I need a new transition bag. I have had a De Soto for a few years, but I tore a seam. So, I need to replace it. The De Soto has been great, but I am curious if others have experiences you rave about. What do you have, would you recommend it, and why?
Love the roka transition pack
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I am very happy with my Desoto bag. It is well constructed and I use it for travel, going to the pool, and races. Very durable.
My next bag will likely be the Zoot Ultra Tri
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Strong +1 on the Roka bag. It’s pretty much perfect.
Orange Home Depot bucket
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Can the seam be restitched? If you like the bag, this approach would keep the bag out of the landfill, provide someone local (clothes alterations business? Shoe repair shop?) with a little business and prevent disappointment from the new bag. Just a thought…maybe the split is not feasibly repairable…
I am very happy with my Desoto bag. It is well constructed and I use it for travel, going to the pool, and races. Very durable.
x2 on Desoto. Just the right amount and type of pockets. Waterpoof enough. Durable.
I have the Orca, the bigger one. Like it. Girl has the Zoot and she likes it.
I know, zero help.
Stay well, Brian.
My next bag will likely be the Zoot Ultra Tri
I’ve got this one. It’s a good bag, but be warned, it’s BIG and doesn’t get much smaller when empty. It will take up a lot of room under your bike if you’re unable to store it along the fence of transition. Were I to do again, I’d probably look for one that compresses down smaller when empty.
I love this bag too but I don’t leave it in transition. It’s big.
Really big.
Fits everything perfect, super easy to organize and carry’s easy on my back.
Truthfully overkill but not a bad bag
I literally opened this thread just to see if anyone mentioned a bucket.
I bought the Ironman OGIO backpack/bag a few years ago. All transition bags are very similar, but the real game changer for me, which I didn’t think about until after I bought it, was the interior is lined with light color fabric. It’s not black. So I can see everything inside the bag. My previous YTR bag was black on the inside, which matched the color of my HRM, watch, kit, etc. It was a PIA to see everything,especially early morning transition setup.
I am very happy with my Desoto bag. It is well constructed and I use it for travel, going to the pool, and races. Very durable.
x2 on Desoto. Just the right amount and type of pockets. Waterpoof enough. Durable.
I’d push back on the durability. OP complains of a torn seam, and I’ve experienced a torn seam within a single season of use. It’s a great bag, plenty of space, but I don’t think it’s very durable. At least the stitching isn’t…
I’ll be going with something else when I’m ready to shell out more money for a bag.
My wife has an Ogio bag and it’s freaking sweet, large, and plenty durable. I’d give their bag a look, for sure. It’s lasted 5+ years of regular use.
Can’t say it’s the best as it’s been my only, but I picked up the IM branded Ogio 9.0 on massive sale a couple years ago for my main daily run and bike bag, and it generally has everything I need for race day other than my swim stuff (since I have a separate swim bag) so all it needs is a repack to become a transition bag. Only thing I’d like different is a built-in way to carry a pump, but I bought a small enough floor pump now to fit inside easily.
The 8.0 and 9.0 are very similar, with the exception of one pocket I believe, so catch either on sale. I think there are also non-IM versions if you don’t want the branding.
Speaking of Ogio, for the last few years I’ve also have an Ogio Gambit backpack for all my daily work stuff (laptops, notebooks, cables and chargers, etc etc) as well as the Ogio Layover bag for overnight/travel and really enjoy all 3. Would def buy again if any are lost/stolen.
I have an Ogio (bmw brand) for about 5 years, a lot of space and backpack mode. I’ve seen the Roka, smaller but i think it could work better for events transitions.
I have a USAT Ogio that’s equivalent to the current 9.0 and have used it at a few close races. I like it and it’s held up well. I’ve also used my Patagonia MLC 55L bag when I’ve flown to races because I like using the MLC better as a travel bag. Some of my race stuff is in my bike box, I just pack the bag with race stuff the night before and leave the rest at the hotel. I like how I can unzip it wide open and get to everything with no digging around.
For me it comes down to finding the Goldilocks volume. Too big and I feel like my mom digging in her purse for my sister’s binky when we were young, “Hold on, mama’s got your binky in here somewhere!” To small and you’re like that couple at the airport with 5 large shopping bags and only two already full carry-ons to squeeze it all into.
I switched to the HUUB transition rucksack last season and loved it. There’s a special compartment for your wetsuit and/or wet stuff. This helps prevent the rest of your stuff from getting damp post race.
Desoto Transition Pack V8
Best I have ever used.
LG made the best one ever IMO. They don’t make it anymore and mine is starting to fall apart after 10yrs