Bikepacking bags are ten a penny. Waterproof and translucent, though? That narrows the field considerably. A new family of bikepacking bags from Sweden sets out to claim exactly that combination. POCs Ultra series also promises serious durability and everyday practicality. We put the bags through numerous trips to find out.POC Ultra Bikepacking Bags | 60180 | Colour: Hydrogen White Translucent | Manufacturers websiteAnyone can do black, and it goes with everything. So does white, which is exactly why POCs new bikepacking bags, made by the Swedish accessories specialist, do not stop there. They are translucent as well as white, letting light through in a way that sets the series apart. More on what that actually means later.POC Ultra Bikepacking Bags in Detail: Translucent and Waterproof on the Road to Adventure?POCs Ultra series comprises six different bikepacking bags in total, four of which we took a closer look at on numerous gravel rides: a 1.7 l top tube bag, a 3 l frame bag, a 7 l saddle bag and a small 1 l snack bag. The range is rounded off by a small top tube bag and a handlebar bag. We tested the following models:POC Ultra Top Tube Bag 1.7L: 170 g, 120POC Ultra Frame Bag 3L: 220 g, 130POC Ultra Saddle Bag 7L: 290 g, 180POC Ultra Snack Bag 1L: 60 g, 60One thing straight away: if youre worried that white bikepacking wont stay white for long, you can relax. The tough, fairly smooth outer material of the Ultra series can be cleaned thoroughly even after the filthiest mud baths. Even chain lube comes off without leaving a trace, given a little patience and some chemical elbow grease. POCs new bikepacking bags dont need to fear the hosepipe either. As long as you are not blasting them directly with a pressure washer, you can simply leave the bags on the bike for a quick wash at the petrol station. In our experience, not a single drop of water made it to the inside, neither while riding through wild April weather nor when hosing them down in the garden.Here, pleasure comes before work: the generous supply of Velcro straps makes fitting the bags quick and easy. The shortest supplied strip is the limiting factor, and on a slim top tube it can still be too long for a properly secure fit, in which case a little creativity, or a set of shorter straps, will be needed. One clever detail, however, cannot be substituted: POC line the inside of the supplied Velcro straps with a soft material, preventing scratches on the frame even without protective film.The top tube bag and frame bag are secure and quick to fit. The snack bag gives you plenty of mounting options around the stem and head tube, using Velcro straps along with several stretchy loops and hooks. Of all the bags, only the saddle bag fell short when it came to attachment.. While its easy enough to secure to the seatpost and saddle rails using the buckle straps and Velcro, unfortunately that doesnt really hold the 7 l Ultra Saddle Bag firmly in place which isnt even that big. Quite the opposite: even when you just shake the bike, it wags around like the tail of our office dog Henry when fresh treats are on the way.When riding on rough terrain, thats no fun at all, especially when the saddle bag is full and heavy. Thats all the more frustrating because the other bags do their job very well. Thanks to the relatively stiff material, they hold their shape nicely. Even on slim tubes, they barely protrude beyond the frame at the sides, so they do not get in the way while pedalling.Long but low-profile, the top tube bag sits low enough that it never makes contact with your chest. Riders with minimal standover height are the exception, where a slight risk to particularly sensitive body parts remains. Short of stashing a monster multi-tool in there, you should be fine.Visually and tactually, POCs saddle bag is very well executed.Unfortunately, it wobbles more than the legendary nodding dog.POC Ultra Bikepacking Bags: Seek and Ye Shall Find!The top tube bag and frame bag offer easy access to the interior via a sturdy zip that opens smoothly. Inside, alongside a large main compartment, you will find several small mesh pockets. And this is finally where the translucent material comes into its own: a large amount of ambient light passes through the material and into the bag, making it much easier to find small items.Even in the dark, you can shine a torch through the outer shell of the bags. Thats especially useful when youre looking for something hidden in the small side pockets or right at the bottom. In our view, the translucent material offers a genuine benefit here.A quick know-it-all interlude: unlike transparent, translucent means light passes through but is diffused so strongly that the contents stay only vaguely visible. You always know what is hiding where. To everyone else, all they see is a blurred mix of colours, and your wallet, for instance, is not immediately recognisable from the outside.The translucent material is a huge help when searching for small items, as are the many little mesh pockets.Unlike the saddle bag, the Snack Bag sits much more securely. However, you shouldnt be in a hurry when sliding in a bottle. Despite the drainage hole in the base of the Snack Bag, such a stubborn cushion of air forms beneath the bottle that it only works with a fair bit of feel and patience.Anyone thinking they can quickly shove a bottle in there during an unsupported race will be surprised by just how stubborn air can be. Even so, the POC Ultra Snack Bag left a good impression, and it is perfectly suited to small snacks such as bars or gummy bears anyway.Bottles only go into the POC Ultra Snack Bag with a firm push, as an air cushion forms underneath.Who Is the POC Ultra Bikepacking Bag Series For?Bikepacking bags are for bikepackers But seriously: with the Ultra series, POC have a range of very robust, waterproof and visually distinctive bikepacking bags in their line-up. And anyone who values exactly those qualities will be well served here. We can also easily imagine the slim, long top tube bag being used in a race setting.Messy riders will love the translucent material of the bags, true to the motto of find, dont search. However, anyone looking for discreet bags will not be happy with the POC bags, and the same goes for anyone who cannot live with a wobbly seat pack.Conclusions about the POC Ultra Bikepacking BagsPOC havent reinvented the bikepacking bag with the new white Ultra series, but the finish is excellent throughout, and the translucent material earns its keep in everyday use. Stable, easy to clean and waterproof, the bags also let daylight through, which makes small items easier to find than in a fully opaque design. Set against that is a saddle bag that wobbles like a nervous cows tail, a flaw hard to excuse given the ambitious pricing. Future generations should fix it.TopsStable, waterproof materialLots of small mesh pockets for good organisationEasy to fitSoft-coated Velcro straps to prevent scratchesFlopsSaddle bag is very wobblyVelcro straps are sometimes too long for very slender framesHigh priceFor more information, visit poc.comDer Beitrag POC Ultra Bikepacking Bags on Review All Ultra, or What? erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

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