These two bags look almost identical and are both priced the same but after purchasing the Topeak I am returning it and got the Rockbros – here is why:
I originally got the Topeak Velcro version of the folding pannier bag for my 700ST because I had used and liked the QuickTrack version on another bike but my 700 already had a nice beefy rack and nobody had the Quicktrack adapter plate in stock. Even if they did it would have added at least $40 to the price to buy the adapter and the QT bag - so I got the velcro version instead.
When it arrived, the bag came with way short front straps and wimpy looking under-rack straps. The front straps were only just long enough to reach all of the mating Velcro without being attached to anything at all! Attaching to any rack obviously makes them shorter. On my 700 rack they were barely long enough to attach and did not look secure. I even called Topeak to find out if I had received a bad bag but was told ‘no they all come this way’ - how dumb is that!
Second, the 700 has pannier rails on the sides of the rack and I saw that this bag’s side covers were hitting the rails before opening fully -so heavy loads in the panniers could end up hurting them.
Angered by Topeak’s stupidity in saving a few cents in Velcro, I set up a return with Amazon and ordered the Rockbros version which cost me $1 less ( it used to be about $15 less but has risen in price lately).
Their bag looks and feels the same but there are subtle differences.
In the following pics the Rockbros bag is on the left with the green trim
I originally got the Topeak Velcro version of the folding pannier bag for my 700ST because I had used and liked the QuickTrack version on another bike but my 700 already had a nice beefy rack and nobody had the Quicktrack adapter plate in stock. Even if they did it would have added at least $40 to the price to buy the adapter and the QT bag - so I got the velcro version instead.
When it arrived, the bag came with way short front straps and wimpy looking under-rack straps. The front straps were only just long enough to reach all of the mating Velcro without being attached to anything at all! Attaching to any rack obviously makes them shorter. On my 700 rack they were barely long enough to attach and did not look secure. I even called Topeak to find out if I had received a bad bag but was told ‘no they all come this way’ - how dumb is that!
Second, the 700 has pannier rails on the sides of the rack and I saw that this bag’s side covers were hitting the rails before opening fully -so heavy loads in the panniers could end up hurting them.
Angered by Topeak’s stupidity in saving a few cents in Velcro, I set up a return with Amazon and ordered the Rockbros version which cost me $1 less ( it used to be about $15 less but has risen in price lately).
Their bag looks and feels the same but there are subtle differences.
- The front straps are 3 ½ “ longer and do close fully when attached to a 700 rack – AS THEY SHOULD!
- The center compartment is about 1” wider making the hinges 1” further apart so the sides do not hit hard against the pannier rails when open.
- The under-rack Velcro is much beefier and longer than on the Topeak bag on the right
- The bag is a little taller – 5/8” perhaps
- The bag comes with a dayglo waterproof cover
In the following pics the Rockbros bag is on the left with the green trim
