Carrying a small pocket camera when bicycling is easy. Just slip it into the handlebar bag, your jersey pocket, or even into the snack pack, then ride away. But carrying a larger, more valuable camera like a digital SLR requires more care and thought.

Last December I bought a DSLR. In the middle of winter, with snow falling deeply every other day and ice making roads too dangerous for riding my bikes, I didn’t give any thought to how I’d carry my Pentax on the road. But the thaw finally came and open roads beckoning me to ride, ride, ride. THAT’s when it occured to me. How was I going to carry my DSLR and the rest of my camera kit on my bike? After due consideration I decided to replace my original rack trunk. But with so many dedicated photo equipment bags on the market,…

 
Why a Rack Trunk for Camera Gear?  I gave careful thought to where to carry my DSLR and its lenses. A handlebar bag would be too tight and would deprive me of ready access to things I use frequently while underway, like snacks, eyewear, a tiny MP3 player which I use for recording notes, and maps. A pannier hung on either side of the rear rack would be vulnerable should I slam to the ground or find myself crowded tight against a retaining wall or bridge abutment. A front rack pannier would have similar drawbacks, with the main one being that I’ve not mounted a front rack yet. The only other place to carry a large camera and lenses would be on top of the rear rack. A trunk would be less vulnerable to the possible assaults I’ve mentioned. In a crash the top of the rack would be the most protected place, while also being accessible when I stopped to shoot. Once I’d decided on a rack trunk, I had to find one which would protect my camera and lenses, even if I rode on rough roads. I chose a Louis Garneau Profile trunk from Performance Bike, because of its…

 
Price and Features  The LG RR-16 rack trunk was reasonably priced at USD34.99. Selling points were its large capacity, side and rear pockets, a stretch netting flap on top, a stretch netting flat pocket under the lid, hook-and-loop tabs on the side for holding a mini-pump, and a removable shoulder strap. Check them out:

 

 

 

 

 
The trunk’s capacity can be increased by unzipping a baffle that angles the lid up in the rear, but when the extra space wasn’t needed the baffle is hidden away inside the bag.

 

 
Another reason why the LG RR-16 appealed to me was its…

 
Color  Unlike many other bike accessories, this LG rack trunk is not black, but instead is colored a sporty red and gray. While I like black accessories for a bike—black clothing and accessories hide grease and road grime—for the task of hauling camera gear, a lighter color is appealing. Black bags get hot in the summer sun. Very hot. High temperatures aren’t kind to electronics. The trunk is also padded with foam, welcome for its insulating and cushioning qualities. Speaking of which, what about the LG RR-16’s…

 
Quality  Overall, I’m pleased with the workmanship of the Garneau RR-16 rack trunk. The trunk is locked to the rack with hefty, long hook-and-loop tabs on the bottom’s four corners, a welcome change from my other trunk, with it’s feeble hook-and-loop tabs.

 

 
The fabric is a sturdy ripstop, and the zippers—often a source of trouble on bike clothing and accessories—are sound. All the zipper pulls have tabs which make it easy to operate them when wearing long-fingered gloves.

 

 
The two buckles which lock the mesh flap on top of the rack are equally well made, and the straps are adjustable.

 

 
I can fit a fairly large wad of something under that mesh flap, such as my heavy-duty Canari Barrier rain jacket, or my helmet when on a rest stop along the road:

 

 
Or even just a pair of glasses that need a convenient place to hang out while I shoot pictures:

 

 
The mesh sleeve under the top lid holds maps or light clothing, like a pair of light shorts or trousers for town wear. The side pockets are generously sized and sensibly shaped to hold items like a pair of heavy-duty work gloves for providing a Turtle Taxi service, or a CO2-cartridge mini pump.

 

 
And then there are those side tabs for a pump. Because I use a frame pump and have that cartridge pump as a backup, I thought the tabs could hold a small, light tripod. I was right:

 

 
Fiddling with the LG RR-16 rack trunk at home was one thing, but the real test would come with using…

 
The LG RR-16 Underway  So how does the RR-16 perform on the road? And does it live up to my expectations as a suitable on-bike bag for my DSLR? Very well, and you bet! It’s two pounds and 10 ounces (set up the way I have it) of pure utility and simple beauty. It’s capacious without being overwhelmingly big. Its pockets and main compartment are easy to access. And best of all, it carries my camera kit in a place which is safe while still being accessible—with enough room left over for necessities not related to photography. It didn’t take long for me to settle on an arrangement for carrying camera gear, but that’s an article for another time. Stay tuned.

 

 
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