When I first started seeing long top tube bags pop up, I thought they were among the most hideous ways to add additional storage to a bike. Despite regularly using a large (but not excessively long) top tube bag while bikepacking and on big day rides, something about the long ones just looked off to me. They obviously caught on quickly, though, and now brands including Jpaks, Apidura, Tailfin, Restrap, Alpine Luddites, and Dispersed Bikepacking all offer their take on a longer-than-average top tube bag.

Thinking about this more closely, it was the fit of these bags that really bugged me. Unlike a custom bag, these production top tube bags rarely fit bikes perfectly and often require additional straps to keep them in place. This is all dependent on frame size and shape, but the rear seat tube strap on the Apidura top tube bag pictured above looks less than ideal, for xample. There comes a point when it makes more sense to get a totally custom bag, and I think full-length top tube bag bags are probably one of those situations.

Instead of simply offering a custom option, like other bag makers are doing, Rogue Panda Designs in Arizona decided to meet customers halfway with its new full-length top tube bag. The new Catalina top tube bag utilizes the same clever mounting interface found on the updated Alamo bag, but it’s offered as a semi-custom order with a total length determined by the customer.

The power of the new Catalina Full-Length Top Tube Bag’s stability lies in its unique rubberized mounting blocks. The mounting blocks, the same ones found on the new Alamo top tube bag I tested, are slotted to accept velcro straps, with a flat bag-facing side and a curved bike-facing side. The base of the bag features slots for up to three mounting blocks and straps, as well as three sets of holes for bikes with top tube bosses. Without the need for a steerer tube strap, like most traditional top tube bags, the bag doesn’t interfere with other cockpit bags or handlebar rotation.

For increased stability, Rogue Panda added another fixed velcro strap on the seat tube end of the bag, which holds it snugly against the seat tube or seatpost. An internal HDPE stiffener in the base runs the full length of the bag, which is covered by a padded base held in place with elastic bands inside the bag. Other notable features include a cable port at the front of the bag, a large molded-tooth zipper, and two zipper pulls, allowing for easy access to both ends of the bag without needing to unzip the entire thing. Inside, there’s a single horizontal velcro divider, although my pre-production sample came with two.

Bags by the Inch

What really sets the Catalina apart from other long/full-length top tube bags is its semi-custom ordering process. Instead of complicating things with a fully custom bag, Rogue Panda landed on a process that is nearly custom and more efficient to make. The Catalina is ordered by the inch, meaning customers can choose the length of the bag, as long as it’s between 18 and 26 inches. The bag I ended up getting is 22 inches long, which fit the new Kona Hei Hei I reviewed, my Rocky Mountain Element, and the new Hudski Dualist. It’s safe to say it will fit any modern bike I ride, but I could have sized down slightly to fit a wider range of bikes if I wanted.

The width and height are also standardized to match the Alamo Gordo top tube bag, so it’s 4.25 inches tall and 3.5 inches wide at the front, and tapers down to 2.6 inches wide toward the seatpost. The result is a spacious but not obnoxious top tube bag that adds a functional amount of storage without getting floppy or unstable. Like the Alamo, the straps must be pulled very tightly. As the foam compresses and straps stress out, they might require re-tightening a few times after the first installation. After a few tightens, the bag simply doesn’t budge.

Everything I liked about the Alamo, mainly its stability and easy-access, remains true with the Catalina. Stability and structure are important for a bag that’s only secured on two sides, and the Catalina knocks both out of the park. It tapers down nicely to avoid any leg rub, but the narrow end is still wide enough to hold a spare tube and some tools, which is normally what I packed at that end.

I found the Catalina most useful as quick-access storage on full-suspension mountain bikes with limited packing space. Bikes with sloping top tubes and generous standover leave unused space that’s perfect for a full-length top tube bag. Since I normally ride extra-large bikes, and I have a 33-inch inseam, I have no problem straddling my bike with the bag in place, but shorter riders or anyone with a smaller inseam might run into some clearance issues. However, if you can sit comfortably on your bike with the dropper post slammed, the extra packing space might be worth it.

On a recent 11-hour epic into Babine Mountains Provincial Park, outside of Smithers, British Columbia, the Catalina was the perfect place to stash my Zpacks Potty Pack, trowel, a bunch of snacks, and some quick-access tools, including a tire plugger and multi-tool.

This past weekend, I participated in my first-ever one-day bike race, the Malcolm Island XC Gravel Grind, and was a little torn on my bag setup for the 60-kilometer course I registered for. I originally thought I’d use a small flap-style handlebar bag because I figured the Catalina wouldn’t be big enough to carry enough snacks and tools for the race, but it proved me wrong and ended up being a great option. The velcro dividers create three little cubbies (although the production version just has two cubbies), and the two-way zipper meant it was easy to access items on the go without any contents spilling out. I packed a bag of easy-to-eat goodies up front, some larger bars and a tiny Wolf Tooth pump in the middle, and crammed my tools and a spare tube in the back.

The Catalina Full-Length Top Tube Bag reminds me of a vehicle’s glove box. It’s surprisingly spacious and it doesn’t take long to uncover some secret gems that were once believed lost. A glove box is where I put important things I don’t want to lose, like mechanic receipts, good pens, and more. Similarly, the Catalina is a useful place to stash important items you’ll want during the day, and it holds way more than you’d think. I’m not typically one to think about aerodynamics while riding a bike, but I can’t imagine the rather slim profile of the Catalina would be any slower than two feed bags or a handlebar bag. After all, I’m a racer now.

The only real drawbacks were already mentioned in my review of the Alamo. While the mounting blocks and straps are unique and stable, they require re-tightening for a secure setup, and knocking it out of place is possible on some narrow cylindrical top tubes. Thankfully, the rear seatpost/tube strap on the Catalina provides some additional stability, and I never found that to be an issue.

Getting yourself a Catalina full-length top tube bag is as easy as deciding on your length (by the inch), which should probably be an inch or two shorter than the distance between your seat tube and stem, choosing a fabric or custom print, and then waiting the three weeks it takes Rogue Panda to make your bag. Each Catalina top tube bag is made to order and currently are only available with a flat base, making it ideal for bikes with straight, non-curved top tubes.

• Length: 18″ to 26″ long (46-66cm)
• Weight: 350 grams (12.3 ounces)
• Material (as tested): X-Pac, HDPE
• Place of Manufacture: Arizona, USA
• Price: $175
• Manufacturer’s Details: RoguePanda.com

Further Reading

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