Tailfin - Bikepacking rethought

Since my transfer ride of the Rose Backroad+ in autumn 2021, the topic of bike travel/bikepacking hasn't let me go. Until the next big tour, it's, so to speak, only a matter of time.
During such a trip you have plenty of opportunity to consider what about the setup works or still needs improvement. One thing that, for example, always bothered me: the rattling of the bags on the luggage rack. That sound has been permanently etched into my memory. The same went for the noise of the Shimano EP8 motor, which drowned out more than a few lovely birdsong – but that's another story. The fiddly mounting of my partly improvised makeshift solution likewise didn't exactly beg to be repeated.

It seemed clear: my equipment wasn't fundamentally bad, but there was room for improvement. Future bike trips should therefore be free of tinkering, easy to handle and as quiet as possible.

You can really waste a lot of time researching bags and racks, yet still feel like you've only scratched the surface. It's incredible how much stuff — and just as many solutions — there are for getting your belongings from A to B!
Poor purchases are unfortunately likely, because finding the right compromise (there's always some compromise) is not easy.

A setup with a saddlebag, frame bag and handlebar roll is tempting, as it is usually lighter than a rack system.
However, on the one hand I regularly brush my knees against the frame bag, which is annoying. On the other hand, packing the saddlebag requires special care so that nothing rubs or rattles against the bike. And woe if the much-needed windbreaker was stuffed in first and therefore ends up at the very bottom — well, you only make that mistake once.
The handlebar roll can also restrict hand positions, and often there are cables or lines in the way.
Bottom line: For my use — commuting to work, travelling and occasionally doing shopping by bike — not ideal.
A setup with a classic rack, in turn, requires mounting points on the frame and is moreover unsuitable for full-suspension bikes.

After a long search and much consideration, the products from Tailfin seemed ideal to me.
The British company based in Bristol set out a few years ago to rethink bike racks and, after probably countless hours of tinkering, developed a rack system that is unrivaled in terms of handling and versatility: the stability of a conventional rack combined with the quick mounting of a saddlebag. On top of that, it looks smart and can be fitted to practically any bike.

The "tailfin" was originally developed for long-distance races and the whole system around the top rack bag was designed with aerodynamics in mind.
Tailfin is available in several variants: from as light as possible, the AeroPack Carbon, to as universal as possible, the Alloy Rack with pannier mounts.
The rack is rated for a generous 3x9 kilograms, i.e. a full 27 kg payload.
And you might hardly believe it, but the rack is just as suitable for full-suspension bikes as it is for aero road bikes. Thanks to the three articulating mounting points, the Tailfin follows all the movements of the rear suspension. Whether a delicate carbon seatpost or a retractable dropper post on a mountain bike: unlike some other saddle bags, the Tailfin may be mounted anywhere. The rubber bumper fits all conceivable shapes of seatposts.
From whisper-quiet tarmac to a punchy Alpine cross, anything that’s fun is allowed.

I chose the most versatile rack, the aforementioned "Alloy Rack with pannier mounts", i.e. the aluminium rack with side pannier mounts and a removable top bag.
Alternatively, you can attach Cargo Cages or all sorts of other accessories to the three side M4 mounting points.
At 483 grams this model is, however, also the heaviest option from Tailfin. The carbon counterpart would weigh almost 150 grams less but cost €250 more — that decision is up to you.

Beyond the choice of material, you can save further weight with the system shown here (rack with Trunk Top Bag) if you're willing to sacrifice a bit of versatility. As already mentioned, there are several variations: with or without side pannier mounts, and with a removable or fixed-mounted top rack bag.
All in all it's up to about 300 grams, and in my view the removable bag more than compensates for the small extra weight compared with a fixed-mounted bag on the AeroPack.

One important note should still be made about the upper stays of the rack: The Top Stays are available either in "Regular" length, or as a "Long" variant that is 50 mm longer. When ordering you face the tough choice.
Fortunately Tailfin sent both versions to the editorial team, because I hadn't considered the following when ordering: as shown in the photos, using the regular Top Stays can limit the usability of the Trunk Top Bag.

For full-suspension bikes or bikes with a dropper post the Long variant is advisable.
On gravel bikes or road bikes the short stays fit better again, since you can actually notice the 50 mm in terms of handling and the shift of the center of gravity.
Therefore, especially on full-suspension bikes it's recommended not to load the Trunk Top Bag excessively. However, the system still remains significantly more stable than my saddlebag will ever be.
Also worth mentioning in this context: the Top Stays are simply inserted into the rack and secured with a small rubber strap, so a subsequent swap or change can be done quickly.

Tech Specs Carrier

The rack is mounted on a special thru-axle from Tailfin. If you have a bike with a classic quick-release axle, that’s no problem either; the appropriate quick-release skewer is of course also available.
Important: Frames with Sram UDH, Salsa, R.A.T. (Focus) or Open dropouts each require their own adapters for the dropouts!
If your frame has mounting points for a luggage rack, the Tailfin can also be mounted directly without the quick-release fastenings.

The rack simply clicks onto the stubs that protrude left and right from the axle. At the seat tube, an easy-action clamping lever with a perforated plastic strap, which is supplied in two lengths, ensures a rattle-free fit.
There’s nothing more to do at this point. Swap the thru-axle and close the three quick-release fastenings — done! No tinkering, no improvising. The trouble-free installation of the Tailfin Alloy Racks is impressive.
Additionally, the lower quick-release fastenings can be secured with a screw, which at least acts as a small theft deterrent.

The thru-axle is available in different versions due to varying manufacturer standards, since there is a wide range of thread pitches and axle lengths.
Fortunately, there is a small database on the Tailfin website to help you find the right thru-axle for your bike.

But if, like me, you want to use the carrier on several bikes with different axle lengths and thread pitches, I recommend the "universal thru-axle". It can quickly be converted to the appropriate thread as needed using two 5 mm hex keys.
In my case, otherwise three different thru-axles would have been necessary.
The stability of the universal thru-axle was indistinguishable from a normal thru-axle on the first rides.
It should also be mentioned that the standard axle length fit both 12x142 mm and all my bikes with a 12x148 mm axle spacing.
And: the straight or tapered spacers, important for centering the carrier, are included with all Tailfin thru-axles.

So, on to the bike front: Here Tailfin relies on the so-called Cargo Cages together with matching bags, whereby the "cages" can alternatively also be used at the rear (see photo no. 71).
The mounting frames, made of aluminium, are available in three lengths (Mini 64 mm / 2 mounting holes, Small 157 mm / 3 mounting holes, Large 221 mm / 4 mounting holes) and are a small feat of milling craftsmanship.
If needed, you can screw on the included bracket to secure dry bags or bottles against sliding off. That you can also use it to open your after-work beer is a very user-friendly detail.

The bags come in three sizes with 1.6, 3 or 5 litres of volume. I chose the Cargo Cages in size Small, paired with 5L bags and the 65 cm long Cargo Straps. That’s roughly 300 grams per side and just enough capacity for a 1-person tent (without accessories) or a compact inflatable sleeping pad.
Small note: The long Cargo Cages might be better suited for the 5L bags, as the bags protrude above and below and could under some circumstances rub against the fork — but this still needs to be proven in practice.

Tech Specs Bags

The duo for the front is finished to the same high standard as the other Tailfin bags, but it has no stiffening and can therefore be rolled up small when not needed. The 5L variants additionally have a valve to release excess air, which makes packing and compressing easier.
The bags are attached with the Cargo Straps. Mounting isn't as elegant as with the X Clamp system on the rack, but it still works very well: hook onto the loosened straps and tighten without fiddling — very practical, and two hands are more than enough for the job. The rubber-like Speed Hooks on the front of the bags are another one of those small, Tailfin-typical details that are extremely helpful.

Compression straps are also included and can be attached horizontally or vertically as needed, just like on the rear.
The whole setup may be loaded with 1.5 kilograms per attachment point. In other words: on most forks (or on the rack) you get up to 3×1.5 kg, i.e. 4.5 kg of additional load per bag.

Most of you probably scrolled to the info section and saw the prices long before you read these lines. Yes, just under a thousand is a lot of money for a "pack rack" and "a few little bags", but anyone who tries the system (thanks to a 30-day return policy, incidentally easily possible) will be convinced by the quality, handling and versatility.
You then view the price from a different perspective. The initial purchase cost is high, but you'll certainly enjoy it for many years, and on top of that there's a full five-year warranty.
In my view it's important that you enjoy using the system and, thanks to the product, you don't have to think twice about taking a spontaneous weekend trip.

As a tech-savvy person (which I can unquestionably claim to be), I'm further impressed by the inventiveness of the Tailfin team. There are so many clever little details that may seem rather simple at first glance, but together form a system that, in terms of ease of use, stability and silence, is well ahead of all the others.
The Tailfin system has rightfully earned the title "eierlegende Wollmilchsau" — a jack-of-all-trades!