Jack Wolfskin may be a new name on the bikepacking scene, writes Laurence McJannet, but products like its Morobbia Fork Bag show it knows what adventure riders need…
A number of big names have emerged with the rise of bikepacking as a global cycling trend. Think Alpkit or Apidura, as well as products from the big bike manufacturers. That Jack Wolfskin – better known for its hiking and trekking gear – produces bikepacking-specific apparel and bags, as well as some of the best cycling shorts, came as something of a surprise.
Men’s Fitness verdict
The Jack Wolfskin Morobbia Fork Bag is something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It may look a little plasticky, but it’s surprisingly robust and can swallow more gear than most frame bags.- Much more robust than it looks
- Innovative fastening and release system
- Fully loaded, it can compromise handling
- A little pricey
How we tested the best bikepacking gear
I tested each product on a range of day-long, overnight and multi-day rides. These included riding and camping in varied weather conditions over a period of three months. During that time I rode a hardtail and full-suspension mountain bike, as well as a gravel bike, to test each product.
Jack Wolfskin Morobbia Fork Bag design
However the company’s expertise in producing rugged, performance outdoor gear should translate well in the bikepacking space. I took the Morobbia Fork Bag out on a number of winter sorties to see if JW could cut it with bikepacking’s big boys.
Named after a Swiss alpine valley, the Morobbia is clearly made for epic mountain biking adventures. Fork bags are useful to maintain a loaded bike’s centre of gravity. That can often be compromised with a weighty saddle pack swinging behind you. You probably don’t tend to need a fork bag or two unless your saddle, bar and frame bags are maxxed out. So that means epic adventure territory.
But that’s not to say you couldn’t opt for one or two of these instead of a frame bag, perhaps. Or use them on their own for shorter forays. It’s all about even weight distribution. So I was keen to see how much a single loaded Morobbia would affect bike handling or if two would be required.
Jack Wolfskin Morobbia Fork Bag features
Materials-wise, it’s no surprise that Jack Wolfskin has got it spot-on, with hard-wearing, waterproof and recycled materials. A roll-top enclosure ensures there is no water ingress – particularly important with a bag so close to the wheels and the ground. My other initial thoughts about the materials were that those cheap-looking plastic straps could be a possible weak point. They’re made from a lightweight, flexible yellow TPU and I was pleased to discover are much more hardwearing than they look.
The triple strap design also allays my other fear. Whereas some fork bags bolt directly onto forks with bottle-cage mounting bolts, these just strap on. I thought that over rugged terrain the pack would eventually slip down the fork. But in my tests I never had to reposition it, even after a gnarly descent or two. It sat snuggly against both suspension forks and the tapered legs of off-road carbon ones too.
Jack Wolfskin Morobbia Fork Bag fastener
The FIDLOCK WINCH fastener is ingenious, and not a design I’d seen before. You can rotate it to compress and hold the contents of the inner bag securely, or just pop it off its magnetic holder to remove the 7-litre inner bag.
Speaking of the inner bag, 7 litres is huge for a fork-mounted pack. Many internal frame bags don’t have this much volume.
I managed to squeeze a small tarp and bivvy bag as well as energy bars, tools and two inner tubes in the Morabbia. On other outings it swallowed two dried meals, gloves, snood and sunnies. It’s an ideal accompaniment to a fully rigged bikepacking bike, or a handy complement to in-frame wedge bags and tope-tube bags for long single-day missions.
Should you buy the Jack Wolfskin Morobbia Fork Bag?
I did notice the bike could feel a bit imbalanced when using a single fork bag stuffed full, particularly if not using a decent sized bar bag to stabilise things. If you’re intending to max out its volume like this, I’d advise getting a pair. But at £180 for 14 litres that’s a less affordable option than a similar volume frame or bar bag. The Alpkit Betonga is half the price and half the capacity so makes more sense to use as a pair.
I see the Morabbia being a useful addition to fully laden expeditions or paired with other small bags for ultra-light adventures. Despite appearances my tests show it will keep going the distance.
| Capacity | 7 litres |
| Closure system | Roll-top |
| Measurements | 34 x 17 x 18cm / 13.4 x 6.7 x 7in |
| Weight | 320g / 0.7lb |
| Attachment system | 3x TPU straps |
