Zefal Iron Pack XL-DS

Zefal's Iron Pack XL-DS is a large, semi-rigid, expandable wedge bag with a 2 litre internal capacity, a seatpost-hugging profile and some nice detailing. It makes easy transition between road and trail duties thanks to heavily cushioned internal compartments and an easy-wipe 820 denier outer shell.

Quick release resin brackets have widely superseded Velcro on account of their neat, rigid nature, but these can have compatibility hassles with suspension seatposts, such as my notoriously tricky Cane Creek Thud Buster.

Entry to the main compartment is via a chunky, rubberised tag, which is easily opened and closed in gloved hands. Which is more than can be said of the woven LED tab... This provides a super-reliable mounting point – no risk of expensive lights being ejected at the first hint of a bump – but prising them on and off proved unexpectedly difficult until the strap assumed a loop two weeks in.

Inside the pack there's a cavernous main compartment with two additional stash points. A zippered mesh pocket lines the interior wall and seems best reserved for keys, cash or similar small valuables. A much larger cargo net with elastic cuff is integral to the inner flap and gobbles three composite tyre levers, patch kit, cable ties and two sets of spare AA or AAA cells.

Zefal suggests the dense EVA foam padding is perfect for carrying sensitive technology. Mini CSC and big super-zoom compact cameras will certainly fit and seem very well insulated against low-level vibration, so the Iron Pack is a good choice if you wanted these separate from panniers but didn't fancy the encumbrance of a bar bag. I still wouldn't risk this off-road, so I padded them with additional foam strips or wedged them between micro-jackets, overshoes and the like.

Otherwise, it will swallow pretty much everything you'd want on a day ride; I've managed two 700x28-35mm inner tubes, a CO2 cartridge and two pocket workshop multi tools (one with Allen keys, the other an adjustable wrench for track nuts/other fasteners) and a micro pump.

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This sort of cargo is notorious for annoying percussion over washboard surfaces, but with the bag's Velcro straps pulled tight, there's been no hint of annoying sway or chatter, even when thundering along several miles of bridlepath on my cyclo-cross and mountain bikes.

Talking of mucky stuff, the subtle black shell complements pretty much any genre of machine and is highly water resistant – more than most of us will ever need in the everyday sense. Spatter and road grime are easily dismissed with a damp cloth, although the glossy types with sonically welded seams remain the best options if you're partial to river crossings or riding in the foulest weathers without mudguards.

Verdict

Rugged and well-designed wedge pack at a very good price