On performance bikes, bike bags usually look just wrong. But there is one exception: a saddle bag. It is mounted on the seatpost or to the bottom of the saddle or a combination of both. Saddlebags come in a great variety of sizes. A small bicycle saddle bag is suitable for a multi-tool and a spare tube. A medium-sized saddle bag is perfect for a mobile phone and an energy bar. You can even put your rain gear in a large saddlebag. Read further if you want to know more about bags and how to attach one to your bike.
The cycling world has changed since your first tender attempts on two wheels, that much is clear. But who would have thought it would be saddlebags in particular that you actually barely recognize? Did you have a little leather bag like that hanging under the saddle of your childhood bike? The only way you could open the fasteners of the bag was to tear off at least two of your fingernails. There was a wrench in the bag that bent immediately when you put it on one of the matching bolts. There wasn't room for a spare hose but a mini kit patch kit was included.
Since then, the bags that attach around the saddle have undergone a real metamorphosis. They have grown. They have taken on numerous functions that no one would have thought them capable of. They become more and more flexible with each new model year. And they are becoming more and more popular, because they are as much a part of the trendy sport of bikepacking as bug spray and cereal bars. Here in our online shop you will find many saddle bags in all possible sizes and with different mounting systems, the right bag for your beloved bike is sure to be there!
Generally, saddlebags in different sizes are always used when luggage should be on the bike, but no rack is available.
Bicycle bags with splash guards and reflectors
A little by little, manufacturers like Vaude, Evoc, Giant, Topeak or Birzmann have come up with different features for their bike bags. They come with an outer compartment for your drink bottle or as a tool bag with the appropriate loops to keep things tidy inside.
Because large saddlebags are also quite excellent for replacing a rear fender, many models get a waterproof plastic layer on the bottom that serves as a spill guard
The saddlebag is at the very back of the bike, so there are often reflective elements incorporated to make you more visible in traffic.
For which bike is a saddle bag suitable?
Bike bags in general have an image problem more than anything else. They're practical, they're a lot of things, but they're not cool.... Most mountain bikers and road cyclists would rather stay home than be caught with a bag on their bike in public. For whatever reason, saddlebags are an exception here. Maybe that's because of the affectionate pet name saddlebags have been bestowed in cycling literature (read on, we'll tell you below).
If you don't want to lug around a backpack but still can't do without rain jacket, multitool or even an ultralight sleeping bag on the go, a saddlebag is the perfect storage space for you.
Saddle bags on road and gravel bikes
Smaller to medium-sized bike saddlebags are best suited for some light luggage that you don't want to store in the pockets of your cycling jersey and thus directly on your body during your road bike tours. First and foremost, of course, would be your cell phone, which would go from "sweaty" straight to "broken." If you are planning larger bikepacking tours on the gravel bike a large saddle bag with a few liters of content is a good purchase. Socks, toast or toiletries will fit in easily - just maybe not at the same time in this combination. Especially for bikepacking in inclement weather, make sure your bike bag is waterproof.
Saddle bag on a mountain bike
Even on a mountain bike, you can carry a saddlebag without damaging your reputation. Actually, you can fit a saddlebag on your MTB, after all, you're off the road. The things that could be thrown up by your chunky shoes! A saddlebag on a Fully or Hardtail is not only accepted as a boot, it is also a real gravel catcher! Thanks to your seat pack, you can potentially do without a backpack altogether, unless you have a protector backpack, which of course you should definitely carry!
Saddle bags on e-bikes and trekking bikes
Of course, saddlebags are suitable for any bike, and they're also a handy addition to your cargo area for trekking bikes and e-bikes. Trekking bikes are usually loaded with luggage carrier bags and front luggage carrier bags (low rider bags), but for day trips a larger saddlebag is usually perfectly adequate. A small saddlebag, on the other hand, will stow everything you need on a short ride. The same rules apply to e-bikes, but you can simply use larger bags. After all, the motor helps you get the weight of your luggage off the ground.
Large, medium and small - what fits in your bike saddlebag
- Mini saddlebags as a saviour in an emergency: the smallest saddlebags can fit a few tools, an inner tube and maybe a mini pump.
- Mid-sized saddlebags will take care of you for a day: Saddlebags with a few liters of capacity are enough for clothes, the rain jacket or your swimwear.
- Bikepacking saddlebags that defy gravity: Large saddlebags are especially popular for bikepacking, you can now buy specimens that hold a whopping 17.5 litres. These large, elongated bags are lashed to the seatpost and protrude far out from under the saddle and upwards. The shape has earned these bike bags the nickname "ass rocket". Especially with larger bags, bikers always ask themselves: "Will it hold?" - yes, it does. The manufacturers of our saddlebags have tested their products extensively, also bike magazines and and other product tests confirm the functionality.
The things you put in a saddlebag on your bike shouldn't resent getting crumpled, though.
How easy it is to find the perfect saddlebag
When buying a new saddlebag for your bike, there are a few things to consider:
- If you go on longer tours, your bike bag should be waterproof . You can usually find a note in our item descriptions about whether your bag of choice is rainproof
- A saddle bag not only gets rain from above, but also splashing water from below. Especially the bottom of your saddlebag should have a waterproof layer
- Your saddlebag will not only get splashed with water from the rear wheel of the bike, but also lots of dust and even small stones will fly. Therefore, a saddlebag should also be dust-proof and have a reinforced bottom
- The larger the saddlebag, the more space it will need on the bike's seatpost to be secured without wobbling. So before you buy, first look at how much space your bike has between the saddle and the saddle clamp
- There are different ways to attach a saddle bag to your bike. Some manufacturers supply a bag mount into which the actual bag is inserted. Other manufacturers build click systems like KlickFIX onto their bike bags, still others work with cord pull systems like BOA. Most seat packs can be easily lashed down with Velcro straps . Some seat packs, especially small ones, also attach directly to the saddle. On the pictures of the bags is usually quite easy to see how the bag must be attached.
- Be careful with bicycle parts made of carbon! There not all fastening systems can be used.
Bike bags buy cheap online
You can load your bike in many places. All you need are the right bags. Besides saddlebags, you can mount panniers on the rear rack or use panniers on the front of a front rack. But since you're interested in a saddlebag, you'd probably prefer bags that don't detract from the look of the "overall work of art that is the bike". Therefore, we have a large selection of bags in our online shop that are worn on the body. Here you can buy bike backpacks for men and backpacks for women or stock up on hip bags and shoulder bags
