Transition Bags

http://www.rocketsciencesports.com/Rocket_Bag_Page.php

pricey but so worth it

My old gym bag, <$10, >10 years ago, does the job for me. Sometines i don't even use that.

Really, I bring four things with me to a triathlon that aren't being worn or attached to my bike: towel, goggles, swim cap, race belt w/bib.

Fromm what i see, most on here need to simplify rather than have a bag to put more stuff.

Rocket Science Sports' Real Jane and Joe Bag worked great for me.  Not to expensive, plenty of room for everything I needed...and then some.  Good review on this bag on BT:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1098

I absolutely love my TYR Transition Bag.  Got the Black and Gray.  Holds everything and then some.  Has the wrap around waist strap and is very comfortable.  So many different pockets and places to store stuff.

I use the TYR transition bag. I got it on sale last Dec. and have loved having it for my tris. I used to use a regular backpack, but when I started doing tris that required a wetsuit it no longer worked. The TYR bag has a section specifically for a wetsuit and lots of pockets and spaces for everything else. I love it!

Like Bear said - it is better to simplify -my trans area has a handtowell, race belt, running shoes on the ground and helmet with sunglasses on the bike - shoes already clipped in. but I bring and old gym bag or our family swim bag with all the stuff we need to the race. There is a ton of stuff you need to take to the race - you just don't need it in transitionPLEASE EVERYONE DON'T LEAVE YOUR ACTUAL BAG IN THE TRANSITION AREA.

I bought a bag at Target to hold all of my training gear, and it works great for me.

http://tinyurl.com/target-duffel-bag

$25. It holds my shoes (bike and running), helmet, swim clothes, bike clothes, running clothes, hygiene products, sunscreen, goggles... pretty much everything. There's even enough room for a wetsuit if needed. I like the separate pockets for the shoes and stinky workout clothes. It will carry everything I could possibly need for my workouts. I'm considering getting a smaller version ($20) for race day, as I like to carry spare goggles, caps, sunglasses, etc. for "just in case."

Cheaper than any "Tri-specific" bag, and it has lasted great all season. Its a little big fully loaded, but so worth it.

agreed, i have it in navy/grey

i used an old gym bag for a long time, but got this as a 1st OA prize at a race this spring

I was using a duffle bag but I couldn't fit my wetsuit into it so then I had two bags and that made it hard to ride to the transition area. So I got a Rocket Science Elite bag and I love it.

Mostly I love how organized it lets me be. There is a place for everything. I also love the special compartment for all my wet stuff so it's not dripping all over everything when I pack up at the end to leave.

I just got the Tyr bag about a month and a half ago, and I really like it.

In response to Bear's post, if all goes well, the things I use in the race are as simple as you say.  If not, then I have my bag with the things in it that hopefully never come out - extra pair of goggles, extra contact lenses, small first aid kit, spare large rubberbands for my aero bottle, etc.  I know these things could go into my old gym bag just as easily, but the backpack style bag has an advantage for races like Philly where you can't get a parking spot anywhere near transition, and you have to bike 3 or 4 miles from the hotel to the race.  The transition bag is a lot more comfortable and allows me to avoid sore shoulders before the race.

Almost forgot...I know you say your gym bag was less than $10, but my Tyr bag was free - I bought it with a birthday gift certificate. 

 

Edited by TriMyBest 2009-09-21 5:22 AM

That doesn't make it free, you could have used the GC to buy something else, something that was really needed.

I've never needed any of those things you mentioned, after five years and maybe fifty races. You can say it only takes one time, but in that case why not have and extra bike, helmet, running shoes, etc.

(we  do carry an extra helmet in the car and it's been put to use several times, by others who forgot theirs.)

I'm a HUGE fan of the Rocket Science Sports  Elite bag.

It has a couple of advantages over a duffle bag for me:
1 - A waterproof interior section to put the wetsuit. Keeps it from soaking everything else after the race.
2 - It's impervious to water from the outside. Keeps the stuff inside from getting soaked if it rains.
3 - It's a backpack so you can ride your bike between the parking lot and the TA carrying your stuff on your back. Incredibly useful at those races where the parking lot is far from the race site.
4 - Different pockets, sections etc for keeping things organized. And it's very well laid out.

Like the bear, I'm a big fan of keeping my race day packing list simple. Unlike the bear I live in a part of the country where the air and water temps can get cold, requiring more stuff like a wetsuit, jacket, after race clothing etc. and for that reason I've found the transition bag to have definite advantages over a duffle bag. 

Is it a necessary piece of gear? No, not at all. Is it convenient and useful? At times, very much so.

I used to use an old knapsack that was designed for adventure racing (originally came with two 100 oz bladders,  and it has straps for helmet).  Steelman this year "gave" out nice bags (quotes because for $75 entry, it's not really "given away"). 

Are racers allowed to leave bags in the transition area during a race? I am doing my first sprint in two weeks and am not sure if I need to plan to take my bag (just an Adidas gym bag, small, nothing fancy) back to the car after setting up.

Desoto transition pack.  It absolutely rocks.  Pockets and compartments for everything, expands to be fairly large if you need to carry a lot, comes with its own transition mat, and folds up neatly when it is empty in transition.

And I have not been to a race (other than an IM) that doesn't let you keep your bag with you in transition.

X3

X2 I add Sunblock (Don't want the extra weight on my steel frame old bike.)

Edited by verga 2009-09-21 8:15 AM