€ 240.00 (including universal thru axle) | Manufacturer’s Website
Since launching via Kickstarter in 2016, British brand Tailfin has become the benchmark for rear racks that mount in seconds and come off just as fast. The catch was always the price of admission. Tailfin sells its system as a fixed package: the complete carbon setup at a premium, paired exclusively with the brand’s own bags. Ultra-cyclists shrugged and paid up, but riders on tighter budgets, or those loyal to other panniers, were left outside. The new Journey Rack sets out to change that.
The Journey Rack is Tailfin’s à la carte option. Arriving eight years after the original Alloy Rack, it replaces the British manufacturer’s aluminium classic, which was built around Tailfin’s own luggage. The new version is made from anodised aluminium, costs considerably less than the carbon model and, for the first time, is designed to carry gear you already own, whether that’s your favourite panniers, cargo cages or a simple dry bag. This makes the Tailfin system a genuine option for anyone who doesn’t want to invest in an entirely new luggage setup. It’s a promise we were keen to put to the test.
In detail: One rack for any pannier? That’s Tailfin’s promise
Anyone who has tried fitting a rack to a carbon bike will know the problem: no mounts, no chance. Instead of relying on frame bosses, Tailfin clamp the rack between the seatpost and rear axle, creating a connection that feels as solid as a bolted-on system while still allowing it to be removed in seconds. That’s exactly why these systems are so popular in the ultra cycling scene. The Journey Rack keeps this core concept but breaks with tradition: for the first time, it is no longer tied to Tailfin’s own bags. According to the manufacturer, it can carry almost any setup, whether that means Tailfin’s own cages, panniers from other brands or a simple dry bag strapped to the top deck.
Tailfin promise the same level of flexibility when it comes to the bike itself. A range of adapters is available to cover different axle standards and frame designs, while two included front connectors allow you to position the deck correctly for your frame geometry and saddle height. To find out whether your bike is compatible, simply use the compatibility checker on Tailfin’s website.
The pannier version we tested comes with mounts for side bags, which according to Tailfin are compatible with panniers from other manufacturers too. The mounts are placed deliberately low, keeping the load beside the bike rather than above it to help maintain stable handling when fully loaded. The non-pannier version does away with the side bag mounts and instead has more attachment points along the stays, positioned lower down for bottle cages and directly bolted-on bags. In both versions, stability comes from a three-point suspension system that connects the rack to the rear triangle while allowing controlled movement, helping prevent impacts from the trail being transferred directly into your luggage. The rack can also be folded flat for easy storage, and optional mounts for lights and radar units are available. Whether this flexible new design can deliver what Tailfin promises off road is what our test aims to find out.
What is the Tailfin Journey Rack Capable of?
Our first evening with the Journey Rack was spent in the workshop, not on the bike. The price of all that compatibility is complexity: a small mountain of individual parts, adapters and bolts. Tailfin’s video guides are essential rather than optional, and even with them running, some of the mounting holes take patience to line up. Plug and play this is not. Think flat-pack furniture, tutorial open on the second screen.
At the top, a strut connects the rack to the seatpost. Two versions are included, and you choose the right one depending on your frame geometry and saddle height. The clamp attaches to the post with a safety latch. At the bottom, quick-release feet grip the axle: they automatically snap into place when closed, and a silver pin releases them again.
The reward for that workshop evening is that you only have to do it once. After that, the rack fits to the bike in seconds and comes off just as quickly, without the need for tools or further adjustment. Nothing moves, nothing shifts, nothing rattles. In the morning, the bike is ready for touring; by the afternoon, it’s back to being a clean gravel bike.
Once loaded up, the system shows what it was designed for. Tailfin’s own rack-top bags, the CargoPack and SpeedPack, attach to the deck using extendable metal pins. Hook the bag in at the front, then the pins lock into the eyelets at the rear. The CargoPack has a claimed capacity of 18 litres, although how much of that you can actually use depends on your frame geometry, saddle height and how you pack it. If you’re not using a Tailfin bag, you can simply strap a dry bag to the deck instead. The close spacing of the rails keeps even loosely packed bags supported rather than allowing them to sag between the gaps.
The two mini panniers hook into place, lock with an audible click and stay securely attached, even through hard impacts. The CargoPack, on the other hand, relies solely on its pins, and they leave no room for carelessness during setup. The kit includes confusingly similar eyelets, but only the longer ones give the pins full hold. Careful adjustment is therefore essential. A locking mechanism like the one used on the panniers would eliminate this potential issue from the outset.
The rack also scores points when you’re not riding. It folds flat and can be stored neatly in a bike bag, on a bus or on a train, rather than taking up valuable space. If you want to customise it further, there are additional accessories available, including a light mount, mudguard and a mount for Garmin Varia or Wahoo radar units. The mudguard does come with two drawbacks, though: it reduces tire clearance, and it needs to be removed before the rack can be folded flat.
The key question remains: how does it all ride? On the bike, the low load position really pays off. The pannier mounts sit deliberately below the deck, keeping the weight beside the bike rather than above it. On all our rides, the rear end stayed composed and predictable under load. The three-point suspension system also helps here, connecting the rack to the rear triangle while allowing controlled movement, so impacts from the terrain aren’t transferred directly into your luggage. Even on rough gravel, the fully loaded rack stays remarkably unobtrusive.
As a complete setup, the combination of rack, CargoPack and mini panniers feels more natural than the weight on paper would suggest. The bike remains a gravel bike that happens to carry luggage, rather than a loaded touring bike that feels compromised. And once the luggage is no longer needed, the rack can be removed in two simple steps and put away until the next adventure.
Who is the Tailfin Journey Rack for?
The Journey Rack is aimed at gravel and touring riders who regularly switch between a fully-loaded adventure setup and a clean bike for everyday riding, but don’t want to commit to a permanently fitted rack. If you prioritise carrying capacity and stability over the lowest possible pack weight, it offers a system that works just as well with your own bags as it does with Tailfin’s range. And for anyone already using Tailfin bags with a carbon system, the Journey Rack is the logical second option, whether for a second bike or everyday use.
Weight weenies and ultra racers, on the other hand, will be better served by lighter options. The Journey Rack isn’t exactly an impulse buy either: The rack on its own is reasonably priced at € 200 considering what it offers. However, once you add the thru axle, CargoPack and accessories, the total quickly climbs to around € 480. At that price, you could pick up a complete entry level gravel bike on the second hand market. And don’t expect true plug and play. The initial setup requires patience, some time with the tools and a close look at the manufacturer’s video guides. If you simply want to unpack a rack, bolt it on and never touch it again, a traditional rack is still the better choice.
Shorts Straede Cargo Bib Shorts | Shoes QUOC Gran Tourer II
Conclusions about the Tailfin Journey Rack
The Journey Rack replaces the previous Alloy model and addresses its biggest limitation: it’s no longer tied to Tailfin’s own bags, but opens the system up to panniers and luggage from other manufacturers. The quick-release system works as effortlessly as promised, and even when loaded, the rack remains unobtrusive on rough gravel. The downsides? Initial setup takes time and patience, a complete setup is still a significant investment, and the CargoPack’s pin system lacks a locking mechanism. If you can live with those compromises, you get a highly versatile rack.
Tops
- tool-free fitting and removal in seconds
- compatible with bags from other manufacturers for the first time
- stable handling thanks to the low load position
- folds flat for space-saving transport
Flops
- time-consuming initial setup
- lack of a locking mechanism on the CargoPack's pin system
- expensive complete setup
More information at tailfin.cc
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Words: Sven Weinbrenner Photos: Jan Fock
