Pocpac iPac Road Pac combi

pOcpac iPac Road Pac combi, pOcpac iPac Road Pac combi... try saying that a few times after a glass or two of sherry.

To decipher: pOcpac (henceforth referred to as Pocpac, because that cap-O is just ridiculous) is a company formed by two South African brothers, who were caught out riding in a storm and wondered why there wasn't a neat, convenient waterproof pouch for your valuables on the market. iPac is the smaller of their neat, convenient waterproof pouch, for iPhones and other similar devices; the Road Pac part refers to a larger pouch, designed to take all the other gubbins that you'd usually shove in your pocket or saddlebag unprotected from the elements. There are even a few stylised pictures on the front depicting the things - inner tube, CO2 canister and nozzle, tyre levers - that you might want to keep in there. Neat, huh.

Both have got nicely rounded edges - the so-called RES, Round Edge Seal System - to stop them snagging on the way in and out of jersey pockets, and the company reckons the plastic becomes softer, but not less waterproof, with time. Less believably, they claim the pouch "becomes smaller when filled". How that works, I don't know - unless they simply mean "put something in and there's less space".

Despite it looking small, the iPac does fit an iPhone rather well, and you can use your touchscreen through the clear plastic. Not sure you'll be able to take pictures with your cameraphone inside, though.

The larger Pocpac does indeed fit the illustrated items snugly, although keeping my tyre levers dry has never been a priority. That said, it stops you packing too much - and keeps everything together. And there's a whole host of things you might want to protect on a ride - you're not limited to those pictured on the pouch.

But the all important question: do they work? I rode with these pouches on several long wet rides, including in the north of Scotland, where the rain is no joke, and my bits did stay dry. Not those bits, keep your mind out of the gutter.

Since these close with a zip, there is a small gap where the two ends of the zip course meet the end of the pouch: the zip, being bulky, is never going to get to the end of the run easily. I tried closing it tight, and only succeeded in ripping the plastic a bit. This wasn't just me being over-zealous. I lent one to someone else, and they managed to do the same thing.

So these aren't 100% watertight, and if you're getting absolutely drenched, or going underwater, there is a chance your things would get wet. And especially if you break it. There are press-fit plastic pouches that would avoid this (though these too have their problems - they're fiddly). Or buy a pouch used by campers, or spelunkers. Folks that like exploring caves.

Pocpacs are cheap, cheerful and convenient, if a bit flawed in their design. Be careful with them, and they should see you through the rain. I'd use my one again, except I broke it.

Verdict

Neat and convenient waterproof pouch, but a bit fragile.