Product Review: Hincapie Pro Duffel

[MattTuck]

I have been looking for a long time for a Duffel Bag for cycling use, and I finally got this one a few weeks ago, and figured I'd write a short review based on my experience so far. Previously, I would find whatever bag I had handy, and try to stuff it with cycling gear, and usually carry my helmet and/or shoes separately, and it was just a mess.

The product can be found here. (http://www.hincapie.com/products/menswear/accessories/50610U-001-ONE/)

I will start off by saying that about half of my rides are done from a base that is not my home. Office, friend's house, parent's house, etc. So I wanted a bag that I could bring with me and carried everything I needed. In that sense, I wanted it to be like a "go bag" that I didn't have to think about, and just could basically travel with my bike any time I put it on the car.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P9MANxMMNKE/T44LDB7r2VI/AAAAAAAAAqU/BPVS6TwwaPM/s912/IMAG0545.jpg

First things first, this bag has lots of pockets. The ends both have good pockets, 2 on one side, one of which is zippered, and the other is open and made of neoprene (possibly meant to hold your helmet), on the other end, there is a pocket with a mesh section to air out the stink of dirty gear, the front has two zippered pockets with several organizer type pockets inside those. The main compartment is good sized, with a mesh divider (that you can fold down or keep up as a divider), in the main compartment, there are mesh pockets around half of the interior for organization.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FGEqsbLKcTc/T44LCYMLfTI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/tFn1wrOG_pY/s912/IMAG0546.jpg

https://picasaweb.google.com/115490551108410702620/HincapieBag?authkey=Gv1sRgCP_Sxf3JrM7S1wE#57325315 41860319954


In the bag, I have put:

4 bibs/shorts
3 short sleeve jerseys, 1 long sleeve heavy jersey
4 pairs socks
Tights
arm warmers
leg warmers
Garmin Edge 705 and heart rate strap
multi tool
shoes and cleat covers
helmet
LED blinky thing
gloves/road/id
sunglasses
chamois cream (dz nuts fits nicely in the mesh pockets)
soap (liquid dove soap, I prefer this instead of bar soap which doesn't travel well)
shampoo
deodorant
sunscreen
towel for showering
2 water bottles

It is an evolving list, so I may be rotating things into/out of the bag.


Initial use is positive. The bag seems of generally good quality with good materials and finish details. The bag holds its form well, and feels good whether it is carried with the shoulder strap or the handles. My main complaint so far is that when you unzip the main compartment, the flap folds over the front pocket, which is a little awkward and could have been designed better.

So far, for me, it is doing what I hoped it would do. Acting as a home-base away from home, that gives me what I need to ride from where-ever.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n5qPog4TmnU/T44LEKhOgtI/AAAAAAAAAqc/VOoLXyxh85g/s912/IMAG0547.jpg

PS. I have no affiliation with Hincapie. Just wanted to share my experience/impressions of this product in case others are in a similar situation when it comes to riding away from home.

[Uncle Jam's Army]

I have had the same bag for about the same amount of time. Really like it, though it is overkill, as I don't have enough to fully utilize all the pockets and storage. Agree about the main zipper compartment, but not a huge inconvenience.

Thumbs up, particularly for those who want to haul everything.

[MattTuck]

Have you figured out the purpose of that unzippered neoprene like pocket on one of the ends?

I still don't exactly know what the pocket was meant for. I thought about emailing Hincapie to find out ;)

[1happygirl]

Dude, Thanks for a great informative post.

I am a "bag" girl always looking but they are always too heavy or not right. Great review.

[veloduffer]

Thanks for the review - I have this bag on back order at Competitive Cyclist. For the longest time I just couldn't find the right bag that didn't cost over $100.

How many waterbottle holders does it have?

[MattTuck]

Thanks for the review - I have this bag on back order at Competitive Cyclist. For the longest time I just couldn't find the right bag that didn't cost over $100.

How many waterbottle holders does it have?

It has one "sleeve" to the right of the front pocket, you can see it in the top picture, right below the red zipper tab.

There is this "neoprene like" material that makes up a pocket on one end, that I still don't know the design intention of it, but you could keep 3+ water bottles in there, and the neoprene could provide some insulation for them... that is one theory I have for that particular pocket.

Based on this picture, from hincapie blog, I'll ammend my theory, and say that the neoprene pouch is for a helmet, though i had been keeping my helmet in the bag...

http://blog.hincapie.com/image.axd?picture=2010%2f2%2fProDuffel_03.jpg

[ClutchCargo]

Some other options out there fyi.

Specialized makes one (I have an earlier version) that is roomy, well "pocketed" and tough. Here it is:
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=64386

For a little more, Zipp makes a gear bag that also is tough and holds a ton of stuff. It has 4 botle holders, straps to hold a floor pump, and a bottom compartment that is intended to hold dirty/wet clothing or a wetsuit separate from everything else. Also has an expandable top "pocket" to hold the helmet. I have this one, too, and it has more of a cubic shape than other bags, so it doesn't appear that it holds a lot, but it really does.
http://www.treefortbikes.com/product/333222356770/396/Zipp-Speed-Weaponry-Zipp.html

finally, Pearl Izumi used to make a good travel bag that was frequently on sale for around $50 or so at Performance/Nashbar. Not sure they still make it, though.

[MattTuck]

There is also the Mountainsmith Bike Cube here. (http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=51&categoryId=45&subCategoryId=0&subCategory2Id=0)


and one from Craft, here. (http://www.jensonusa.com/!jf3RR-fNzHL38YJllZY8vQ!/Craft-Training-Bag)

Sizes in cubic inches, if you care. and price in dollars.

Specialized: 4988, $100
Mountainsmith: 3417, $74
Hincapie: 3900, $89
Craft: 2318, $60

Specialized does have the moest space out of these, I looked at all these and decided the Hincapie was the better looking option compared to specialized.