Additional photos by Neil Beltchenko

Frame bags are at the center of most bikepacking setups, both literally and figuratively. Filling the unused space within a bike’s main triangle is genius. It keeps weight centered while keeping helpful items and food within reach. They are fantastic additions for bikepacking and are equally useful for commuting and day rides, holding essentials and keeping them easily accessible.

Although most bikepacking gear has evolved substantially over the last two decades, frame bags have progressed more slowly. The earliest designs, which used a fabric construction (usually Cordura), one or two zippers, and hook-and-loop attachment straps, are still used today. Only a handful of bag makers—mainly those with the longest track records—have been experimenting with new ideas and methods. Even with these changes, the concept remains the same.

The one place frame bags have evolved in the last decade is how they attach to the bike. Hook-and-loop straps are still the most common attachment, but lace-up and bolt-on options have emerged, especially for custom frame bags, which brings us to Rogue Panda’s DoubleTrack system, a new era for custom frame bags.

From PandaVision to DoubleTrack

Rogue Panda started making frame bags 14 years ago for Flagstaff locals, and within a few months, they were making custom frame bags for folks worldwide using their PandaVision system, which used photos instead of cardboard templates to generate a perfectly fitting frame bag. In fact, Rogue Panda has never asked customers for cardboard templates, and they were the first bag maker to introduce a customer-friendly, highly accurate photo-based system.

Like most bag makers, Rogue Panda’s first frame bags were pretty basic, with hook-and-loop straps, foam padding around the perimeter, and zippered openings. Most advancements have focused on the customer experience and behind-the-scenes updates that make the manufacturing process more efficient and comfortable for the team. The biggest customer-facing change was switching from water-resistant coil zippers to uncoated molded tooth zippers in 2018.

Aside from minor material updates, including a new fabric made by Dimension-Polyant (of X-Pac fame) that Rogue Panda prints its custom frame bag designs on, not much has changed, which is why Nick Smolinske is so excited to introduce DoubleTrack to the world. Nick explains, “For the past two and a half years, we’ve been introducing TPU, carbon fiber, and aluminum in all of our other bags, and we finally were able to turn the lens back toward frame bags and give them the same treatment.”

Rogue Panda DoubleTrack

DoubleTrack is a new frame bag attachment system from Rogue Panda that uses two carbon fiber rods woven through a laser-cut fabric panel to support the frame bag. Voile-style TPU straps attach the rods to the bike, and molded TPU spacers fit between them, adding friction to prevent movement, padding the frame to prevent damage, and creating space for cables to run under your top tube if needed. Because the spacers float between the bag and frame, and the straps hold them in place, they can also slide, depending on the width and shape of the frame they connect to.

There are two versions of the TPU spacers: a taller one for use with under-top-tube cables and a shorter one for bikes without them. The laser-cut panel is a separate piece of Ultra fabric that isn’t sewn down at the ends, so any water that gets underneath flows down the fabric below, keeping the bag’s water resistance intact. The molded end caps are about 2.75″ wide, but Rogue Panda can 3D-print them 0.5″ narrower for those who need it. The TPU spacers, straps, end caps, and carbon rods are all made in China.

Nick explained that he’s been unhappy with their lace-up and strap attachments for a few years, but designing a replacement has been a tough challenge, especially from a manufacturing standpoint. “One thing that’s made it difficult is that we install all stiffening elements into our bags as late in the process as possible, to reduce stress on the hands of the production crew. That means we can’t take the easy route and sew a daisy chain or attachments through plastic sheets. Most of my early ideas never even made it to the prototyping stage, because I knew they weren’t ergonomic enough to bring to production.”

The biggest advantage of the new DoubleTrack system is the stability it offers over traditional systems. Based on their testing, they believe DoubleTrack is much more stable than both hook-and-loop and lace-up attachments. And thanks to the carbon rods, it still lets customers pull from inside the seams while reducing seam stress.

DoubleTrack is also versatile, with straps that can be moved anywhere along the carbon rods, replaced as needed, or switched out for hook-and-loop or lacing. The rods are extremely durable, but if someone breaks one, you can still run a strap through the laser-cut holes in the fabric until you can replace the rod.

New single-loop attachment. Photos from Nick at Rogue Panda.

In theory, you could use DoubleTrack on all sides of the bag, but Nick says it offers diminishing returns anywhere but the top tube. The top tube benefits the most from the added structure. On the downtube and seat tube, a couple of bolts plus a single TPU strap weighs less than a full DoubleTrack construction. When straps are needed on the downtube or seat tube and there are no bolts to use, Rogue Panda will use either a sewn-in daisy chain or a single-loop TPU strap attachment, pictured above.

DoubleTrack, Tested

Nick sent Emily and me two versions of the new DoubleTrack-equipped frame bags to try. The first, made before they started using a separate piece of fabric with molded end caps, is for a soon-to-be-released hardtail I’m currently reviewing. Shortly after, he sent Emily a finalized version of the system for her Esker Japhy, which came at the perfect time, because the coiled zipper on her previous frame bag had just failed. Both bags are fully custom and use a combination of DoubleTrack, standard straps, and bolt-on.

Bottom: Neil’s custom frame bag for the Manzanita Whippet, 491 grams.

The DoubleTrack system’s added structure and rigidity are noticeable, not only making the bike look nice but also making frame bag installation easier than ever. Emily has installed a few finicky frame bags in the main triangle of her medium Esker Japhy, and she said the new system and Rogue Panda’s frame bag thumb screws made installation impressively straightforward.

Another benefit is that the straps don’t pull on the seams above the main zipper, like most frame bags, so it keeps its shape and doesn’t deform the zipper or the bag. Sometimes, getting the tension just right on custom frame bags feels like a guessing game, but DoubleTrack, paired with the PandaVision custom frame bag process, makes it fit perfectly. All this means you can get away with two or maybe three TPU straps along the top tube instead of four or more, which is cleaner and more pleasing to the eye.

While riding, TPU spacers and straps, paired with the added rigidity of the carbon robs, make for one of the most solid frame bags I’ve used. Normally, hook-and-loop straps slide back and forth, even if it’s just a few millimeters, which can eventually scuff your frame and make the zipper sloppy. With DoubleTrack, the TPU spacers and straps sandwich the frame for a play-free setup.

The only real downside I’ve noticed is that you can hit your leg on the little strap nubs, which can be annoying, though I wouldn’t say this is a problem specific to the DoubleTrack system, and it was rare. Rogue Panda says the average DoubleTrack system weighs 84 grams with all straps and hardware, versus about 20 grams for a hook-and-loop system, so while it adds a little weight, it’s negligible. Like anything strapped to your bike, even the DoubleTrack system will eventually scuff up your frame. Neil and I both noticed some marks on our frames after bikepacking, but they seem more localized and cover only a small area.

Getting DoubleTrack

DoubleTrack adds about $20 per side (tube), the same as the per-tube bolt-on cost. Rogue Panda has added a “Panda’s Choice” option to their custom frame bag builder, where the Rogue Panda team will use bolt-on where possible, DoubleTrack where there aren’t mounts, and daisy-chain or a fixed strap slot everywhere else. Panda’s Choice costs $50 for a full frame bag, $40 for wedges, and $20 for partial frame bags. A custom frame bag currently starts at $200 USD.

• Material: R30DS, Ultra, X-Pac, Carbon
• Weight: 371 grams (medium Esker Japhy) / 574 grams (XL hardtail)
• Place of Manufacture: Arizona, USA
• Price: $200+ USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: RoguePanda.com

Neil’s Rogue Panda DoubleTrack Review

After a summer of testing, including a week on the Colorado Trail, Neil breaks down the design, performance, and drawbacks of the new Rogue Panda DoubleTrack system to see whether it meaningfully improves on traditional frame bag attachments. For a different perspective, watch his video review below.

Further Reading

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