Our Mag-Tank is one of our most popular products, and for good reason – it’s perfect for stashing snacks as well as items such as a phone, GPS, or multi-tool that you might want quick access to while riding. The magnetic buckle makes for fast one-handed opening and closing, and the large mouth of the tank means it’s easy to find whatever you’re looking for in the bag – even that small jelly bean hiding behind all the fun size candy bars.

When I first started using the Mag-Tank, I was a bit skeptical about using it to carry valuables, especially when riding on rough surfaces. I’d relied on our Gas Tank, with its zippered closure, for peace of mind when carrying my wallet or phone for years. I first started using the Mag-Tank on my road/gravel bikes, and came to love it for how much faster and easier it is to use the magnetic flap than a zipper. Turns out, my paranoia was unnecessary – when properly adjusted, the lid stays closed, even on steep and rough terrain. I don’t put small valuables in it loosely – I secure a house or car key to the clip so they can’t bounce out through the small opening between the lid and the body, but have yet to lose a piece of candy or packet of gel from it. Even when I know I’m intending to pursue a day of riding lifts or shuttling downhill runs, I have no hesitation when filling my Mag-Tank.

It may seem counterintuitive, but tighter does not translate to more secure with the Mag-Tank. The buckle forms a mechanical connection when the two halves of the buckle sit flat against each other. The job of the magnets is to keep the two halves sitting together. Occasionally we see the elastic come out of the tabs holding the buckle to the lid – this can occur if the bag is adjusted too tightly, or if the buckle is moved too quickly along the cord. When this happens, the magnets wind up fighting the elastic, resulting in a less secure connection. In the below photo, the elastic has come out of one of the four tabs, resulting in the two halves no longer wanting to sit flat against one another.

If the elastic has come out of one of the tabs, the first step is to adjust the buckle so that the elastic is captured by all four tabs. It can be helpful to ‘stretch’ the elastic to make it smaller in diameter to get it to fit back in. Then, the next step is adjusting the buckle to the appropriate location on the cord. This is typically about 1cm, or one finger’s width, from the edge of the lid. 

The buckle is in the correct spot when the two halves find one another on their own when the lid is flipped shut. This may require a gentle tap of encouragement when riding on rough surfaces or quickly enough to generate some ‘wind,’ but it shouldn’t require much effort to get it to latch.