Top pick
This rack was the easiest to install on many kinds of bikes and felt the most stable carrying heavy panniers.
This rack was the easiest to install on bikes with disc brakes—which require a different mount than rim-brake bikes—and felt equally stable carrying heavy panniers.
The Topeak Explorer MTX 2.0 Rack works better with a wider variety of bikes than any other rack we tested. (Apart from a small opening at the front of the rack platform, which allows the rack to accommodate Topeak’s newer line of rack-top bags, the current version of the Explorer is identical to the one we tested.)
It fits most bikes. If you have either 26-inch, 27.5-inch , or 700c wheels (most people do), the Explorer MTX 2.0 is likely to fit your bike. However, if your bike has disc brakes, be sure to get the disc-specific version, because you’ll need the extra clearance around the brake. If you have a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels, get the 29er model (which is also available in a disc-specific version).
Because the Explorer’s flat steel arms can flex, they can attach to a wider range of bike-frame rack mounts. This design makes finding a proper fit easier compared with models that use stiff aluminum-tubing arms such as the Axiom Journey.
When we installed the Explorer on our Trek hybrid, which had 700c wheels, it offered 1.25 inches of wheel clearance—more clearance than we got from any other rack we tested. That amount of clearance, in addition to the rack’s movable arms, supports broader compatibility with a variety of bikes and means that the rack should fit over even the burliest of puncture-resistant off-road tires.
It’s durable, and it carries heavy loads well. Once installed, the Explorer provides a sturdy and stable platform for carrying up to 57 pounds of whatever you want, partly thanks to the rack’s materials. Topeak uses 6061 hollow aluminum; the “hollow” makes it lightweight, and the 6061 number indicates an extremely common type of general-purpose aluminum.
But in any discussion of durability and stability, how the rack is supported is as important as what it’s made of. The rack needs to be welded together, not just riveted with bolts, and in the case of the Explorer, three triangulated stays on each side support it—not just two. Although other racks may be rated to nearly the same 57-pound capacity as the Topeak Explorer, such as our runner-up pick, the Planet Bike Eco Rack, it’s that third stay that stabilizes the load fully.
We loaded each side of the Explorer with panniers carrying 2 gallons of milk each (17 pounds per side) to see if it swayed, but everything stayed in place.
It has a sturdy taillight mount. It’s fully welded on and more substantial than the thin, bolted-on piece of metal on many other racks we tested. Topeak includes steel mounting hardware, and the included nuts are locking nuts with nylon inserts, which absorb road vibration and stay screwed on better than standard nuts.
It has a multipurpose platform. Rack platforms, in general, are useful. The one on the current version of the Explorer can accommodate both the original Topeak MTX QuickTrack luggage pieces and those using the newer MTX 2.0 QuickTrack system. (Note, though, that we did not test any of those options.)
It also gives you an unobtrusive way to carry a bike lock if you’re going without panniers, and like most rack platforms, it acts as a built-in fender that keeps water off your back in light rain.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Assessing your bike’s compatibility can be confusing. In the world of bike accessories, “easy to install” is a relative term. The biggest issue with this rack applies to all racks: Figuring out which variation of the rack should work with your bike and installing it can be confusing and even downright frustrating. (If you’re not sure what size wheel your bike has, just check the tires: The size should be printed or embossed on the sidewalls.) If you run into problems, we recommend checking with your local bike shop. The people there will be able to confirm which version of this rack will fit your bike, and if you encounter any mounting issues, they’ll know how to deal with them. They may even have the Explorer in stock, as it’s a common rack.
- Its warranty is shorter than that of our runner-up pick. Topeak warranties against defects in its racks for two years but does not cover “crashes, abuse, system alteration,” or “modification.”
