aeroe 11L Quick Mount Pod in review

Rain, wind, mud and hours of stages on bad trails: What sounds like a horror scenario for most bikers, should elicit a mere shrug of the shoulders for the aeroe 11L Quick Mount Pod panniers. We tested these stylish bags from New Zealand to reveal whether they are fit to be your loyal companion!

aeroe are off-road luggage specialists from New Zealand, a country with very few motorways, where most natural sites can only be reached by unpaved country roads. It’s also home to some of the rainiest places in the world. No wonder, then, that aeroe put a lot of brainpower into the development of weatherproof luggage systems for bikes and are highly regarded among aficionados for their innovative products. Their 11L Quick Mount Pods are designed to be an absolute all-rounder for everything from gravel to (e)MTB tours

To make the 11L Quick Mount Pods a thoroughly robust and weatherproof package, aeroe combine a composite plastic base with glass fibre reinforced nylon and a flexible, waterproof TPU nylon top. The inside of the hard shell is lightly padded so that the contents remain safe even on dirt tracks, ensuring that your expensive camera equipment or bottle of wine for the evening around the campfire arrive in one piece. To prevent the entire contents from falling out on you when opening the bag, two straps make sure that everything inside is kept in place. A wraparound zip allows the bag to be fully opened, which is particularly practical when packing. The outside sports a cool streamliner look, while the reflective aeroe logo provides additional safety in the dark.

Retailing at € 119, the bag weighs 772 g and is approved for a load of up to 7 kg by the New Zealand manufacturer. The included Uni-Mount, for attaching the bags onto the aeroe Spider Rear Rack, adds another 156 g. Adding another € 119, the Spider Rear Rack makes for a rather pricey € 375 total for a system with a rack and two pods. The Spider Rear Rack is supported by the seat stays, so no special mounts are needed and it fits almost all bikes that don’t already have a rack installed, including full suspension bikes. The Uni-Mount is clamped to the Spider Rear Rack with a metal cap and tightened with 4 screws, though these are not compatible with other racks. The system only uses 5 mm allen screws, making assembly and trail-side adjustments much easier.

On the installed Uni-Mount, the bags can then be rotated 360° and locked in 15 positions, allowing the pods to be adjusted to fit the bike and your personal needs. Mounted vertically, the bags leave enough room for riders with large feet, while mounted horizontally, they leave space for a bulky bag or a third pod in the centre of the Spider Rack. To turn the aeroe 11L Quick Mount Pods to the desired position, simply pull the strap on the bottom of the bag, unlocking a pin, which allows the pods to rotate. If the angle fits, just let go of the strap and the pin will fix the whole thing in place. However, when snapping in place, make sure that the strap doesn’t catch against the brake disc or get caught between the chain and the cassette! Always leave the strap pointing upwards. To remove the bag, simply pull the strap again and you have the pods in your hand. This can be done in the blink of an eye and offers real added value compared to conventional panniers – especially when you’re looking for shelter in the pouring rain and every second counts! That said, the strap is the only real handle for carrying the bags. The smooth nylon exterior otherwise offers no grip, which, especially in the rain, makes you feel like you’re handling a slippery jellyfish.

The aeroe 11L Quick Mount Pods feel very robust and high quality. Packing is a breeze thanks to the all-round zip: unfold, pack, tie down, close, done! The double zip allows you to insert or remove things from only one side without having to open the pods entirely. Being able to open the pods completely is also very convenient while unloading: no need to rummage around in the depths of the bag, everything is right there at a glance. However, if you need something larger from the bag, you have to fully undo the zipper, which is rather impractical, especially on rainy days.The 11-litre volume means that you have to be very selective when it comes to deciding what to take with you and what to leave behind, making the Quick Mount Pods more suitable for lightweight purists or for multi-day tours with overnight stays in cabins or hostels, where you don’t need quite so much luggage. For more volume, you can mount up to three 11-litre pods on the Spider Rack.

When riding, you quickly notice that nothing wobbles whatsoever. The pods are firmly attached to the rack, making almost no noise even on rough trails. Depending on the rear triangle design and the placement of the rack and pods, the centre of gravity of the bags can be brought close to the rear wheel axle. Depending on the load, this makes the ride feel significantly more sluggish, but far less wobbly compared to similar designs where the centre of gravity sits higher up. If you have an eMTB with a carbon rear triangle, you should think twice about how much weight you want to pack into the panniers, because unlike other carrier constructions, such as the Old Man Mountain Divide, the entire weight rests on the seat stays. If things go badly, this can lead to damage or wear and tear to the frame and thus to problems in warranty claims. The position of the pods can also make the bike difficult to push if you have to dismount for a super steep climb, or pedestrian zone – they’re quite wide, so tend to get in the way as you walk. Even though the pods were not designed with pushing in mind, this can be rather annoying in the long run, particularly if you’re tired after a long day of riding. The aeroe 11L Quick Mount Pods are especially in their element if you spend a long time in the rain. We put the pods to the test on a hut tour in constant rain and snowfall and were stoked to have a completely dry change of clothes at the hut!

The aeroe 11L Quick Mount Pods are a well conceived, user-friendly and innovative product! Clever details, such as the Uni-Mount or the strap for quick removal, set the Pods apart from those of other manufacturers. When packing and assembling, you’ll be happy about the extremely easy handling and on tours in bad weather conditions you’ll never have to worry about a dry change of clothes again. In conclusion, all this makes the aeroe 11L Quick Mount Pods loyal, if somewhat costly, companions, come rain or shine!

For more information, visit aeroe.com

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Words: Felix Rauch Photos: Peter Walker