Rogue Panda now offers their Catalina full-length top tube bag ($175) in lengths 17″-26″ (24″ tested) for just about any bike you may have. While Spencer would argue that the proliferation of full-length top tube bags in the past few years is emblematic of unnecessarily low stand over heights, their cargo capacity is delightful. Rogue Panda once again reminds us that they are at the top of their game with the unflinching Catalina top tube bag. Read on to see why the Catalina has replaced his fanny pack on rides…
For those who would like to skip my forthcoming rant on stack and standover height geometry, the Rogue Panda Catalina is stellar. I tested it initially with the velcro straps and later with their new Rogue Panda-branded tension straps, and I never had an issue with swaying or slouching. I would have liked some more options to organize within the large space, and the zipper pull rattled more than I liked, but those are nitpicks. For any bike with the space to run such a bag, I would recommend it, as I believe it provides a better weight-to-space ratio than the smaller gas/jerry can bags of the past.
Rogue Panda Catalina Quick Hits
- Made to order in Flagstaff, AZ
- Available from 17-26″ lengths in 1″ increments
- Weight: 290g-380g depending on size
- $175
- Available Ultra 200x Black Magic fabric ready to ship (Available in all fabrics as a custom bag)
Filling The Gap
The proliferation of top tube bags signals one thing to me: standover height has gotten too low. If so many people can fit these bags comfortably on their bikepacking bikes, then top tubes are probably too low, much like my arguments for taller stack height to increase comfort, and secondarily, framebag space. These arguments are intertwined. In theory, we wouldn’t need full-length top tube bags; we would just have larger framebags. Many bikes used for bikepacking were not explicitly designed for that purpose, mostly being single-track focused mountain bikes first, retrofitted for bikepacking use. Ive been running my Catalina on my Norco Optic for months now and have had no issue with the lost standover height with the bag, so bring the damn top tubes back up.
My first brush with this issue was on my old Orbea hardtail. It had a very low top tube and was severely lacking in framebag space for an XL frame. I devised a framebag that wrapped around the frame and closed via a rolltop around what would be the effective top tube. This allowed me to utilize the same space that a full-length top tube bag does now, though at the time, those weren’t a popular option. Rogue Panda, as well as many other companies, have seen the gap in standover height and a place to efficiently store many items and have decided to fill that gap. Until we get bikes designed to optimize storage, we’ll keep using bags to fill the space anyway we can.
What the Catalina Gets Right
The mounting on the Catalina is solid; I had zero issues. I used both the original Velcro straps and the new RPGP straps. Rogue Panda also includes two plates to help mate the bag to curved tubes (my bike has a flattish aluminum TT). The bag has accommodations for bolt-on mounts near the stem if your bike has those as well. Long story short, it will mount securely on your bike.
The Catalina has a gentle taper that allows the bag to have more capacity at the nose and a slender shape around the tail for leg clearance. This capacity is cavernous. I could easily fit an extra liter of water in the bag and all my ride essentials. The velcro partition sized nicely for our 1L expedition bottles. Capacity will vary depending on the length of your bag, but RP has eeked out as much capacity as possible.
The construction is very high quality, in line with what is to be expected out of a MUSA bag from Rogue Panda. Their constant innovation and refinement are on full display here with the Catalina.
Nit Picks
I found myself longing for some modularity in the storage capacity of the bag. My mind goes to adjustable dividers like a camera bag to tailor fit the load. I found myself occasionally only partially filling the Catalina and would have liked to partition the load to keep it from rattling around. Though more Velcro would add weight and complexity to the bag, if I find this continually an issue Ill just DIY some sticky Velcro to the bag walls.
Speaking of rattling, I found the plastic zipper pulls rattling against the zipper track to be the only real downside of the bag. This will be easily fixed by just adding a small amount of p-cord with an overhand knot instead of the hard plastic zipper pull. I would expect a company as professional as RP to use nice zipper pulls as they do, so this is just a personal preference for a less noisy ride.
Fanny Pack Killer
I have been a STAUNCH advocate of using fanny packs while riding for years now. It would be hard to remember even a ride around town, much less a tour, without a fanny pack on my waist. In the last few months, the Catalina has taken the place of my fanny pack on mountain bike rides. To the point that almost every time I have a brief freak-out moment when I don’t feel a pack on my waist. All my ride essentials: extra water, phone, tools, and snacks, all fit nicely into the Catalina. Now the Catalina will never replace a fanny pack for carrying cameras, but for everyday ride items, I have been enamored with the Catalina. I’d like to think my lower back thanks me as well.
Pros
- Made in the USA in Flagstaff, AZ
- Rogue Panda stands by their products and constantly innovates
- Adds plenty of capacity to a dead space on most mountain bikes
- The bag did not sway even in the harshest MTB riding
- Plenty of lengths to fit a large range of bikes
Cons
- More storage modularity would have been nice
- Zipper pulls rattle