TEST: Luggage racks that fit every bike? Bikepacking in every form imaginable? Old Man Mountain from the USA makes it possible – we have tested the innovative racks and bags.
Universal bikepacking system: luggage racks & bags from Old Man Mountain
Old Man Mountain aims to offer a truly universal bikepacking system. According to the company's own information, it should be compatible with every bike - whether it's a mountain bike, gravel bike, city bike or e-bike. The interesting thing is that your beloved bike can be converted in just a few simple steps. This is made possible by special axes called The Robert Axle Project are sold and are also interesting for the assembly of child trailers, for example. The axles have small mounting points onto which the racks or luggage racks are simply attached and secured. Then connect two struts to the frame and the bike is ready to go. If you often equip back and forth, you can simply leave the compact axles in the bike. Sounds almost too simple to be true. You can find out whether this is the case in our short test.
In addition to the in-house panniers, there are lots of useful accessories, such as mounting points for lighting and straps for attaching various things. Or the bottle holders called Anything Cages made of titanium. Not only are these nice and light - the entire system is not particularly heavy and leaves more space for luggage.
The two racks with the corresponding axles fit on both the front and rear wheels of every bike. The model Divide is ideal for attaching side pockets and can carry up to 32 kg. The model Elkhorn Although it only carries around 11 kg, it has the mounting points for it Anything Cages. By the way, Old Man Mountain offers a lifetime guarantee on the racks.
The bikepacking system in a short test
For the short test of Old Man Mountain's bikepacking system, we ran through three different scenarios. On the one hand, classic bikepacking on a longer trip with overnight equipment. The second scenario is aimed at trail builders - who, by the way, actually do this quite often in the USA. The third scenario is aimed at winter sports fans such as snowboarders and ski tourers. The Old Man Mountain system is particularly interesting for this group, as few systems offer such flexibility and versatility.
Operating manual
At first glance, there are a lot of individual parts coming from the Old Man Mountain package - there are no paper assembly instructions. At second glance, however, there is a QR code on all packages that leads directly to the appropriate online instructions. Various screw bags for different mounting options are labeled. All in all, the assembly works easily and well once you get an initial overview.
As mentioned, Old Man Mountain's concept for mountain bikes is based on its own axles. These can simply be exchanged for the bike’s conventional axles. They are equipped with compact mounting points for the racks - they are so compact that the axles can actually always remain in the bike, even if the bikepacking system is removed. The racks are simply attached to the axles and secured with one screw on each side.
The racks - or, in German, unspectacular-sounding luggage racks - are then connected to the fork and frame using struts and mounting points included in the sets. Here Old Man Mountain relies on robust cable ties. This is one of the few criticisms of the system: There are plenty of cable ties in the set, but a re-sealable and reusable solution would be more elegant. But that’s it – the system is installed and ready for use.
Racks in use
Attaching luggage is child's play here: Thanks to sensibly placed mounting options, all kinds of luggage can be easily and easily attached to the racks. The frames themselves are ideal for all kinds of straps and straps. Various eyelets and struts open up additional possibilities, including for all kinds of panniers.
Bags in use
The bikepacking bags themselves are made of robust material and appear indestructible. They are waterproof and have sealed zippers. The assembly is carried out using tension straps and has the advantage that the system is very light and can be easily stowed away. The disadvantage is that assembly is a bit fiddly. Once installed, the bags fit well.
The side pockets correspond to the name Ponderosa panniers and have three compression straps with which the contents of the bag can be held in place. The mounting side is designed to be stiff and robust. The front also has a stiffener, but it can be removed. The top loader bag called Juniper trunk is automatically compressed via the shutter. If there is a lot of filling, you would rather have two closure straps.
On the inside, the bags are kept simple. They each have two eyelets for tension straps; The inner pockets of the stiffener can alternatively also be used for luggage.
Bikepacking with Old Man Mountain
Old Man Mountain seems to feel at home when it comes to classic bikepacking. The system easily accommodates everything you need and allows a lot of leeway when it comes to arranging your luggage. The Juniper trunk For example, it can be mounted at the front and rear. Optional titanium bottle holders are not only ideal for small and large bottles, but also support the attachment of a tent, sleeping bag or mat. Everything can be fastened well and reliably with the in-house straps.
Trail building with Old Man Mountain
Admittedly, the user group for this setup is probably quite small. Nevertheless, we find the topic very interesting, because with the bikepacking system from Old Man Mountain, the mountain bike can be converted into a pack mule in just a few minutes and transport all kinds of tools into the forest for trail building and maintenance. The versatility of the system is also impressive in this application scenario: small tools go into the pockets, larger tools can be attached to different positions using straps. Even a spade could find space here. Everything sits securely and reliably, even on major bumps.
Ski touring with Old Man Mountain
In our opinion, the system is particularly interesting for snowboarders and ski tourers. Here too, the regular mountain bike or e-bike can be converted into a transporter in just a few minutes. Racks on the axles, mount the frame attachment and the ski equipment can be attached. The boots fit very well on the Manything cages/bottle holders and are fixed with a strap. The skis or splitboard can be mounted on the rear carrier using straps. Everything sits well and is safe, even on rougher forest roads and faster descents.
