Detours cycling bags – First look

Detours, based in Seattle, Washington, have been producing seat bags, panniers and cycling packs since 2005. Their main feature? Resistance to wet weather.

One product in particular from their 2012 line drew our attention – the Coffee Bag. This is a 100cu in/1.6l roll-top waterproof bag with a two-point attachment system meant to fit behind your seat or on your top tube. Detours also suggest using it as a dry bag inside a pannier, and it even fits in a bottle cage. We see it as perfect for a tourer, townie, or any other bike that begs for a bag with a truly unique style.

Detours offer their Coffee Bag in five ‘blends’, each with its own logo: California, The Highway 1 blend; Washington, The Evergreen blend; Minnesota, The 10,000 lake blend; Maine, The Lighthouse blend; and Colorado, The Mile High blend. The bags cost US$24 each.

The Georgetown Dry pannier is also named after a Seattle neighborhood. In this case, said locale is a gritty industrial center, according to Detours, who describe the bag as a workhorse for wet climates. The 850cu in/13.6l bag has a roll-top closure under the top flap, which is adopted from classic river dry bags. In addition to the waterproof main compartment, there’s a water resistant front zip pocket. The Georgetown is built from Detours’ Repel fabric and sports a robust four-point attachment system. It carries a price of $105, and comes in one color, black.

The Georgetown Dry panier

Sodo, named after another Seattle neighborhood, is a top-access handlebar bag with a cover built using Detours’ Repel waterproof fabric; note that the main body is a standard coated nylon. The 830cu in/13.8l bag has two padded pockets with zipper closures and a quick-release handlebar mount. The top flap sports a waterproof, see-through map sleeve, while a removable shoulder strap turns the Sodo into an off-bike tote. Detours offer black and ‘ground herringbone’ color options; the bag costs $75.

The Sodo handlebar bag