Last Updated on July 11, 2022 by srinivas
Expert rating
Pros
- Darkens an AirTag
- Provides robust mounting
- Rugged, waterproof housing
- No water bottle frame needed
cons
- Casing lacks screws to hold together if not fully installed
- Awkward to assemble
Price at review
$19.95
Best Prices Today: Elevation Lab TagVault: Bike
$19.95
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After years of substantial declines, bicycle thefts in the United States have peaked in many cities since 2021. Bicycles were in short supply during the pandemic, which may have caused a temporary rise in the number of missing people. You can add an AirTag tracker to a bike with a standard water bottle cage with ElevationLab’s TagVault: Bike, a rugged, waterproof case that’s part of a line of similar items from the company.
The TagVault: Bike is a plastic case in the shape of a diamond. An AirTag nestles in its watertight seal. The kit comes with two 1-inch (26mm) long titanium screws in the M5 x 0.8 bolt format that are used for almost all bottle cages. ElevationLab offers shorter (0.8 inch/20 mm) screws for use of the case without a bottle cage. The kit comes with a steel T20 L-shaped wrench. The case weighs approximately 26 grams, an important detail for riders aiming for the lowest possible bike weight.
Unlike the company’s TagVault: Keychain and TagVault: Pet, no additional screws secure the AirTag to the case. I found it difficult to keep pressure on the case to keep the AirTag inside, while also managing the bottle cage and the screws to secure it. For an easier installation, grab a second pair of hands or tape the assembly to drive the screws individually.
This problem also applies when you need to replace the battery. You have to disassemble the entire setup to access the AirTag. I don’t see a better way to hide and secure one, but it’s something to keep in mind as a roughly annual ritual.
The TagVault: Bike is an AirTag housing that fits on the bottle cage of a bicycle.
Elevation Lab
The housing is matte black, which makes it unobtrusive. Screwed between a cage and the frame, a thief would have to recognize it first and then work hard to remove it quickly. Accidental thieves might just ignore it altogether, making a bike’s recovery easier.
It is also a mnemonic device. As more people started cycling during the pandemic in many countries, it became more difficult to find a place to lock your bike. An ordinary commuter can lose track of where they parked their bike for the day. A combination of long-range Find My network, the loud noise an AirTag can play, and short-range Precision Finding can help you get there instantly.
it comes down to
While it’s a little tricky to attach and remove the case from a bike to replace the battery in an AirTag, the low-profile design should keep the nature of what it contains down. Whether you’re concerned about theft or simply finding your bike in a sea of others, the TagVault: Bike provides an easy way to place a tracker on your bike.