We’re big fans of using cargo cages on bicycles, as they let you carry additional gear on erstwhile unused sections of the bike. It’s a simple, straightforward, and very effective way of strapping down more cargo during your bikepacking trips. The Gemini Cargo Pack is designed to take full advantage of the extra liters of storage that cargo cages bring to your ride.
Billed as “a simple, functional match for your three-bolt mounted cargo cage,” the bag allows you to pack just under four liters of gear inside its main compartment, giving you a whole load of storage if you have cages installed on each side of the fork, each side of the seat stay, and other sections of the bike frame. That’s a heck of a lot of storage possibilities without adding racks or baskets to your bike or <a href=”https://www.clad.com/conquer-steep-climbs-and-tough-trails-with-the-best-electric-mountain-bikes/”>ebike</a>, making this quite the efficient way to bring more cargo.
The Swift Industries Gemini Cargo Pack is a tube-shaped roll top bag similar in looks to your standard dry bags. While it’s not quite as waterproof as the dry bags people take when kayaking or rafting, it is adequately water-resistant with the roll top down, so your gear should stay dry even when you end up riding through a downpour. It has a shell cut in technical Ecopak polyester, which is made from recycled plastic bottles, five of which are used for the materials employed in each bag.
A ballistic fabric is used for the side of the bag that’s in contact with the cargo cage, ensuring added abrasion resistance, so it takes no damage during extended rides, with a 400D nylon packcloth lining. They also put an HDPE body insert at the bottom to give it structure and keep the bag stable, regardless of what items you decide to carry in it. The insert is removable, too, in case you don’t need it.
The Swift Industries Gemini Cargo Pack comes with velcro straps that make it easy to attach and remove the bag from a bike’s cargo cage, all while using rubberized fabric on one side of the straps to help mitigate any movement while the bike is on the move. Daisy chain webbing on each side of the bag gives you a place to strap down any additional small gear that won’t fit inside. Granted, it’s probably going to be awkward to strap down gear on these things, but we’ll let you figure out how to get that done.
If you’re a fan of cargo cages and the storage options they bring to even smaller bikes, this bike bag definitely makes for an excellent way to take advantage of them. Yes, putting a large rack on the back of the bike to strap down cargo or use panniers seem like a much easier way of carrying gear, but this does make for a nice option for those who don’t want to ferry that much stuff anyway.
As of now, it appears the Swift Industries Gemini Cargo Pack is only available in one color, brown, although there will be more to come down to the line. You can get one now for $70.