Topeak FastFuel DryBag Review

The Topeak FastFuel DryBag is a waterproof top tube mounted bag that features their sonically welded DryBag technology to keep the contents dry while the hard shell construction keeps it the bag in a streamlined shape to help avoid leg contact while pedaling. The waterproof zippered design provides quick and convenient storage access to energy bars, gels, other food items, tools, and small electronic devices. It comes in Black and retails for $54.95.

For additional information refer to www.topeak.com.

Features

The FastFuel DryBag plastic hard shells and TPU are sonically seam sealed and feature a waterproof zipper for protection against the elements, keeping all the contents bone dry during inclement weather. The three included straps securely attach the FastFuel DryBag to the bikes top tube and head tube/stem, depending on the frames geometry and setup. The bottom of the bag features three rubber reinforced daisy chain attachment points to help provide optimal fitting to the bike.

Installation

The FastFuel bag was primarily designed to fit on the top tube at the stem end of a bike with the taller section of the tear-dropped shape facing forward. Ideally, with this location, you’d wrap the front strap around the stem and the lower straps around the top tube. Fortunately, the daisy chain attachment design on the bottom of the bag allow multiple placements for the straps and depending on your stem and headtube design you could forgo the front strap, though it does take away a lot of stability for the bag. It came with one short strap for the top and two long ones for the bottom and combined with the daisy chain setup you have plenty of installation options.

With my Ibis RipMo 29er, the optimal location was back at the seatpost, placed in a reversed position. I attached the top strap through its slot and wrapped it around the seatpost, and then I inserted a single bottom strap through the last location and wrapped it around the top tube. Once I tightened the straps snuggly around their attachment points the bag stayed securely in place.

Impressions

The bag has only a single compartment with 0.8-liter capacity, and there aren’t any dividers or other internal pockets, but I didn’t find that an issue for me, especially since it a relatively small bag. I always tended to keep the bag somewhat full, so things didn’t move around much, but if it was empty and if you had some tools or other hard heavier objects they could bounce around and make a bit of racket. My usual contents included a multi-tool, various munchies such as bars, chews and fruit squeeze tubes, along with a sweat rag. My iPhone 7 Plus was much large to place in the bag, so I never really used it for any electronics, though my point and shoot camera did fit.

The bag’s body was stiff, so whether it was overstuffed or empty it kept its shape, without any overt deformation, and this design added to the flow of the bag on the bike, offering up smooth, sleek lines without any droopiness or sag. The stiffness made it easier to open and shut the zipper during use, and it also facilitated taking items in and out. I did have a few incidences during my use in which the zipper pull tab popped out of the slider, but with some finesse, I was able to get it back on, and I clamped the opening on the slider down shut with some pliers, and I haven’t had any issues since then.

I was able to test the waterproofness during some violent thunderstorms this past summer, and it never leaked on me, and the contents stayed completely dry. Though you do need to make sure the zipper is entirely tucked under the cover flap to avoid water leaking in during a deluge. Even when it got encased in mud, plastered with dirt, drenched, covered with hail and snow, it kept things clean and dry, proving that their sonically welded DryBag technology did its magic.

 

Though the bag usually stayed securely in position, it did wiggle somewhat on the top tube and got out of place when I tapped it with my knees, or when I sat on it when I was getting on and off the bike. Some of that issue is significantly due to the odd location I had on my RipMo with it sitting back by the seat post, but it was easy to swing it back in the middle without any issues. I’d like to see them include some longer attachment straps and perhaps ones with a bit better hook and loop design since I found them somewhat hard to use and tighten properly.

Bottom Line

The excellent Topeak FastFuel DryBag top tube bag offers 0.8-liters of waterproof storage and a hard-shell design to keep its shape and not impede pedaling. It can be attached in front by the stem or back by the seatpost, depending on your bikes frame geometry and setup. It comes with three straps, with attachment points along the front/rear and multiple locations along the bottom for the ultimate in fitting. And best of all, it’s one of the few smaller frame bags that fit my Ibis RipMo bike.

 

Specs

• Capacity 0.8 L / 50 ci
• Compartment One main
• Material Plastic hard shell / TPU
• Bag Attachment Adjustable nylon straps and waterproof zipper
• Top Tube Diameter Fits ø38 – ø52 mm
• Head Tube Diameter Fits ø53 – ø75 mm
• Size 22.8 x 8.9 x 5.9 cm / 9” x 3.5” x 2.3”
• Weight 134 g / 4.73 oz
• Waterproof Strap Mount