Topeak BackLoader Wishbone Review
Not a bag but a brace: twin alloy arms under a BackLoader you already own. It cuts sway for around $50, and its bolts need watching.
The verdictA cheap brace that does reduce BackLoader sway. Loose-fitting arms and screws that back out mean thread-lock and a bolt check before every trip.
The Wishbone is an add-on rather than a seatpack. Two S-bent alloy arms bolt to a clamp on round saddle rails with 36 mm spacing and cradle a Topeak BackLoader from below, for a claimed 190 g, and Topeak lists it only for bags under 18 cm wide. The arms double as mounts for two extra bottle cages, each rated to 1 kg.
It does reduce sway, which is the job. BikePerfect's 2023 review found the bag swung less out of the saddle but heard a clunk with every swing, because the flat ends of the arms sit loose in the clamp, and it noted the bag rides several centimetres lower, which costs tyre clearance on small frames. One Amazon owner with a loaded 10 litre bag still saw lateral movement and added elastic straps.
The recurring complaint is hardware. One Canadian owner reports every screw loosening after a single road ride, a German owner found the supplied bolts would not go into the bottle cage threads, and a customer review on bike-components reports two screws working loose and calls threading the bag straps under the rails fiddly. At $51.31 on Amazon in October it is cheap, but only if a BackLoader is already in the shed and you keep thread-lock in the toolbox.
What works
- Cuts BackLoader sway for around $50
- Adds two extra bottle cage mounts
- Only 190 g claimed weight
What doesn't
- Screws back out without thread-lock
- Clunks as loose arms shift
- Fits only BackLoaders under 18 cm
Buy it if
Riders who already own a Topeak BackLoader and want less sway plus two extra bottle mounts for around $50
Skip it if
You use another brand's seatpack, ride a monorail or sprung saddle, or will not thread-lock and check bolts before a trip
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