Castelli and Bontrager have race gear bags marketed as 'Rain Bags', because pro squads use them to store and organize extra clothing inside team cars in the race caravan. For the rest of us, these bags work well for schlepping our own gear to local rides and races in any type of weather.
The Castelli Race Rain Bag and the Bontrager RSL Rain Bag are each big enough to carry a day's worth of riding gear, with clothing, helmet and sunglasses going in the main pouch, and the shoes going in their own compartment underneath.
The Bontrager bag is slightly bigger and simpler, with a third small zippered pouch for carrying smaller items. It easily takes a helmet with room to dig around it for clothes underneath, while the Castelli bag is a little more snug. The Castelli bag has oodles of mesh compartments plus a separate mesh bag, and easily smashes down flat — a handy characteristic if you're a pro soigneur with 18 bags to cram into team cars.
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Both bags have bright interiors, which makes it easier to see what's what when you're digging through a bunch of black clothing.
The Castelli has all manner of side pockets and pouches
The Bontrager bag ($80 / £59) measures 36 x 21.5 x 34cm, while the Castelli bag ($79 / £64) is 30 x 25 x 20cm.
So which is better? Let's break them down.
ArrayWhat works well for the pros isn't always the best solution for the rest of us. For pro teams, compact storage and easily repeatable organization are necessary. For you and I, being able to easily bag a pack that doesn't constantly fall over is better. The six mesh pockets on the Castelli bag might appeal to some, but we found the simplicity and the size of the Bontrager bag to hit the sweet spot.
Click through the gallery above for a closer look at each bag.
The Bontrager bag is simpler in construction and easier to pack as it doesn't collapse on itself
