Review: Altura Vortex Waterproof Dropper 7-litre Seatpack

The bikepacking trend has seen a growth in the need for carrying stuff in bags other than panniers, and keeping that stuff safe from the elements. Enter the Altura Vortex Waterproof Dropper Seatpack, a well-designed, roll-flap seatpack that will keep your prized possessions dry.

Given its 7-litre capacity, I’d use it as a day bag. Minimalists might manage a weekend, and you could use it with bar and frame bags for longer trips. I was actually quite surprised at how much I was able to squeeze in – snacks, an additional water bottle, spare clothing and a few other bits and pieces.

The Vortex Dropper uses the neat Rixen Kaul Klickfix mount, which clamps to the saddle rails. A single Allen bolt secures the plastic parts to the rails, leaving the actual bag-clip-in part easily accessible. If you need to adjust the angle of the mount, it’s very simple to do: ease off the Allen bolt, realign and retighten.

Once all is secured you can easily clip the bag on and off the bike without any complicated undoing and with no need for a seatpost strap. To mount, you simply engage the bag in the clip and press down firmly. A reassuring click confirms safe seating. To release, press the red button and lift the bag.

The nice thing about the ‘roll-end’ flap is that you can roll the top of the bag down to whatever size suits what you’re carrying for that particular ride. Put everything in, give it a gentle push down into the bag, roll the top down (Altura recommends three rolls), secure with the clips on each side of the bag, and away you go. I did try to defeat the roll end by dousing the bag with my garden hose, but failed dismally.

My other pet hate is a rattly bag. However, here the mounting clip is nicely secure, and with the roll flap keeping everything inside in check, all was quiet. No danger of the bag jumping out of its mount either. Even over some pretty unpleasant potholey surfaces and a bit of rough singletrack between two country roads, things remained resolutely silent.

Verdict

A 7-litre seatpack that stays put and is dropper-post compatible. Once installed it just works. The Klickfix system means you can quickly whip it off to take into the pub/café/house rather than leaving it in place.

Other options

Ortlieb Seat-pack QR £168.50

Another stable, waterproof seatpack with a saddle-rail bracket. Capacity is larger at 13 litres, although it does require a seatpost strap (and an adapter for a dropper).

Apidura 6l Backcountry Saddle Pack & Adapter £145

Waterproof bikepacking seatpack that attaches with straps but can, with an adapter, be used with a dropper seatpost. Also available in 4.5- and 10-litre sizes.

First published in Cycle magazine, August/September 2024 issue. All information correct at time of publishing.