Touring - Saddle bag?

Hey All,

I was just wondering if there's a better deal out there in terms of aesthetics/functionality/price than the VO saddle bag:

http://www.velo-orange.com/saddlebag.html

I would be using it for tools and tubes for sure, but a slightly larger size bag like the VO one is good because if possible I'd also like to put my headlight in there during the day time, and maybe even a snack or something. Who knows. I'm a pack rat.

I want something with brown leather, even if only an accent like that bag, and as much as possible I would prefer to stay away from synthetics. Going all brown leather would be nice too, if there is one out there within that price range.

Or is there a certain bag that you like to use?

Let me know! Thanks guys

I have this bag on my touring bike...and love it.
http://www.minnehahabags.com/canvas-saddle-bag-small/

Thanks Louis. Wow that's a pretty good deal, and even the <a href="http://www.minnehahabags.com/barrel-bag/"> is a good solution.

Yeah i forgot to mention canvas as a worthy material earlier. Awesome.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks again!

http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/538_85/carousel-design-works-escape-pod-saddle-pack-medium.cfm

While touring I don't use a saddle bag. It would interfere with anything bulky that's strapped to my rear rack. Besides, the panniers and front bag hold plenty.

http://www.rivbike.com/products/show/sackville-saddlesack-xs/20-130

http://www.acornbags.com/medbag.html

http://hydeparkcyclesports.com/product/zimbale-leather-and-canvas-saddle-bags-2.3-liter-seatpouch-876.htm

I'd be happy with any one of these.

The original

http://www.carradice.co.uk

French style

http://www.wallbike.com/berthoud/berthoudbags.htm

Japanese beauty

http://www.guu-watanabe.com/sankaku-e.html#kevin

American funkiness

http://swiftindustries.wordpress.com/choose-your-colors/saddle-touring-bag/

Bikepacking "I really don't need the stuff at the bottom of the sack" approach

http://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=4

http://carouseldesignworks.com/

I know nothing about saddlebags, but thank you for the link to VO. I had no idea they had that stuff. It sounds like a racing team, but my gosh, they have everything I drool over!

I have the Acorn Medium. Love it.

@ rjm and nun:
thx for all the links! omg the watanabe looks so well crafted

@rogerstg
To be honest i'm not using it for heavy touring. It just happens to be the most unobtrusive kind of bag for my kind of riding. Thanks for the tip tho! I'll start touring when I have rig built up!



BTW.
Would any of you be interested in bent-wood bags? I'm in the process of making bent wood saddle bags, handebar bags, and racks. Whadddya think?

o yeah and

@countrydirt
haha yeah VO is like the first place I look for that stuff. Also, if you are looking for specific parts, or small parts, I go to this site pretty frequently for vintage items:

http://the-bici.com/


cheers

I ordered one of the VO Croissant bags and returned it because it didn't hold much gear and was kind of flimsy construction. Replaced it with an Acorn Med-Large bag, which is more expensive but much higher quality, larger, more useful and better looking. You get what you pay for in this case. Only problem with Acorn is you have to order their gear as soon as possible on the first day of the month before they sell out. Good luck with that.

I also have a Carradice Barley, which is high quality and holds even more gear than the Acorn bag (altho Acorn makes a similar model). You can buy a Barley direct from England for not much more than the VO bag, and can get free shipping if you order from Wiggle and spend at least $80 or so.

I ordered one of the VO Croissant bags and returned it because it didn't hold much gear and was kind of flimsy construction. Replaced it with an Acorn Med-Large bag, which is more expensive but much higher quality, larger, more useful and better looking. You get what you pay for in this case. Only problem with Acorn is you have to order their gear as soon as possible on the first day of the month before they sell out. Good luck with that.

I also have a Carradice Barley, which is high quality and holds even more gear than the Acorn bag (altho Acorn makes a similar model). You can buy a Barley direct from England for not much more than the VO bag, and can get free shipping if you order from Wiggle and spend at least $80 or so.

The Barley is the bag I use most. It doesn't need any support and can hold everything you could possibly need; tools, rain gear food lock etc. Buy one form Wiggle and it will arrive in a couple of days, their shipping and service are amazing to the USA, and so are the prices.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/m/cycle/7/Carradice/#1,1000

@ tarwheel
wow that's interesting. thanks for the heads up!

@nun
yeah i agree. love wiggle.

bent wood saddle bag initial sketches:

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/dirty_dwad/saddlebagswoodweb.jpg

I use the Carradice Camper Long Flap very nice saddle bag I think.

I like these Korean bags. Great quality at a great price: http://zimbale.com/Front/Product/?url=Category&cate_no=AA000000

I like these Korean bags. Great quality at a great price: http://zimbale.com/Front/Product/?url=Category&cate_no=AA000000

I've had good luck with Zimbale, as well.

yeah those zimbale designs are simple, with non-intrusive branding.

http://zimbale.com/Front/Product/?url=Product&product_no=01ZIMSOT0000010&main_cate_no=AA000000&display_group=1

that leather bag is a pretty sweet deal

yeah those zimbale designs are simple, with non-intrusive branding.

http://zimbale.com/Front/Product/?url=Product&product_no=01ZIMSOT0000010&main_cate_no=AA000000&display_group=1

that leather bag is a pretty sweet deal

I've seen some Zimbal bags and they have some nice features and are well made. However, their stuff is a complete rip off of Carradice and Brooks and is actually more expensive. So go with the original and buy a Brooks and hang a Carradice on it.

I've seen some Zimbal bags and they have some nice features and are well made. However, their stuff is a complete rip off of Carradice and Brooks and is actually more expensive. So go with the original and buy a Brooks and hang a Carradice on it.

Haha yeah I wouldn't buy a saddle from Zim, but their leather saddle bag has slightly more volume than the Brooks Challenger. The next size up in the Brooks lineup is the Glenbrook, and I have only found that in black, and for 100+.

Here in Korea I can get Zimbale bags for about half the price that you pay in the States.

Here in Korea I can get Zimbale bags for about half the price that you pay in the States.

Is that an offer? Haha

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4897987760_40dbaabf65_o.jpg

I've written a review of my VO Croissant bag here (http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2010/09/velo-orange-croissant-bag-small-tidy.html). It is a small bag, because it was meant to be a small bag. I find the quality to be on par with the Berthoud it resembles (I have examined them side by side).

As far as larger bags go, I have both a Carradice Barley and a Zimbale 7ml bag, and both are great. But the VO Croissant is perfect for those bikes/occasions when you don't want a full sized bag.

I was thinking about getting one of these Rixen & Kaul bags: http://www.klickfix.de/index.php?mod=11&lang=en I need a quick release one. I was going to measure my stuff to see what size I should get.

LIKE big saddle bags , always want to go shopping.. pack your Coat and lunch,
perhaps A Pick-a-Nic, with Yogi and Boo-boo. :D

Ive had a Carrimor big saddlebag for a long time , they're not doing that any more ,
a+ was a pocket on the big wide flap , where allsorts of stuff fits.
and 2 sided Zip pockets, arc zipper always worked.

next oldest a Carridice big Cordura Nylon one, favorite feature: Mini rack and pocket in bottom of bag work together,
no sway . ( side pocket zip is less easy to use)

And a cotton canvas Super C from Carridice too,.. .
Modern side release buckled rather than leather strap/buckle.

Stop! You guys are making me want a saddle bag now. Seems the perfect thing for those day rides to carry tools, windbreaker, and a lunch.

How many of these bags require that you have some kind of bag support underneath? I really like those acorn bags, which size to carry the above items?