Tank bags are becoming the preferred luggage on around-town bikes. I wouldn't say they are optimal for a week long trip, unless you're spartan about it, but these are freeing bikes of saddlebags and freeing riders of backpacks.
Bags like Alpinestars' Tech Aero stand as examples of why riders like these so much. Packing a lot into a small frame, the Aero is designed to stow everything from your socks to you laptop. The laptop sleeve on a tank bag is not unheard of, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it common either.
The Aero is an expandable bag and offers 20 liters of space at a minimum and 30 liters fully expanded. Side pockets and internal organizer pockets will let everything have a place, including your sunglasses which will find a fleece-lined pouch that is water resistant. Riders say the zippers do a good job of holding off the elements, despite Alpinestars' reluctance to claim this as a feature.
All the perks, like a clear map pocket and a removable magnetic base, are included. The Aero has straps to double as a backpack, making it superior to most other varieties of riding luggage. This is a great bag if you ride to the office or school, or if everything you own fits in a shoebox already.
Like a good deal of the gear from Alpinestars, the price is higher than I would like to see, especially for a tank bag. With the growing popularity of tank bags, there is far too much competition to risk a hefty price tag. The quality, however, does shine through, and there is an impressive combination of features. A case of relative value, each rider must decide where the balance of cost and quality comes to rest.
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