BikePacking with Apidura’s Expedition Series - Four Pack Review

Words by Matteo Pistono, Photos by Dave Malwitz

Apidura is one of the top bikepacking bag makers and has led the way in ultralight, rackless packing systems. They produce minimalist gear for multi-month bike tours, self-supported cross country races, as well as for a weekend get-away. As bikepacking and adventure riding continues to grow we have seen an increasing number of bag brands enter the market, pushing Apidura to stay on top of their game.

Over the past few months I’ve been riding with a set of Apidura bags, specifically the Expedition line of packs designed for drop bar touring and bikepacking. I used them on mixed terrain rides and multi-day adventures, including Santa Catalina Island, Southern California mountain bike trails, and the formidable Stagecoach 400, which I earlier wrote about here. Bikepackers often switch how and where they carry their gear on the bike and I tested Apidura’s along with some other brands to contrast how they performed. Here we look at how the following Apidura products tested:

Expedition Frame Pack

The go-to position for the heaviest items I carry for bikepacking is below the top tube; this is because I prefer the majority of weight that typically coming from water and tools, centered and as low as possible for stabilized riding. How much space one has below the top tube will obviously depend on a bike’s geometry. For my Salsa Cutthroat, the design provides a large triangle in which gear can be stowed. I opted to use Apidura’s Expedition Frame Pack (4.5 liters), which is considered a half-frame pack. These half-frame bags vary in sizes between 3-6.5 liters. Apidura also makes a full-frame bag in various sizes with the largest being 14 liters—serious real estate! With all bikepacking bags, it is critical that the bag fit the geometry of your rig, and Apidura seems to go the extra mile to provide varying sizes for all different shapes of bikes including adventure, gravel, mountain and road.

The Expedition Frame Pack is made from a lightweight, super durable fabric. The seams are welded and zippers have protected closures so all your gear stays dry. I rode in all-day torrential downpours and nothing got wet inside the bags. And, as with all the Expedition line, there are welcomed reflective elements to provide visibility at night.

The Frame Pack secures with five straps that Apidura says are carbon-friendly. While the straps did not damage my carbon frame, they did leave superficial wear that I was able to minimize with a corrosion inhibitor like Muc-Off Bike Protect. I appreciated the positioning of the straps on the top tube where you can still lift your bike as if pulling up a suitcase. Some frame bag makers have very wide straps and are positioned where there is little room for your hand to lift the bike by the top tube. This is important in bikepacking because with a fully loaded bike—40-70 pounds of gear and water—you want to avoid maneuvering or hoisting your bike by the seat, such as during a hike-a-bike section, because you risk snapping the seat rails.

When I pack my gear for bikepacking, I think in terms of systems—nutrition, sleep, clothing, and repair. The Expedition Frame Pack has a couple features that enhance my systems, namely for hydration and repair. I carry a 2.5 litter water bladder horizontally in my frame bag. The Expedition series of frame bags has a leak-protected port where hydration tubes, or a battery cable, can exit. Also, entry to the main compartment is on the right side by way of a long zipper, which, you can use with one hand, even while riding. On the left side, there is another zipper into a map compartment, which is where I place my Leyzne micro floor pump.

If I know that I will need maximum space for gear, for example, when I’ll be riding in freezing temperatures or if there are days between food restocks, I will usually use a full-frame bag, of which Apidura makes. The main reason I chose to use the half-frame bag from Apidura this season was to experiment with a lower volume packing system. Still, I filled the space below Apidura’s half-frame bag with water and gear bottles in cages. In many ways, if you use a full or half-frame bag depends if you want your gear inside a bag or in bottles and cages.

Expedition Fork Packs

Apidura’s Expedition Fork Pack is made from the same durable material as the frame bag. In three months of adventures, I gave these bags a beating. From scouring against cactus and rocks to being stepped on at camp to the daily stuffing and pulling gear out, I was impressed that the fabric came away with only two small tears, which I easily repaired with Tenacious Tape.

The Fork Packs are essentially slender compression sacks and function best hosting gear such as a puffball jacket or bivy sack. Each pack holds 4.5 liters. Because I’m riding a drop bar adventure rig, I have less room horizontally for a handlebar roll, and the forks are an excellent place to distribute the front weight, especially because the weight is lower.

The top of the Fork Pack folds over itself and a hands-free valve allows air to be squeezed out before fastening close. It should be noted that the tacky material inside the Fork Packs does not allow for easy stuffing, which seems odd given the attention to detail Apidura usually demonstrates. When I carry my Jetboil stove for a trip, it fits nicely in the fork pack, along with my Aeropress coffee maker.

Apidura’s Expedition Fork Packs do not include a fork cage to which they attach. I fastened my packs to Salsa Anything Cages—there are many such cages that you will need to use in conjunction with the Fork Packs. The cages attach with two or three bolts to the front fork. The straps that come with Apidura’s Fork Packs are the most innovative on the market because they ensure that the straps do not wrap around the front bike fork, but rather holds tight to the cage. This allows removal and attachment of the Fork Packs to be not only efficient, but you need not remove the pack from the cage if you need to grab an item on the fly.

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Expedition Saddle Pack

The bikepacking saddle pack is the minimalist response to the traditional rear pannier system, which required a heavy rack attached to the bike. Today’s lightweight saddle packs attach underneath the seat, as seen here for the Expedition Saddle Pack. Apidura’s system of fastening the pack is straightforward and bombproof. There is a strap around the seat post made from a heavy duty rubberized nylon that provides extra protection against friction and puncture, and two Woojin buckles fastened to the seat rails. The narrowest section of the pack, that sits up against the seat post, is made from a lightweight thermoplastic that is molded and provides a firm structure to the pack and helps it not sway during the ride.

The Expedition Saddle Pack uses waterproof and abrasion resistant fabric. The bag closes with a roll-top compression system. On top is a bungee cord, which I’m never too keen to use for fear of losing items off the back, although does come in handy for drying wet clothes. There are two attachment points for a SPOT tracker and rear lights, which feature the same reflective graphics that are on the other Expedition line so you can expect to be illuminated in car headlights.

I used a dry bag for my sleeping bag and clothing in the Saddle Pack on Apidura recommendation. The fabric is waterproof but apparently the stitching can allow some seepage, though I did not experience any moisture entering the seams.

Apidura offers the Saddle Pack in three sizes: 9, 14, and 17-liters. It is always a danger having the largest bag because of the inevitability that you will fill the space. Still, I chose the 17-liter because I wanted room for cold weather gear, including my 3-season sleeping bag.

Top Tube Pack

Although not part of the Expedition line of products, I’m a big fan of my Apidura Top Tube Pack. I thought it germane to include here because I always ride with it, switching it from my adventure rig to my gravel and road bikes depending if I’m on trail or tarmac. This slender half-liter bag has enough space to hold my phone, a few bars, and a multi-tool - all conveniently positioned behind the front stem. Apidura’s current model that is similar to what I have used for years is called the Backcountry Top Tube Pack, which comes in either .5 or 1 liter sizes. I have tried other larger top tube bags but they inevitably feel bulky and can rub against my legs when up out of the saddle. When I did use other bags in its place, I attached my reliable Apidura Top Tube Pack in a reverse position under my seat, fastened to the seat post. Ideally you can open and close the zipper with one hand, and perhaps after the many years of use, I am unable to do so. Still, as the saying goes, “it’s good to dance with the one that brought you”.