Get Vertical With Topeak’s Weatherproof Dynawedge Seat Pack

To be honest, I don’t ride with a seat pack much. With riding tubeless on most of my bikes, I rarely will keep a spare tube, pump, and levers with me, except on the longest of rides when I need to make sure I’m completely self-sufficient. For my commuter bike, a 6KU Urban Track fixie, I do, but it’s not always to carry these supplies. Sometimes, it is to carry snacks. As it turns out, the Topeak Weatherproof Dynawedge has been perfect as my “smuggler” bag.

The Dynawedge is unique take on a saddle pack. Instead of being round and bulky, or trying to fit as flat as possible under your saddle, it is thin and fits parallel to your seat post. The original Dynawedge is a made from a woven nylon, using two straps that wrap over your saddle rails and hook and loop to attach to the sides of the pack, with rubber strap around the post. The Weatherproof Dynawedge uses a 210 denier / 420 denier nylon material creating a nice, smooth look, with a PU coating zipper to create a water resistant version of the bag. It also uses a hook and loop straps around the rails and seat post. On both models, the zipper runs up the center of the bag, allowing you to unzip the bag from the top in the bag, and down under the bag to the front. A mesh net on the inside helps keep things in place as you open.

The original Dynawedge is available in Micro (0.35L) and Small (0.8L) and the Weatherproof Dynawedge comes in Standard (0.35L) and Large (0.6L). Topeak the Weatherproof in Large is enough to hold a 29″ tube. I didn’t have any tubes that big laying around, but in testing, I was able to get two 700c tubes, two tire levers, a C02 cartridge and nozzle, and Topeak’s Nano 11 mini multitool in without any issues. In other testing, a CrustOff PB&J sandwich and some small chocolates also fit nicely.

On The Road

While I still prefer not to ride with a saddle pack when I train, the Weatherproof Dynawedge has found a home on my commuter. When I’m training, I’m usually riding close enough to home that if something happens, I’m just a phone call and short wait for my ride to bring me home. But for the commute to work, or riding between buildings at work (about a half mile one way), it’s nice to have something to carry spares or bring goodies back to my desk.

Mounting it is simple. Slide the straps over the rails from the inside and over the rails to the outside, and attach them to the sides of the bag. At the front, use the hook and loop straps to wrap around the post. Done. Opening and closing at the zipper is straight forward, though it isn’t quite as easy o get things in and out as other saddle packs that have a large mouth opening, like Topeak’s Aero Wedge Pack. That wasn’t a huge issue for me though, as most items I was putting in were about the length of the bag and easy to keep organized. The mesh insert on the inside is a great feature to help keep things inside, even if you happen to start riding with the bag open.

I did get caught in the rain once on my way to work, and the pack did a good job at keeping everything inside nice and dry. The coated material and zipper, along with the little hood on the zipper made water roll off. I’m not sure about the seams, but the zipper is probably one of the points where water could get in, but it would take something like a full spray from a hose to get it in. I’m not sure how it would hold up in a crazy downpour, but you also won’t find me riding if it is that bad.

One of the things that Topeak touts with the Dynawedge is that it is aerodynamic. They don’t provide any details, but I can see it to a point. The narrow, vertical design keeps it somewhat tucked behind the seat post. With the legs moving around during the pedal stroke, air is pretty turbulent as it passes through, but it does create a little bit of an extended shape from the seat post. We don’t have access to a wind tunnel, but it would be interesting to test different shaped packs and packs at different locations if anyone is interested.

At 72g (68g claimed), the Weatherproof Dynawedge in Large is not going to be a heavy addition to your bike, at least until you start loading it up. The size and shape work great to carry essentials you’ll need to get through your ride (or bring back some tasty snacks). At $39.95 for the Standard and $44.95 for the Large, they aren’t going to break the bank either.

So if you are looking for a new saddle pack that will hold the necessities, and possibly be more aerodynamic than some of the other bags out there for its size, the Topeak Weatherproof Dynawedge is a great option, one that has found a home on my commuter bike.

www.topeak.com