I’m getting tired of my old beat up transition bag and ready to buy a new one.
Who’s got the best bag out there? Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dennis
I use a 12 year old, beat up duffel bag. IMO, you don’t have stuff IN the bag during the transitioin, so the bag just needs to get it all there. Come to think of it, the shoulder strap has been broken for 2 seasons. Maybe it is time to get a new bag.
I compared several different transition bags in person, and Santa is bringing me a TYR backpack for Christmas.
Check it out,
Scott
Actually the Tyr is on my short list. Probably the one I go with, just wanted a few opinions first. Thanks Scott
Your right Ben it’s only to transport the goods, but I’m a bit anal about being organized. A well thought out bag may won’t help my race, but it will make me feel better. 
Dennis
Check out your local surf shop. I got a great deal on an O’Neill Psychofreak? backpack a while back. It’ll hold everything I can throw at it, and it comes with a seperate wet compartment and wetsuit bag/changing mat. The $40 was well worth it.
Bags: Now that is something I am utterly obsessed with. The notion of having everything you own or need in one place is very appealing to me for some reason. Must be a military thing.
Anyway. I’ve tried them all. The two that rise to the top are the new 2005 version of the Jandd Mountaineering “Quick Change” bag and, oddly enough, the Camelbak BFM- a pack designed primarily for military use.
The Jandd bag has been significantly improved for this year. The overall capacity is larger, which they needed to do. The wetsuit pocket is larger too. The bag packs, unpacks and carries well. The shoe pockets are compact and work well. I like this bag because it works very well in the “real world” transition area: You can get all your gear in it but it folds down nice and compact when you get to where you’re going in the tranistion area, so you can just fold it in half and tuck it under the bike rack. It is cheap too, $49.99, and because it is nice, heavy Cordura, it will last. Nice stiching too. Overall, my top pick. We sell tons of them. New colors in '05 too.
The Camelback BFM is also good, but is expensive ($225) and does not fold down small. It is first and foremeost a back pack with many compartments. I got a hold of one and used it at a couple races. It is nice, but the Jandd bag is simpler, smaller, easier to use, way cheaper and folds down better. If you like fancy stuff though, the BFM is cool.
I second the Jandd bag. It holds everything without being to big and is well made.
yep, i just ordered a Jandd too!
The only think I’d like to see on the Jandd bag are water bottle pockets.
Seems like it should have been a no-brainer.
I’ll second the vote for the Tyr bag. I use one personally and we sell plenty of them in the store. I rode home from the NYC Triathlon last year with all my stuff on my back in the Tyr bag, and have hiked to and from many parking lots with it on my back. Lots of pockets for stuff, elastic to cinch in a helmet or a jacket or whatever, expandable bottom pocket for your wetsuit & sweaty stuff, and very importantly two big reflective stripes on the shoulder straps and on the back.
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
Park Slope, Brooklyn
That is such a good suggestion I just sent it to Ryan and Eric at Jandd. I told them if they added larger shoe pockets and a water bottle pocket and a cell phone holder I would order 100 bags w/cash.
They sent me an e-mail back and said they are considering it…
Hands down its the speedo bag my girlfriend has had for more than 15 years, we can stuff everything for 2 races in this apart from sink basins for the feet! its a classic
duffle or plastic
.
I like the TYR as well. I have a Zoot Transition bag also but it is just too darn big. Takes up way too much space in transition area. TYR is a little smaller but still has plenty of room for all the essentials.
trashbag - big opening, plenty of space. You can throw everything in there. wet wetsuit, dirty towels, smelly shoes, etc. And when you get home all you have to do is throw that thing away. Think about it. Yes, people look at you funny before the start of the race but envy your spacious 110l bag at the end of the day.
Seemed like such a “no brainer” to me that I didn’t even check before buying the bag last year. It was when I got it home and was packing for a race that I realized it. Kinda goofy to have this great bag and have to stuff the bottles into the top.
Hopefully they’ll incorporate them into the next rev.
Must be the cheapskate in me … I can’t justify buying a bag just for carrying stuff to transition, only to spread it out on a towel.
I use an old huge messenger bag coupled with a few trash bags. Works great. And the messenger bag serves double duty as a gym bag. triple duty as carry on luggage. Quadruple duty as my go-to whatever bag. Mine’s a Timbuktu.
If it gets funky, I wash it down with soap and water, and then spray with Febreze. Good as new.
But … that Jandd bag looks awfully good. If i was in the market, which I’m not (honey, I promise … no more bags … even really cool ones), that would be the one.
Oh … I’ve got a bunch of Jannd stuff: a few backpacks, laptop bag, messenger bag, convertible briefcase, a slew of seatbags. It’s all very well made. Jannd is good people.
I’ve never tried any of the other bags here (except for Glad 
) but I’ve been very pleased with my Saucony transition bag.
I just looked at the Jandd bag on your website. Pretty nice. Almost like the old school A.L.I.C.E. packs. I am guessing you may have tried using one of those at one point or another?
love the TYR. not too big, holds everything I need, easy to find everything, not too expensive. If you’re USAT, get it at Sports Basement and get the discount.