WOTOW Bike Rack Bag Waterproof – 10L Large Capacity Bike Trunk Bag, Reflective Bicycle Saddle Panniers, Cycling Bag Back Seat Storage Cargo Carrier Pouch with Shoulder Strap &…

This is a review of the 9.5 liter bike rack bag

Fit: it velcro’d absolutely perfectly to my bike rack, which is 6″ wide. If your own bike rack is much wider, the velcro straps on the sides will definitely come up short and might want reinforcing with additional velcro like one of the other reviewers has mentioned doing.

Pockets:
For a phone or a slim wallet, the top zipper pocket can’t be beat. It’s shallow, but long and wide enough, unlike the 2 pockets on the sides. Also, the top pocket’s zipper is in the right place, it doesn’t sit across your phone (potentially scratching it) like some other top-pocket designs. I’m going to be using this top pocket all the time.

Both side pockets are very small, you could theoretically jam a very small phone in there if it had no case, but basically these 2 pockets will be good only for chapstick, bandaids, a folded wad of cash, ID/credit cards, a hanky, your allen wrenches- small things you don’t want to rummage for in the main compartment.

Main compartment:
It’s undivided, that’s important since this is a small streamlined bag. If you want a large bike-rack bag, you need to keep looking, This one is perfect for me, I wanted a small unobtrusive one, just big enough to stuff a rolled-up jacket into. Note, this would NOT fit a heavy cotton hoodie, or insulated winter jacket. It’s just right for a thin wind jacket or a medium weight fleece.

If no jacket inside, there’s room for one or more water bottles, bike lock, tire pump, sunglasses case, snacks and bike tools. Most of that stuff will have to stay home if you want to pack a puffy fleece or jacket, though. I figure I’ll be choosing between water when it’s hot, vs jacket when it’s cold

Other:
Bungee cord zig-zagging across top very much appreciated. It can probably hold the aforementioned jacket or fleece, haven’t checked yet. It’s March right now, so my winter hat and gloves are constantly coming on or off as the temps or wind change, this’ll hold them very conveniently

Hang loop for your rear light seems well made

A strap is included with the bag for those who’ll want to carry it. It’s flimsy looking, will never resemble a good looking messenger bag or purse, the upside of that though is, it weighs almost nothing. There’s a different model of WOTOW that I returned that has a much nicer looking strap permanently attached at one end (that’s their 8-liter model).

Digression where I compare this 9.5L model to the 8L one:
The 8L item by WOTOW has a narrower 6″ footprint, which some of you might prefer, and lacks the bungee-cord web so that it’d look much “cleaner” when you carry it on foot. It has a much nicer strap, but the one I got had nowhere to attach the other end of the strap to (it was an Amazon return, so perhaps happened to be defective or damaged?). The 2 side pockets are the same in both models, but the top pocket in the 9.5 model is MUCH roomier and the ziper’s in the right place. 8.0 model has a longitudinal zipper that’s awkward to use and could scratch your phone or pull a thread on your gloves.

They both look great sitting on a bike, I like the angled streamlined looking shape of both, even though it does “waste” some potential inside cargo space.

The one and only possible downside that I see to both of these WOTOW items is their fabric, it kinda startled me right on opening that the fabric seems very VERY thin and very shiny, like the thin shiny material you see in cheesy $5 lunchboxes. It does have that grid-pattern in the weave commonly called “ripstop” which is reassuring. Still, it’s so very thin I can’t imagine it’s very puncture resistant or strong. I was expecting something more like a Cordura knockoff type material. Perhaps that’s only available in much pricier bags.

Other than that, very happy with this 9.5, I do recommend the styling and all the features

It’s a very nice looking bag with sufficient space for emergency equipment, rain jacket and so on. Mounts easily and securely to my existing rack. I’ve only used it for one season in CO but have not experienced any problems.

Exactly fits my bike

2 straps front and each side. Very secure

Perfect size and has a lot of storage capacity, good quality and price

Its an attractive bag that can hold the things that may not fit in pockets or elsewhere on the bike. When the internal area is full, elastics enables additional items to be attached. ie. Drink bottle. We find it very easy to take on and off. Velcro holds the bag firmly in place.

Thanks happy with purchase. practical for myneeds,