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review

Ventoux The Event Bag

9
£60.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Terrific holdall ideally suited to the needs of the travelling cyclist at a fantastic price
Weight: 
1,620g
Contact: 
www.ventoux-wear.com

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Ventoux's Event Bag comes packed with numerous features aimed to satisfy the specific needs of cyclists when travelling. Combined, these serve to differentiate the Event Bag from the multitude of generic holdalls out there, making it an ideal purchase for anyone looking for something to tote their gear in.

The stand out of these features is undoubtedly the insulated pockets at the front and rear of the bag. Each pocket includes 2 mesh housings which can each hold 750ml bottles, and are large enough so that ice (or other food) can still be packed in there. Now, the insulation isn't heavy duty by any stretch of the imagination – the zips, for example, are just standard items - but they did a good job of keeping a bottle filled with hot tea warm for a couple of hours while I was racing. Packed with ice, I'm sure they'd do a reasonable job keeping your bottle cool on a hot summer's day.

Continuing with the cycle-specific theme, the Event Bag includes a small side pocket designated for small tools such as Allen keys and a mini pump. A few loops of fabric keep everything separate and organised to be grabbed at a moment's notice. The second side pocket is a more traditional design with a number of compartments to hold things such as a passport or wallet, in addition to a couple of pens. This pocket also includes a clip to attach a set of keys to.

The main compartment is a cavernous 60 litre space, large enough to easily swallow a day's worth of kit, shoes and helmet. I've used the Event Bag for a few stage races and it is just about large enough to get 3 lots of kit in (plus all the assorted wet/cold weather gear) if you remove your helmet and attach it to the outside. A cardboard strip is used to reinforce the floor and give the bag shape, but this can be removed if needed.

Sharing the 60l main compartment is a dedicated waterproof pocket accessed from a zip on the back of the bag. As it expands into the main compartment, stuffing your wet kit in there doesn't affect the overall size of the bag and the pocket easily fold away when not in use. The waterproof pocket is fabricated from 600D polyester which does a good job of blocking moisture and preventing your wet kit from contaminating the dry clothes in the main pocket. For muddy kit, I tended to use a plastic bag in addition to the waterproof pocket (more to keep the bag clean that anything else), but when kit was merely wet, I didn't hesitate to through it straight into the pocket and forget about it.

Rounding out the pockets is a slim pocket integrated into the main compartment flap which was useful for storing A4 sized documents without creasing them. Its location on the top of the bag does make it exposed to rain and it would have been nice if this pocket was also lined with waterproof material – my only real quibble with the Event Bag as a whole.

In terms of durability, the 400D rip-stop nylon is stout enough to ward off any scrapes and scratches that come with travelling. I've flown to Africa and road-tripped to the Pyrenees with it, in addition to using it almost every weekend for the past 6 months and it has yet to be visibly damaged in any way. The included shoulder strap is basic and comfortable enough for moderate use, but any loads over 12kg did cause some shoulder discomfort.

At £60, the Event Bag would represent good value if it were just a bog-standard holdall, never mind the fact that it packs in numerous features perfect for cyclists, and not found in any other bags. The only thing holding it back is the lack of colour options as red mightn't be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm sure many people (myself included) could see past this given the asking price.

The second generation of the Event Bag is currently available for pre-order and adds a padded tablet pocket (not tested) to the features identified in this review.

Verdict

Terrific holdall ideally suited to the needs of the travelling cyclist at a fantastic price.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Ventoux The Event Bag

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Ventoux Event Bag is ideally suited to any cyclist looking for a medium sized bag to transport anything needed for a ride. Described by Ventoux as the "perfect bag for any event"

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Key Features:

Two insulated cooler-bag end pockets

Large main pocket plus large, zipped flap pocket

Front organiser pocket

Front Tool pocket

Expanding waterproof wet pocket

Adjustable shoulder strap

(Padded tablet pocket on latest model)

Size: 700mm x 330mm Volume: 60L Material: A combination of 600D waterproof Polyester and 400D rip stop nylon

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very impressed with how the Event Bag has held up. No signs of damage at all

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

The main pocket is a good size for day trips and can be used for longer at a push. The specific tool and document pockets are useful for organising smaller items, while the insulated pockets work well and can hold up to 4, 750ml bottles

Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10

Excellent. No visible signs of damage despite some heavy duty weekly use and the odd manhandling from airport staff

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10

As a holdall, the Event Bag is much less bulky and lighter than a hard shell option. It doesn't seem to have sacrificed any durability for it though

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

The shoulder strap could be a big more padded but it is satisfactory for loads under 12kg

Rate the product for value:
 
10/10

Whichever way you look at it, the Event Bag is amazing value

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 21  Height: 190cm  Weight: 69kg

I usually ride: Canondale EVO Red  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, mtb,

 

For 5 years, racing was my life and I went all the way from a newbie bonking after 40 miles, to a full-timer plying my trade on the Belgian kermesse scene. Unfortunately, the pro dream wasn't meant to be and these days, you're more likely to find me bimbling about country lanes and sleeping in a bush on the side of the road.

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4 comments

Avatar
d_jp | 10 years ago
0 likes

If you're going hand luggage only, remember to check that any tools you want to take will not be confiscated at the security check!

Avatar
jezzzer | 10 years ago
0 likes

you need one of these  1

https://www.rufusroo.com/shop/

Avatar
WolfieSmith | 10 years ago
0 likes

A bit uninspiring in style though. Beige and red? It looks as if it was made by Rohan or Millets.

At 1600 gms it's unlikely RyanAir will accept it as cabin baggage. You are allowed clothes, phone and passport only now I think...  4

Avatar
Vili Er | 10 years ago
0 likes

My good lady bought me one for Xmas and it's done the job of carrying all the kit I need for weekends away in the UK. The big test is going to be trying to sneak it past Easy Jet check in as hand luggage next month...  3

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