BIy a sparkling title, there should also be a sparkling text, shouldn't there? Now I myself am not the person who shouts about everything being great. After all, life is a heartbeat, If it's a flat line...then it's not best. When I received from Thule the Chasm duffel was sent, that was not a reason to immediately climb into the pen. After all, until then it was 'just a bag'. In the period that followed, I used it several times for shorter and longer weekends both privately and for cycling. You can already feel it coming: I really like this thing so much. Let me explain why.
Text and photos: Sander Kolsloot
Now what makes a fine bag
By now, I can call myself a true cycling traveller. On average, I travel 15-20 times a year for cycling. That is apart from private holidays, weekends away and other day trips. With that, I dare say I know for myself what is a nice bag to have with me on cycling trips. These are the main points for me:
- Enough space: being 1.93 myself, all my clothes are necessarily big. Even my shoes (I'm a size 47) are big. Now I am more 'litepacking' myself, but almost by definition I need the biggest bag available. My wife is 1.60 and with equal number of clothes, I need 1.5 times as much space.
- Easy to get to your stuff: large opening, some pockets to put stuff in, good zip.
- Easy to carry: so both in the hand, and also on the back (I have a love-hate relationship with rolling suitcases, also because of my height...those things are always too small/too short)
- Waterproof is a bonus, rugged is what I'm looking for as it will go on a plane, in a train rack, in the back of a van/car, from hotel to hotel. Heavy duty.
With that in mind, I started using the Thule and forming an opinion about it.
Plenty of space
Here should now be one of those photos showing the bag and what can go in it. True, but I couldn't get what went in it all in 1 photo. So you'll have to make do with my text. At 70 litres, this duffel bag is the size of my own backpack. That means I can fit a lot of stuff in here. On a weekend to Flanders, with changeable weather, where I also had to take care of others, I had the following with me:
- Two pairs of cycling shoes (including these Lake CX 177, both wide and long: ideal)
- 5 sets of cycling clothes
- 3 long trousers
- 2 pairs of shorts (these Orhi is my favourite)
- 2 long-sleeved shirts
- 2 jackets (including this one Technika by Etxeondo)
- far too many socks
- 2 helmets
- Spectacles box
- casual wear
- 3 t-shirts
- underwear
- socks again
- jersey
- Of course, I also had a toiletry bag with me
- Some sports nutrition
Also, always check out what we take on holiday on our Basic packing list for your cycling holiday
You see, especially with the helmets, you need a lot of space. And you can feel m coming too: EVERYTHING FITTED IN! So that also means that for a long holiday, when I don't need to bring helmets and shoes for two people, I have more than enough room for all my cycling gear as well as my normal clothes. If I then follow the tips from Litepacking District would still take, then I would be a happy camper all the way. (pun intended).
Take away
Then, once you have stuffed all those things in your bag, there always comes point two. You hit the road with your bag and your bike. With a suitcase? Always hassle. With a bag you can only carry on your hand? Always hassle. That's why it's nice that you can also carry this bag on your back. The straps are easy to detach and you can put them away again if you want. See also in the picture below: even for the smaller person this is still a fine bag! So the advantage is that you can use it both on your back and with handles. And for both options, there are handy loops to stow them away again.
Robust
The bag can rightly be called rosbuust. For it can withstand a good splash of water (ok, not tested in the shower), it has already racked up kilometres in several bins and trains and has seen the inside of many a hotel room. The bag stays beautiful and is also easy to clean thanks to the waterproof material on the outside. You could also already see in the photos that the bag has a spacious opening, so you can easily put your things inside. Because it is not a backpack with only an open top, or a suitcase, so you can't wear it on your back, I really love this thing.
Conclusion? BUY!
One thing I know for sure: unless I'm going on a long backpack trip, I'll still take a real backpack with me (because of the hip support), but if I'm going on a weekend trip, whether for business, personal, cycling or with my family, this bag is a keeper. 'But what does it cost?', I hear you ask. Well, For €169.95 am you the proud owner of this bag. Although with some searching you can still find a lower price at various online shops. So the bag we carried was the 70L variant in the colour 'olivine'.
The bag is also available in several other colours (black, autumn orange, blue) and also in different sizes. The 40L variant comes from €139.95, the 90L is available from €179.95 and the 130 (!) litres, for the wolverines, is available from €199.95
On the site of Thule you will find even more bags, roof boxes, roof racks, bike carriers and more handy things for your next cycling adventure.
More tips? Then be sure to read our tips page
