Other than the fact thats its eco and the manufacturing isn't outsourced to some faraway place, I was actually in the search for a framebag but didn't want to invest in one without first ensuring that I had the right brand. What initially caught my eye on one of the bikepacking manufacturers list was how cool their gear looked in this pic
However that full framebag cannot be found anywhere so I can only assume it was either a custom bag or a oneoff which is now discontinued. This leads my to the main flaw that I've found and why after what I know now, I wouldn't have gone with this framebag anyway (unless it came with a full webbing ladder so I could upgrade the velcro to proper Velcro from the original brand). It seems the framebags that are currently available (more on where I bought AP later) have a grown on hook and loop system and if its anything like the one that came with my 1.2L toptube bag then its a bit rubbish and hence I won't be investing and hence am out. But thats regards their other gear and I am a bit (read: alot) OCD about my gear being just right.So, for the actual review of the toptube bag. Would I buy it again: Yes...; What would I change: Only the velcro fastenings and upgrade to something more secure (not that whats supplied isn't secure and I'm sure it could be made to be a bit more grippy around the bike frame) like the Velcro I added and removed their own hook and loop stuff from the webbing straps.
If you look at pic 2 its what I managed to stuff into it after removing the inner dividers and I still had a few grams of space left. In comparison to the 1L Crikey, how much bag. Either Crikey, how much have got their volumes wrong (the Acepac is much bigger than just 0.2L) or the Acepac actually has even more capacity than the 1.2L stated. After adding the Velcro fastenings its been solid as a rock (not that it was before but I like a firm hold like the Apidura bags give) and to be fair I've even swapped the straps of the Crikey, how much pack for the Velcro (or will be doing fully at some point).
Regards the waterproofing. It seems to have the exact same zipper as my late Revelate Tangle (the older version) and it is indeed a YKK zipper. I wouldn't bet my life on the waterproofing though as there is a gap that water can easily enter where the zip sits inside the zip garage. Hence I would be more happy running it as a front bag (as seen on my Earnie) as opposed to near the seattube junction (as seen on Stan [the Sonder]). Hopefully this would mean that whilst riding into the rain, it wouldn't enter straight into the abovementioned hole and I normally have my waterproof phonebag in there anyway.
All in all, its a cool bag after swapping the straps to some 3cm wide ones (I'm currently on 2cm Velcro but will upgrade futher later). It can be bought https://www.bikester.co.uk/search.html? ... ery=acepac and if you find other stuff to the order of 99Squid you can use your £10 voucher which they give by simply subscribing!
NB. If anyone (meaning more than 6 peolpe) wants a more thorough review by the man himself (Stu) then I'm happy sending it forth to sunny Wales for a few weeks of abuse!
NB. If I didn't say it already.... I love it and what a worthy £39 (including the £4.99 postage from Germany) investment
