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The deuter Cabezon bikepacking bag series is designed for discerning globetrotters who value well thought-out and lightweight bikepacking products.
Durable material, taped and waterproof sealed seams and TPU-coated zips are designed to protect the contents of the waterproof panniers from getting wet. Reflective details ensure visibility.
The individual deuter bikepacking bags in the test:
The saddle bag - deuter Cabezon SB 16
The Cabezon SB 16 - Saddle Bag with a volume of 16 litres is a two-part saddle bag for bikepacking tours. The two-part construction enables quick loading and unloading. No more fiddling around to thread the straps around the saddle rails. In fact, it only needs to be done once at the start of each tour. After that, the bag holder (holster) simply remains on the bike while the drybag is removed.
The pack sack is closed with a roll-top fastener. The ends are attached to the holster. This keeps the drybag secure. As with all saddlebags, the contents of the deuter Cabezon SB 16 drybag should be compressed to ensure the necessary stability. The manufacturer has equipped the drybag with a compression valve for this purpose. There are also material loops and an elasticated strap on the top of the holster.
- Weight: 580 grammes
- Volume: 16 litres
- Dimensions: 20 / 55 / 23 (H / W / D)
- Price: 130 Euro >> available here
The saddle bag from deuter in a practical test
The first time I tried to mount it, I wanted 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 overnighter. Take a deep breath and start again. What was the problem? The problem with the saddle bag was that the Velcro strap on the holster, which is placed around the seat post, seemed far too short. The solution: pull really hard on it, then the seat post slides into the bag and is well enclosed by it. Then the Velcro fastener is suddenly long enough. The bag also sits very firmly and hardly wobbles.
Pretty big
The deuter saddle bag is sometimes too big for those who want to travel with less luggage. This is because it has to be packed quite full in order to be sufficiently secured in the holster. But then it works well. Long strap ends can be rolled up, so everything looks tidy and nothing dangles around.
Conclusion: After some initial difficulties, we realised that the bag is well thought out. It sits securely on the bike and the pannier stays in the holster as long as it is sufficiently tightly packed and secured. Shortcoming: If you pack minimally in summer, you may reach the limits of the bag. Just a change of clothes for the evening and a second cycling outfit is not enough. However, it is suitable for camping trips and leisurely bikepacking tours.
Frame bag deuter Cabezon FB 4
Lightweight, waterproof frame bag for real globetrotters made from hard-wearing material with reflective elements, material loops and large zip access to the spacious main compartment. The four double Velcro fasteners for secure fastening can be adapted to a wide range of frame sizes and tube diameters and are also suitable for carbon bikes.
- Weight: 145 grammes
- Volume: 4 litres
- Dimensions: 15 / 8 / 40 (H / W / D)
- Price: 80 Euro >> available here
Practical test of the Cabezon FB 4 frame bag
The Deuter Cabezon FB 4 frame bag is attached to the frame triangle with four Velcro fasteners. The position of the Velcro fasteners can be changed as required. With the small frame size of the test bike in combination with the thin steel tubes, the Velcro fasteners for the down tube and seat tube were too long. With larger frames, the Velcro straps have to cover longer distances; similarly with carbon frames. Then the strap length fits. Due to the seam that runs around the straps, it is not possible to shorten them. Even without the seam, the strap cannot be shortened, as this would remove the Velcro fastener's grip.
Good packing is important
The shape of the bag deviates from the typical frame shape as it is round at the front and rear. This leaves potential space in the frame triangle unused. The material of the frame bag protects the contents from dust and water - we have not yet been able to test the latter, as there has been no rain - but it is not particularly dimensionally stable. It is therefore important to ensure that the bag is not too wide when packing 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. This was quite different with other bags.
The zip of the bag can also be operated while driving, for example to take out a snack. Access is only possible from the right-hand side. There is no zip on the left, but we didn't miss it either.
Conclusion: The deuter Cabezon FB 4 Frame bag is not perfect, but it is a practical and not too expensive option for cyclists who need extra storage space.
Handlebar bag deuter Cabezon HB 14
Lightweight two-part handlebar bag made from a lightweight, waterproof pack sack with roll-top on both sides and compression valve, as well as a handlebar bag made from hard-wearing material with elasticated compression strap and material loops on the top, enables quick loading and unloading during spontaneous stops, as the bag holders can be left on the bike while the pack sack can be taken along. The robust straps can be adapted to a wide range of tube diameters thanks to the Velcro fastener to prevent twisting and the spacers supplied and are also suitable for carbon bikes.
- Weight: 600 grammes
- Volume: 14 litres
- Dimensions: 20 / 45 / 23 (H / W / D)
- Price: 100 Euro >> available here
The handlebar bag from deuter in practice
First thought: Why is this drybag SO big in size? If it's not too big for my small bike and drags on the tyre... Fortunately, only one tent was supposed to fit inside, otherwise packing would have been a bit complicated, because you have to be careful not to fill the drybag to its full extent. Otherwise, with small bikes (size S in the test), it really rests on the front tyre. However, the small tent was the perfect size.
But first the holster had to be attached to the handlebars: Two Velcro straps around the handlebars... And now? The usual Velcro strap plus spacers 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 over the handlebars again. Ah, now we understood the attachment. Unfortunately, this strap takes up some space on the handlebars.
Fits, does (not) wobble and has air
But it stabilises the handlebar bag reliably if it is pulled tight enough. Nothing wobbles and the distance to the head tube is also sufficiently large. We liked the design, because at last there is no strap around the head tube that rubs against the paintwork every time you steer.
We had reservations before the test. We feared that the Cabezon packsack might slip out of the holster, as we had already had such experiences. We started the tour sceptically. And lo and behold, nothing happened. The inside of the holster is made of a kind of anti-slip material that does what it promises.
Similar to the saddle bag, the handlebar bag also requires a minimum amount of luggage. We couldn't have carried less than the tent. The straps that close the holster around the pannier would then have reached their minimum.
Conclusion: This bag is also ideal for leisurely bikepacking tours. Its weight is certainly not the lightest on the market, but handling was comfortable after some initial difficulties.
Conclusion on the deuter Cabezon bikepacking bags
The three bikepacking bags in the Cabezon series from deuter caused us some despair when we first tested them. After taking a deep breath and studying the assembly diagrams on the packaging, followed by another assembly attempt, we realised that they are well thought out. In some details, such as the fixing of the handlebar bag, deuter takes a new approach. This protects the head tube, but takes up space on the handlebars. Anyone who suspects that the Velcro fasteners around the seat post are too short should give the saddle bag another good tug. The seat post will then nestle into the bag and the Velcro fastener will reach its destination. The amount of luggage must not be too small, otherwise the bag can no longer be properly secured in the holster. We would like the frame bag to be stiffer, so you have to be very careful not to pack it too bulky. On our small test bike in size S, we were able to attach the saddle bag and the handlebar roller easily. With the frame bag, we had to accept compromises when it came to transporting water. A hydration pack can provide a remedy.
Shortcoming: Unfortunately, a top tube bag is not part of deuter's bikepacking range. This 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 wastes valuable storage space in the frame triangle
- Weight of the bag set: 1325 grammes
- Price of the complete set: 310 Euro
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
