Life In The Saddle

I am a sucker for bags, and a fanatic kit organiser. These two personality traits have led me on an ongoing search for the best bag for every pursuit, whether it is trans-continental bike tours, overseas travel, or a daily cycle commute. No one bag ticks all the boxes for every kind of trip, but having a multitude of bags does allow you to be super-organised and prepared for any kind of adventure… The Thule RoundTrip Bike Duffel Bag is designed to carry all your kit when you are heading to a bike race, training camp, or on a multi-day trip with your bike. Featuring dedicated storage pockets for your helmet, shoes, sunglasses, tools, and clothes; it has a place for everything, so everything can be kept in its place and easy to access. Thule bags have become my go-to luggage choice, they are faultlessly made and last for years. So, when I was looking for a bag to transport riding kit and accessories, they were the logical brand to turn to. The RoundTrip Bike Duffel is the perfect compan...

I give my electronics a tough life—my laptop, phone, cycle computer and headphones get thrown into bags and pockets on a daily basis; knocked around like skittles. A lot of that abuse can be countered with good protective cases, and Thule make some of the best electronics cases I have used.  The Thule Gauntlet MacBook Sleeve is the perfect protective case to keep your laptop safe when it is placed in a pannier or jumping around in your rucksack on a daily cycle commute. With a semi-rigid outer, structured protective corners and a cushioned interior, the Gauntlet case shields and cushions your laptop from knocks and bumps, as well supplying a degree of protection from spray or moisture. A 13-inch laptop will fit comfortably inside and is held securely by webbing straps in a clam-shell design; so you can actually use the laptop while it is still in the case. Smart, effective protection from Thule. >> Shop the Thule Gauntlet MacBook Sleeve 13 Disclaimer: Tim Wiggins is a Glob...

The new year is going to signal the start of many new adventures for me; including a dive into the world of expedition sea kayaking. The change has created a demand for some new transportation kit — the Thule Evo WingBar Roof Rack and Thule K-Guard Kayak Rack are two of those investments… I have previously reviewed the very well designed  Thule ProRide 598 Bike Carrier on the blog, and praised its practical and durable design for transporting bikes on the roof of your car. Ever since owning that bike carrier I have been keen to try one of the innovative T-track slide roof racks from the Swedish brand, to see if they truly deliver on their promised fast access and ease of use when combined with Thule's roof-top rack accessories. A change of family car meant that a new roof rack was in demand, and so it seemed a logical choice to go for the new Evo WingBar from Thule. The exceptionally strong aluminium bar is super light, but also super strong — easily capable of taking the lo...

There is no doubt that the Swedish brand Thule are innovators: whether it be their bike carriers , travel bags ,  rucksacks , panniers , or this semi-rigid bike bag; their products push the boundaries in terms of functionality and design. The quality level is also impeccably high, and the Scandinavian influence is clear in their attitude and implementation. The Thule RoundTrip Pro XT Bike Case/Bag is a great piece of kit... I have tested a lot of bike bags and boxes , from many well known manufacturers; many of them have excelled, and done the job of transporting my rides to far-flung destinations. Many of them have had faults or niggling downsides though... anything from wheels that have fallen off, to being unable to take recent 'Gravel' bike axles and wheel sizes. The new Thule RoundTrip Pro XT Bike Case / Bag, is a semi-rigid option, which seems to tick many of the boxes, without a lot of the downfalls of its competitors. Hard case protection with soft case packabil...

Thule produce some of the world's best travel bags and everyday backpacks (take a look a my past reviews of Thule products here ). This July, the Swedish brand launched their new on-the-bike hydration pack range, and that got me excited; because I know how clever, intuitive and long-lived Thule bags are. The new Thule Vital 8 Hydration Pack Backpack has not disappointed... I met the designer of the Thule bags range at Eurobike this summer, and he was just as I expected he would be — passionate, enthused, and with a real attention to detail. He explained how the design team enjoys "geeking out" on the Thule bags, and adding innovative and unique features, motivated by real world testing. Innovation and uniqueness is certainly something I have seen in abundance with my past Thule bag reviews, and the same attributes shine through with the new hydration pack range. The Thule Vital 8 is made to be an all-day mountain biking or bike-packing backpack. With 2.5 litres of...

Thule bags are always superbly made in my experience: from the Thule Crossover Carry-On Bag , to the Thule Shield Panniers . With that reputation of quality and durability in mind, I selected the new Thule Shield Saddlebag as my 'adventure bike saddlebag' of choice. The aero wedge shaped waterproof saddlebag is not an overly complicated or intricate design from Thule, but it is faultlessly made, and built to last. The bag attaches to the saddle rails and seat-post using strong Velcro straps, with reflective trims for added safety. The opening and closing mechanism on the bag is a simple roll-top design, which coupled with the strong welded waterproof nylon gives the bag an impressive IP54 waterproof rating. Unlike with many larger saddlebags, I have experience no swaying or thigh rub from the Thule Shield Saddlebag. It seems to attach firmly to the saddle rails, and keeps its contents safe and secure. The quick release buckles are strong and very good quality; and the...

Combining the ease of transport of a wheeled carry-on bag, with the portability of a rucksack, makes the Thule Crossover Carry-on 56cm/22" holdall one of the most versatile and useful kit bags imaginable. If you are a frequent traveller, the chances are that you try to squeeze as much as you can into your carry-on luggage, rather than deal with the potential delays and problems of the baggage re-claim belt. The consequence of packing the compact bag to bursting point though is that it often weighs a tonne, which means wheels are your best option for lugging it around. The problem with wheeled bags is that you can't easily carry the bag on your bike to the train station, and things like stairs and busy pavements become an obstacle. The solution? A wheeled bag, which also has rucksack straps. The Thule Crossover 87L Rolling Travel Duffel has been putting up with my use and abuse for the last 18 months, so the smaller Thule Crossover 22 inch carry-on bag instantly appeal...

Thule bags have become my go-to packs. The Thule Crossover Duffel  accompanies me on most foreign trips. The Thule Commuter Rucksack is my daily choice for the trip to the office. Then the Thule Legend GoPro Case keeps all my electronics safe. The new Thule Vea Rucksack-Duffel is one of the most recent innovative packs from the Swedish brand. Designed to work as an everyday rucksack, and as a travel duffel bag; it is two bags in one. The devil is in the detail As with all Thule products that I have tested, the quality shines through in the details. The brand is clearly a master of research and development, and you can tell that their bags have been tested in real life environments before they go into production. The Thule Vea has some great design details. For starters, there is the dual compartment concept: the main section of the bag can house a 15 inch laptop, tablet, files and valuables; all in specially designed and organised pockets. Meanwhile, a separate expan...