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The Cabezon bikepacking bag series from deuter has been specially developed for discerning globetrotters who value well-designed and lightweight bikepacking products.
The hard-wearing material, sealed seams and TPU-coated zips are designed to ensure that the contents of the waterproof panniers are protected from moisture. Reflective details also ensure better visibility.
The individual deuter bikepacking bags in the test:
Deuter Cabezon SB 16 saddle bag
The Cabezon SB 16 Saddle bag with a capacity of 16 litres has been specially developed for bikepacking tours. Thanks to the two-part construction, the bag can be loaded and unloaded quickly and easily without the hassle of having to thread the straps around the saddle rails. In fact, this only needs to be done once at the start of each tour. After that, the bag holder (holster) remains on the bike while the drybag is removed.
The pack sack is closed using a roll-top fastener, while the ends are attached to the holster to hold the drybag securely in place. As with all saddlebags, the contents of the deuter Cabezon SB 16 Drybag should also be compressed, as this provides the necessary support. The manufacturer has therefore equipped the drybag with a compression valve. There are also material loops and an elasticated strap on the top of the holster.
In practice: the deuter saddle bag
The first time I tried to mount it, I was about to give up and switch to one of my tried and tested bags. It was already late and the next morning I would be setting off on an overnight tour. After taking a deep breath, I decided to start all over again. What was the problem? The problem with the saddle bag was that the Velcro strap on the holder that goes around the seat post seemed far too short. The solution was to pull hard on it so that the seat post slipped into the corresponding openings of the bag and the bag enclosed it well. This suddenly made the Velcro fastener long enough. In addition, the bag now sits very firmly and hardly wobbles at all.
Pretty big
If bikers want to take less luggage with them, the saddle bag from deuter might be too big. To be securely fastened in the holster, it has to be packed quite full. But once that's done, it works well. The long strap ends can be rolled up to keep everything looking neat and tidy with nothing hanging around.
Summary: After a few initial problems, we realised that the bag is well designed. It stays securely attached to the bike and the pannier stays in the holder as long as it is packed tightly enough and fixed in place. One disadvantage is that you can reach the limits of the bag in summer with minimalist luggage. Just a change of clothes for the evening and a second outfit for cycling may not be enough. However, the bag is well suited for camping and leisurely bikepacking tours.
Deuter Cabezon FB 4 frame bag
The deuter Cabezon FB 4 is a waterproof frame bag made from robust material and features reflective elements, gear loops and a large zip access to the spacious main compartment. The four double Velcro fasteners allow secure attachment to various frame and tube diameters and are also suitable for carbon bikes. The bag is also very lightweight.
- Weight: 145 grammes
- Volume: 4 litres
- Dimensions: 15 / 8 / 40 (H / W / D)
- Price: 80 Euro >> at Mountain friends or Rose available
In practice: the deuter frame bag
The Deuter Cabezon FB 4 frame bag is attached to the triangle of the frame with four Velcro fasteners. The position of the Velcro fasteners can be adjusted as required. On the small frame of the test bike in combination with the thin steel tubes, the Velcro fasteners for the down tube and the seat tube were too long. On larger frames, the Velcro straps have to cover longer distances, similar to carbon frames. In this case, the length of the straps fits. Due to the seam that runs around the straps, it is not possible to shorten them. Even without the seam, it would not be possible to shorten the strap, as this would impair the hold of the Velcro fastener.
Good packing is important
The bag has an atypical frame shape, as it is round at the front and back. This means that the potential space in the frame triangle remains unused. The material of the bag protects the contents from dust and water, but it is not particularly dimensionally stable. When packing, you should make sure that the bag is not too wide to avoid bumping your knees. Our tester reported that during a two-day test tour, she hardly bumped the inside of her thighs against the bag - unlike other bags.
The zip of the bag can also be operated while driving, e.g. to take out a snack. However, access is only possible from the right-hand side. However, we did not miss the missing zip on the left-hand side.
Summary: The deuter Cabezon FB 4 frame bag may not be perfect, but it is a practical and affordable option for cyclists who need more storage space.
Deuter Cabezon HB 14 handlebar bag
Lightweight two-part handlebar bag (HB = Handlebar Bag), consisting of a lightweight, waterproof pack sack with roll-top on both sides and a hard-wearing material for the handlebar bag. The handlebar bag has an elasticated drawstring and loops on the top, which enables quick loading and unloading during spontaneous stops. The bag holders can be left on the bike while the pannier is taken along. The robust straps can be adjusted to different tube diameters thanks to Velcro fasteners and spacers and are also suitable for carbon bikes.
In practice: the deuter handlebar bag
My first thought: Why is this drybag so big? I hope it fits on my small bike and doesn't drag on the tyre... Fortunately, only one tent should fit inside, otherwise packing would have been complicated. You have to be careful not to fill the drybag completely, otherwise it really rests on the front tyre on small bikes (size S in the test). However, the small tent was the perfect size.
Now the holster had to be attached to the handlebars: Two Velcro straps around the handlebars... And now? The usual Velcro strap and the spacer for the head tube were missing. A glance at the packaging revealed that the long strap, which had never been used before, had to be placed over the handlebars - under the stem and back over the handlebars. Ah, now we understood how to attach it. Unfortunately, this strap takes up some space on the handlebars.
Fits, does (not) wobble and has air
But if the strap is pulled tight enough, it stabilises the handlebar bag reliably. As a result, there is no wobbling and the distance to the head tube is sufficiently large. We liked this design because there is no need to put a strap around the head tube, which could damage the paintwork with every steering movement.
Before the test, we were concerned that the Cabezon packsack might slip out of the holster, as we had already had such experiences. We were sceptical when we started the tour. But lo and behold, nothing happened. The inside of the holster is made of an anti-slip material that does what it promises.
Similar to the saddle bag, the handlebar bag also requires very little luggage. We were not allowed to carry less than the tent. The straps that close the holster around the pannier would otherwise have reached their limits.
Summary: This handlebar bag from deuter is also very suitable for relaxed bikepacking tours. It may not be the lightest model on the market, but after some initial difficulties, it was comfortable to use.
Test summary: deuter Cabezon bikepacking bags
The three bikepacking bags in the Cabezon series from deuter confused us a little when we first tested them. However, after looking at the assembly pictures on the packaging and trying again, we realised that they are well thought out. Deuter has taken a new approach to some details, such as the attachment of the handlebar bag. This protects the head tube, but space is lost on the handlebars. To attach the saddle bag correctly, place the Velcro fastener around the seat post and pull firmly so that the bag adapts to the post and the Velcro fastener reaches its destination. It is important to ensure that the amount of luggage is not too small, otherwise the bag cannot be properly secured in the holster. The frame bag could be a little stiffer to ensure that it is not overloaded. On our small test bike in size S, we were able to mount the saddle bag and the handlebar roller without any problems. With the frame bag, however, we had to compromise on water transport. A hydration pack can help here.
Suggestion: Unfortunately, deuter does not offer a top tube bag in its bikepacking range. Such a bag would have rounded off the set nicely.
Plus: Plenty of storage space; two-piece construction for saddlebag and handlebar bag
Minus: Heavy; the shape of the frame bag is not ideal and means that valuable storage space in the frame triangle cannot be utilised.
- Weight of the bag set: 1325 grammes
- Price of the complete set: 310 Euro
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
