and cost. But I did find you could shove thing things like socks, underwear and maybe even an undershirt in them and still get it all zipped up. It's where I keep my dirty laundry after the morning ride.

On the front of the unit is a plastic ring for the strap and the clip to attach to the MTX rack. On the rear is a thoughtfully placed bottle holder which can be used as a small parts bin when your stripping all the accessories off your bike after parking. The holder has two stabilizing straps to get the right fit as well as clamp things on to (like your bike lock). There is a light holder strip on the bottle holder which lets you mount your rear light. There is also the back ring for mounting the strap.

The bottom is like regular luggage bag bottom with a molded plastic strip along it. The strip has angled groves in it that dovetail with the compatible racks and allows the bag to flawlessly and completely latch onto those racks.

Going inside the bag on the lid is a pocket. This is big enough for wallets, keys, PDA's etc. One nitpick is that this pocket isn't tight enough or unidirectional. One way or another you risk something falling out of it if your not careful. The main trunk comes with foam + Velcro divider which I promptly removed.
The main section is what I use the most. I found you can fit a pair of shoes (up to size 10), pants, undershirt, regular shirt, undies, socks, gloves, small U-Lock and a bit more. A whole change of clothes without having to deploy the panniers.

I also found it's pretty good for shopping. I was skeptical at first but it took a smallish whole seedless watermelon with no problem. You can deploy the panniers for the lighter bulky items like cereal, paper towels, chips etc. It can handle a few days worth of groceries but not weeks. You will need to get the side supports for the rack though.

So features aside how does it work? Great. I load it up with groceries or clothes and head off. I can feel the extra weight on the back of the bike but it's much more comfortable there than on a backpack big though to handle the same load. Once I get to work I can slide it off and to hit the showers, pack the dirty clothes in it and head off up to the office. Works great.

So
Pros –
Very flexible in the amount of stuff it can carry vs bulk.
Great Mounting system
Lots of storage space
Aerodynamic (for a bag)
Adaptable to different uses

Cons-
Requires proprietary rack
Could use a few more/better inside pockets
Not weatherproof

Conclusion
If your looking for a good bike bag that can handle a wide variety of tasks this is a great one. It may not be as design and weight efficient as some dedicated units but the sheer flexibility more than makes up for it. The integration of the mounting system with the dedicated rack is well worth if you are flexible on your rack options. Add a rain cover and your ready for anything.

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

I gave up my car and began walking. Soon I realized I was getting back pains from walking 2-3 miles with a laptop and books and things on my back. This bag has been perfect for my bike. My laptop actually fits in the side panniers and never gets damaged on the ride and it fits securely and with a good degree of balance on my bike for the whole ride. It slides off and I can use the shoulder strap to carry the bag into buildings and meetings. There's enough room with the expandable main bag to pick up a good amount of groceries as well. Even in the high winds, I'm not de-stabilized while riding. Very important in the windy city. I highly recommend this!

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

I'm on the bike almost every day, and commute to work at least 2, sometimes as many as 5 days a week. This bag is a great improvement over the backback bungeed to the rack.

I carry my work clothes and shoes, lunch, as well as other gear such as spare inner tube, multi-tool, hat, etc., on my daily commutes and it keeps me well organized. Pull into work, add the shoulder strap and slide the bag off to head in...

If I decide to take the bike on the train, the bag is secure enough I can leave it attached and still hang the bike from the front wheel on the trains' bike racks. Very handy.

On pleasure rides I can zip up the pannier and have a nice compact bag for the basics, or drop them back down if I pick things up along the way.

Only complaint, the handle is attached to the lid, and thus puts the weight of the contents on the zipper. You must use the shoulder strap if it's loaded much at all. Also, you can't lift it by the handle if the lid is unzipped, something you may want to do as you are getting on or off the bike, getting keys and other gear out, etc.

A better design would have had the handles attached to the sides and just extend over the lid. The fact that the handles connect with a velco strap is pointless, since they don't interfere with the lid opening.

I've thought about taking it to a luggage repair shop and see if they can modify it for me...

Otherwise, no complaints. Works great in the system rack I already had.

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

I got this bag a week ago, and I love how it secures to the bike with the slide mount.

But already I'm worried about wear and tear. It seems that if you lift it by its handle, you are putting extreme strain on the zippers! I wonder how long before they are destroyed. I use the shoulder strap to lift it, which seems like it would beat it up a lot less over time.

I use it to bike commute a whopping ten mile round trip, and I really like the panniers that zip out instantly when needed. The little pockets seem pretty tiny and useless when not using the panniers, but I guess they are only for storing the panniers out of the way when not needed.

Some folks say they take the bag shopping, but I wonder because a lot of stores are funny about bringing bags or backpacks inside. Doesn't seem like it would make a good shopping bag anyway.

Another bummer is there is no way to secure it to the bike with a lock, so you can't really leave it outside, either. What to do, what to do...

But for packing my lunch, phone, iPod, blue ice packs and water, this thing rocks! Pack it all in, click it to the rack, and hit the road. Nice!

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

The bag is nice, tons of room and roomy panniers. The only thing I see being a slight issue is that for 85 bucks you should probably get water proof zippers and fabric, or at least a cheap waterproof cover for it.

Everything else seems to be functional and nice, as advertised. The rack connecting system works very well, and is extremely simple.

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

I'm a gas free green person. I commute to work and shop with my bicycle in a pretty hilly area. The bag is abit heavy, but it's SOLID. Doesn't sway to throw you off balance. The expanding features are awesome, this bag holds a lot for it's size. The insulated center compartment really works great for day trips and picnics. Don't get the post mounted rack though, if you're going to pack this bag full. It will sway on turns or pumping up a hill. Works great with the Explorer rack I have. The expandable panniers have tie downs to make it more stable. Only reason I gave this product 4 stars was that there is no way to lock the bag to the bike against theft.

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

At the time of this writing, the product photo doesn't reflect the updated bag that I bought.

The bag does indeed have some bulk to it, but the flexibility of having fold-down panniers on demand, an expandable top, and interior divider sold me. This 2008 bag is supposed to be more weather resistant than its predecessor, and I'll find out this week, since it's rainy.

This bag is also great off the bike since it has a built-in bottle holder in the back, so once you've attached the included shoulder strap, you don't have to occupy your hands! You can pretty much ride to the store, slide off the bag, fill it with groceries, and ride home!

Because this bag makes use of the Topeak QuickTrack system, it really is worth it to get a Topeak rack--especially if you have more than one bike in the house. That way, you can move the bag from one rack to the other quickly. And considering the weight of the bag plus its contents, that may be a reason why there's no velcro to attach this to non-Topeak racks.

Comments about Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP with Expandable Side Panniers:

I use this to commute, shop, and take trips with. It is a great item for just putting around, but be careful. Overload it and it'll throw your center of balance off. I have a busted knee-cap to prove it. Not very durable if it meets the pavement, I have 2 holes in it from one small wreck. Use it with a fixed rack, not a post mounted one, it will sway. For the plus. It holds a bunch of stuff. The center insulated compartment will hold a gallon of milk with some room to spare. The expandable paniers hook into your fixed rack so they don't sway. The slide on\off feature is AWESOME for security.