Which bag is the most functional without being too big? Rocket Science? Zoot? De Soto?
What is “too big?” The De Soto for example advertises 4,000 cu in, which is HUGE (65 liters). I mean, I go mountaineering for a weekend up a 14,000+ peak with full glacier travel and sleeping gear with a bag barely bigger than half that bag. It seems to me that all the triathlon specific bags are too big. I like a small bag and don’t mind having my wetsuit outside it for the short trip back to my car. This is probably not typical given older threads about transition bags, though. If you search for them you’ll get a bunch of opinions on the bags you ask about.
What are you looking for? A bag to take all your stuff to transition? I have the TYR transition bag and it’s perfect but is quite large. Too large, in fact, for day to day training. Unless, of course, you swim/bike/run everyday… There are more “fashionable” options out there. My friend, for example, bought the DeSoto bag. It carries all his gear and looks a lot nicer and seems more compact than mine. His philosphy was, “hey, you gotts look good doing this.” lol. That’s cool but I couldn’t beat the price on my TYR. I couldn’t justify spending an extra $80 between the two…
Rocket Science Rocket bag is the best hands down, I’ve used Zoot’s and Tyr’s and each are very nice but the setup of the Rocket Science bag in my opinion is superior then any bag on the market. It’s a little pricey but well worth it.
The Rocket Science bag is indeed quite nice & well thought out, but it’s also rather pricey.
The TYR bag is quite big & has some rudimentary organization inside, whereas the RS has a pocket for everything you could ever think of, but the TYR is way cheaper.
At the end of the day, you really only need:
Bike Shoe Compartment
Running Shoe Compartment
Waterproof area
Bottle Holders
Random stuff area
This can all be easily achieved with any old backpack & a waterproof stuff-it bag from REI.
One vote for the Desoto bag. Having a dedicated outer pocket for a TT helmet is really sweet and the new mid line zipper makes getting stuff from the bottom of the bag really easy. The zippers are ginormous and work really easy. Having a rack strap is nice for wet races cause all the stuff in the bag won’t be sitting in water while you’re racing.
I have been using the LG Tri Pack Evolution Bag for the last couple of seasons. Good organization inside the bag, with plenty of room for shoes, helmet, clothing, nutrition etc. There are a couple pockets on the outside for bottles and a mesh bag for the wetsuit, that can be removed which cuts down the size of the bag when you don’t need it.
I just use my Adidas gym bag and some plastic bags for wet stuff post race. Everything fits including my wetsuit and it has end pockets and internal pockets for the small stuff. Got it at an outlet store for $15. Never really understood the need for a special tri bag, but maybe it’s because I have never used one.
+1
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I use this bag daily http://www.xterrawetsuits.com/catalog/categories/mens/apparel-accessories/transition-bag/ and like it.
It is not too big, it has a wet pouch and a few small, separate compartments.
I bought it for 1/2 off with a coupon I received from a race; otherwise it is a bit pricey.
One vote for the Desoto bag. Having a dedicated outer pocket for a TT helmet is really sweet and the new mid line zipper makes getting stuff from the bottom of the bag really easy. The zippers are ginormous and work really easy.
X2. Great bag for tri’s and also a great back for weekend trips instead of a suitcase.
I’m a bag and backpack freak. I love 'em. Consequently I’ve tried a bunch of them.
Here are some thoughts:
The large version of the Jandd Mountaineering transition bag, The Quick Change Pro, is truly excellent due to its size- not too big, not too small and the orientation of the pockets. It is a basic, classic “trash can” style that mimics the DeSoto bag but is larger than the original DeSoto Transition bag. Volume is just over 3,000 cubic inches or nearly 50 liters. The shoe compartments will fir racing shoes up to about size 10 but the volume of the main compartment is so large your shoes (bike and run) can go in shoe bags to store inside the main compartment leaving the side slots fo a ziploc with your gels, BodyGlide, earplugs and other race day necessities.
You can buy it direct from Jandd Mountaineering and at better retailers. Here is the link:
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FQCP
TYR also has a new “burrito wrap” Style transition bag I did a video review of here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OlDUHWpY-4
One of the nice things about this bag is the suspension system. It is also a great organizer. I also like the materials and build quality on this. It’s worth a look.
And finally, no conversation about transition bags is complete without a mention of Emilio DeSoto’s original transition bag seen here on YouTube:
I have been very happy with the Rocket Science Real Joe bag. not too expensive, holds all my junk, nice helmet holder, waterproof compartment for nasty clothes.
Hi Raceboy,
There is a couple of great bags out there - we’ve had a couple of them in a test a while back. Just re-posted them for you! Check it out.
Our favorite is clearly either the Zipp - with the downside of not really being a backpack and being a little bigger or the Rocket Science Sport Rocket Bag!
http://tridudes.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/product-test-zipp-transition-bag/
Another option is Nathans , i’ve had great luck with them. I’ve used there bigger bag for every day use for over the last year, no problems.
I purchased an Ogio duffel bag at TJ maxx for like 13 bucks. Why do you need an expensive bag? As long as your stuff fits in there, then why not use what you have lying around?
the fact that these triathlon companies have somehow convinced people that they need a “special” transition bag specifically for triathlon gives me hope for the future as a marketing major
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Another vote here for the Zipp.
It has two shoe compartments and wil fit size 11’s. It also can carry four water bottles. It has four internal pockets for small stuff like sunglasses, GPS units, sunscreen etc. It has a separate well ventilated bottom section for wet suit and wet clothes. The helmet holder will hold a aero helmet. It has straps for a bike pump that work. It can get heavy and large when full but the otherwise hidden backback straps work well - and include a sternum strap. It has a key keeper. It has held up well through many races.
One caveat is that I’ve had a problem with one interrnal zipper where I lost a pull (hey it was dark!) and another one that needed adjustment but they have dual pulls on all extermal zippers. To their credit, despite the fact that the bag is going on three years old, Zipp has offered to warranty it. It has otherwise held up well so I’m paying a shoe repair shop to fix the zipper rather than sending it back.
Did I mention it also matchs my Zipp wheel bags?
In defense of traveling with HUGE bags a buddy of mine once said “Those who say ‘when you travel light you travel right’ have never traveled”.
Go large!
I biased to the De Soto Transition Pack because, well, I invented the product category back in the early 1990’s, but ours have evolved into quite a nice piece. Check out the video my nephew just made.
De Soto Company Facebook - Transition Pack Video
Here is is on our website: Transition Pack
