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review
Bottles
Tools - Portable
Topeak Escape Pod Topeak Escape Pod Topeak Escape Pod
2020 Topeak Escape Pod Small

Topeak Escape Pod

7
by Stu Kerton
Sat, Sep 12, 2020 09:45
0
£10.99

VERDICT:

7
10
A sensibly priced, rattle free solution to carrying your tools and spares
Decent capacity
No rattling
The neoprene bag can be a faff
Weight: 
69g
Contact: 
www.extrauk.co.uk
How we test

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Topeak's Escape Pod is an 'official' take on the DIY water bottle tool carrier, but with a few neat additions to make it a more stylish without ramping up the price.

The Escape Pod – this is the small (520cc) version, but there are medium (620cc) and large (850cc) ones too – isn't exactly ground-breaking. It's a refinement of an old solution. Over the years many have modified water bottles to carry extra kit, but what I like about Topeak's rendition is the addition of a removable neoprene bag.

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This stops tools and anything else rattling around, causing noise and creating damage to the walls of the tub. Security is further increased by the foam disc squashing down from under the lid.

2020 Topeak Escape Pod Small 2.jpg

Capacity is pretty good too, even in this small version. Topeak reckons it swallows a mini-tool, CO2 inflator and cartridge, a spare tube (700c x 18/25mm) and two tyre levers – and you know what, it does, easily. I also managed to squeeze in some cash and puncture patches as well.

When the bag is full it can be a little tricky to manhandle in and out of the bottle neck, but it's not exactly a big issue.

2020 Topeak Escape Pod Small 1.jpg

The bottle itself is a little bit cheap and cheerful, but it does the job and fits securely in all of the bottle cages I tried. It's started to get scratches from the cages, but they don't really show up until you are really close.

The neoprene bag, on the other hand, is well stitched and pretty robust.

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I think £10.99 is pretty decent for what you're getting. True you could make your own with an old water bottle and some padding, but this gives a much more refined look and feel (and saves you the hassle). What's more, it's £6 cheaper than the Giant Tool Capsule and is also cheaper than the £15 Vel Tool Bottle.

Overall, I think the Topeak Escape Pod is great way of carrying around tools and spares providing you don't mind sacrificing a water bottle cage. The combined quality of the parts are decent, it does the job well and it should take plenty of abuse.

Verdict

A sensibly priced, rattle free solution to carrying your tools and spares

road.cc test report

Make and model: Topeak Escape Pod

Size tested: Small

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?

Topeak say, "The Escape Pod allows you to store a mini tool, CO2 inflator, tire levers, spare tube, a mini pump (Large Pod) or any essential gear for your ride. The rigid and durable Escape Pod features interior foam padding and neoprene bag to keep contents quiet and accessible. Easily slides into most water bottle cages giving you the perfect way to carry extra gear on your next adventure!"

It's a simple design with a couple of neat tweaks.

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

CAPACITY: 520 cc

MATERIAL: Engineering grade polymer

ATTACHMENT: Water bottle cage

SIZE: 13.8 x ø 7.4 cm / 5.4' x ø 2.9'

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Holds your tools and spares firmly, avoiding noise from road vibrations.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

No rattles.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Getting the full bag in and out can be a tight squeeze.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It is cheaper than many other solutions that require the use of your bottle cage.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The neoprene bag is a neat addition to this tool carrier, which takes a simple design and refines it. The overall quality is good for not a huge amount of money.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Topeak Escape Pod 2020
Topeak Escape Pod
Topeak 2020
Topeak
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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