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T-Bags King Bootcase
June 14, 2011
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| Editor Ratings * | |||
| Quality |
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10 | |
| Style |
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10 | |
| Portability |
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10 | |
| Convenience |
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10 | |
| Price |
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9 | |
| Value |
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10 | |
| Overall | 9.8 | ||
| Spectacular | |||
| A product that receives a rating in this range scores high on all of its rating criteria. It succeeds at meeting all of its intended users' needs and has no meaningful drawbacks. | |||
| *Out of a possible 10 points | |||
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Introduction
We first saw the T-Bags King Bootcase at the Dealer Expo in Indianapolis in February; along with their many other cool bags. Known for traveling a lot of miles on our motorcycle trips, we are frequently asked about the best bags for touring bikes. It seems everyone needs more space when they travel!
Carrying more items on a motorcycle comes with disadvantages, such as raising the center of gravity. That is why it is important that whatever you put on the back of your bike or bike rack is lightweight and low profile. In addition, the items carried in that bag should be lighter, frequently used items. T-Bags’ King Bootcase fit those criteria. Cycle Matters is always looking for quality, innovative products to share with our visitors, so we wanted to check it out.
T-Bags began designing motorcycle-touring luggage in 1990 with quality, convenience, and versatility in mind. Most of us are familiar with their patented slip-over-the-backrest travel luggage. With their success, T-Bags continued expanding their product line to include windshield bags, coolers, tool bags, pet carriers, and a variety of other versatile motorcycle bags.
T-Bags guarantees that the materials used in every T-Bag are the finest available and remain committed to their founding principles of quality, value, and service. All T-Bags’ products carry a lifetime warranty.
First Impression
The first thing we noticed about T-Bag’s Bootcase is the quality of the materials and construction of the bag. It looks like a well-designed suitcase. The Bootcase comes in two sizes: The King Bootcase and the Chopped Bootcase. The King Bootcase is designed to fit a King Tour Pak rack, a King Tour Pak with T-Bags bra, or inside the tour pak. The Chopped Tour Pak is designed to fit a Chopped Tour Pak with a T-Bags bra, or inside the tour pack. Bags are not interchangeable. Note: This review is on the King Bootcase. We did not review the Chopped Bootcase.
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Three zippered compartments are conveniently located on the top of the ballistic nylon bag. The large main interior area of the bag has a hinged lid and includes five zippered pockets along the sides and lid.
Eight Velcro straps are evenly placed along the sides and snuggle against the bag to attach the King Bootcase to your tour rack. A thin reflective band runs around the bag below the main compartment zipper. There is nothing hanging or flopping around on the outside of the bag to scratch your paint. But, unlike other bags, the Bootcase is designed to fit perfectly inside your King Tour Pak or Chopped Tour Pak lid as well. Having two ways to use this bag, makes it doubly cool.
The sturdy 1” nylon braid and rubberized carrying handle make it a snap to pick up and carry. We are surprised at the lightness of the King Bootcase. A reflective rain cover and detachable shoulder strap are also included with the bag.
It’s time to put this bad boy to use and see what we think.
Features
The T-Bags’ Bootcase is made of 1680D ballistic nylon and uses YKK top quality zippers and hardware. What does that mean? We wondered the same thing. Ballistic? Can we shoot it? Turns out that ballistic nylon is a thick, tough, synthetic nylon fabric originally developed by the DuPont Corporation as a material for flak jackets in World War II. It is currently used for luggage, cave packs, tool belts, police duty belts, watchstraps, motorcycle jackets, and kayaks.
And those YKK zippers are made by the world’s largest zipper manufacturer in Japan, who claim to be the first company to promote environmental protection measures. (Want to impress your friends? YKK stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikigaisha.)
The King Bootcase has a large main storage area (1.1 cubic feet) with 5 mesh zippered inside pockets; one along each side, and one in the inside the lid. The King Bootcase lid unzips and opens to the left like your tour pak creating easy access to the items inside. A ½” detachable nylon strap supports the lid in the open position.
The lid of the King Bootcase has 3 large external compartments for easy access to small items. The center compartment contains a divider creating 4 smaller sections within the compartment. The center compartment lid contains a mesh zippered pocket. One of the external compartments serves as a storage area for the reflective rain cover and detachable shoulder strap. All external compartments contain mesh zippered pockets in the lids.
The King Bootcase can be used in three different ways:
- Attached to the T-Bags Bra on a rackless King Tour Pak
- Inside a King Tour Pak where it fits perfectly
- Strapped securely with 8 strong hook and loop straps to the tour pak luggage rack.
The Chopped Bootcase attaches to the T-Bags Bra on a rackless Chopped Tour Pak and fits perfectly inside the Chopped Tour Pak. It does not attach to the luggage rack.
Note: The King Bootcase and Chopped Bootcase are NOT interchangeable.
Standard features:
King Bootcase
- Dimensions: 21”W x 10”H x 14”D
- Capacity: 1.5 cubic ft (whole bag) 1.1 cubic ft (main cavity)
- Made of 1680 ballistic nylon and uses YKK top quality zippers and hardware
- Lifetime warranty
Chopped Bootcase
- Dimensions: 21”W x 8”H x 14”D
- Capacity: 1.35 cubic ft (whole bag) .95 cubic ft (main cavity)
- Made of 1680 ballistic nylon and uses YKK top quality zippers and hardware
- Lifetime warranty
Operation/Application
The King Bootcase easily attaches to the premium tour pak luggage rack in seconds. Sit the Bootcase on the luggage rack; it is designed to fit perfectly. Hook all 8 tie-down straps around the tubular luggage rack rails. The tie-down straps must be tightly hooks around the luggage rack rails so the King Bootcase is attached tightly. That’s it folks.
Bra Bootcase attachment: Use only 6 tie-down straps. The 2 straps on the bottom of the Bootcase are not used for the bra attachment. Lace the 6 Bootcase tie-down straps through the 6 corresponding rectangular rings on the bra. Cycle Matters did not test the bra attachment.
Rain Cover: The form fitting rain cover slips over the bag and the elastic opening snaps into place under the bag for rain and sun protection. The reflective T-Bags logo should face the back of the motorcycle. There are 8 openings in the rain cover that are marked with reflective fabric. Pull the hook and loop tie-down straps through these holes and securely reconnect the bag to the rack. If the rain cover is wet after use, it must be dried out to avoid mildew and odors during storage in the closed pocket.
Using the Bootcase inside a tour pak: Just place the bag inside a tour pak. It is designed to fit perfectly.
T-Bags engineers each bag for use on a motorcycle. Bags are guaranteed for the life of the product against defects in materials or workmanship when returned to T-Bags via customer service accompanied with your receipt.
The King Bootcase is a compact bag, which left us wondering whether it would hold the items we normally carry ‘up top.’ Interestingly, it held all of it with ease. As mentioned previously, we carry our lightweight items and things we use frequently on top of our tour pak. This is how we packed our King Bootcase. See photos as well.
Top left compartment: Rain cover and detachable shoulder strap. (see photo above)
Top center compartment: Sunblock in the zipper compartment lid, several bandanas, eye drops, Epipen, hand sanitizer, Advil, lotion, sunglasses cleaner, small camera, package of butt gaskets (important to girls), Crystal Lite, and gum. (see photo above)
Top right compartment: Package of hand wipes and bungee cargo net. (see photo above)
Main storage area: Maps, itinerary, and extra ziplock bags in mesh zippered lid. 2 rain jackets and pants, 2 large trash bags, folding 6-pack cooler, small wood cutting board (for wine and cheese in the evenings), 2 decks of cards, roll of quarters, packets of laundry soap and several dryer sheets, 3 heat packs, hog game. On a trip, 2 bottles of water would go in this area as well.
Weight fully packed with items above: 18.5 lbs.
Weight empty: 5.0 lbs.
Another advantage to packing the King Bootcase this way, as though the bag alone isn’t enough, is that on day trips you can just drop the King Bootcase into your tour pak. It fits perfectly. Close the lid and you are ready to go. No need to pack the bike or unpack the bag, everything you need, including raingear is right there; very convenient.
Quality/Value
The T-Bags King Bootcase is a well-designed, well-constructed motorcycle bag. Zippers, operate smoothly. The stitching, trim, fasteners, and handles are of high quality. The bag allows easy access to frequently used items when attached to a tour pak. The King Bootcase lid unzips and opens up to the left like your tour pak creating easy access to the items inside. A ½” detachable nylon strap supports the lid in the open position. The Bootcase can be used both inside and on top of a tour pak.
The King Bootcase lists for $184.95; the Chopped Bootcase lists for $88.95. Both can be purchased from T-Bags or from an Authorized T-Bags Dealer.
Final Thoughts
The T-Bags King Bootcase is a great bag. It is easy to attach securely to a tour pak rack or to place inside a tour pak box. We are impressed with the quality and versatility of the King Bootcase, including the fact that it is so light weight. We love that the bag can be packed with necessary items, stored, and dropped into a tour pak box organized and secure for day trips, eliminating the need to dig for things or gather up items last minute. The handle makes it easy to lift and carry the King Bootcase to and from the house or hotel.
T-Bags has always been a favorite of bikers and this bag will not disappoint. We predict it will become a favorite. It’s like purchasing two bags in one; a motorcycle tour pak bag and a tour box organizer. And, unlike the soft Harley-
Davidson trunk bag that dumps everything to the bottom of the bag when you lift it out of the tour pak box, the King Bootcase neatly stores everything where you put it. We perfectionists like that.
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