Seat Bag help/suggestions
 

Ok, my local LBS stocks Topeak, Voyager, Axiom, and I think Fiz-kit.

Right now I brought a seatbag in for warranty work but the LBS offered me an exchange for the same item, get another item, or store credit in return (assuming because it's over a month now and the company did not get back to the LBS). I am looking for a new seat bag now and would like to stay in those company choices.

My damaged seat bag was a Voyager Aero size medium which broke after about 2 weeks of using it. The top ripped off so bad it's not even funny. The fabric felt thin but strong when I bought it and Voyager told me the bag can handle up to 5 lbs no problems.

Well I carried in that Voyager bag the following :

-Spare tube 26x1.95-2.1
-4xAA (in a plastic battery case)
-Biketool + flat repair kit in a small pouch
-Chaintool
-Spare Superflash tail light
-Disposible pen

Which came out to about 3lbs which is less then the 5lbs so I was peeved that it broke. Right now I'm looking for something that is STRONG with a quick-release setup for shopping and such. I originally got that Voyager bag to replace this Schwinn seat bag.

I like the Schwinn seat bag size and after using the Voyager bag I'm thinking it is a little on the big side. Does anyone know what the capacity size of the Schwinn bag? I don't think it said so on the bag. The material on the Schwinn bag is strong and I think it's ballistic nylon and it's lasted 2 yrs on bump, potholes, and curb jumps and it held up well. I'm going to email Schwinn if I don't get any info here.

This is what I currently keep in my Schwinn seat bag :

-Chaintool
-Bike tool + flat repair kit in pouch
-2 x LED turtles
-Gerber Clutch multi-tool

Right now I'm looking for a seat bag slightly larger then the Schwinn seat bag but in the same slim profile, tough, durable, and take ~3lbs with ease. Optional is the straps under the seat bag as I have plans for a Dinotte tail light in the future and would like to mount it under the seatbag like the ideas here http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=324042


Thanks in advance.

I use a Rivendell Bilbo Baggins seat bag, which is pretty large but can also haul a bunch. They make something similar these days, just calling it something else.

It's nice as it can carry all the extra crap I don't want in a R jersy pocket and/or when I'm simply wearing a tee-shirt, including all the spare tubes, tools, CO2, etc...

The canvas isn't waterproof, but a zip-loc baggie is better at keeping dry the important stuff. Canvas and leather straps are much more durable then nylon stuff with a zipper.

SB

I have a 10+ yr old Carradice Nelson Longflap seat bag that fastens to the loops on my brooks saddle. I have a rack on the bike also, it keeps the seat bag from flopping around. I carry everything I need to take to work everyday. I carry clothes (not shoes), some food, tools and flat repair stuff, tubes. I've put much more than that in carradice, it can expand to become pretty huge. I've carried a round oatmeal container with my clothes and all sorts of odd items. It it doesn't fit inside, there are places outside to strap things to.

Tried a couple different brands, settled on the Topeak simply because it mounts on a quick-release. Only takes a few seconds to detach it when I park my bike outside of the office/cafe/grocery store. The largest bag I've been able to find locally is a medium. Even with it not being a large, I carry the following items with me at all times:

- Multitool
- Spare tube
- Tire levers
- 3 AAA batteries
- Patch kit
- CO2 pump + 1 canister

And I still have room for an energy bar. The specific bag I have is the medium expandable aero-wedge, link here: http://www.rei.com/product/710406

+1
I have the exact same seat bag in the same size. Works like a charm.

Out of the brands at your LBS, quality-wise I like Topeak. I have a number of items from them, and I've been happy with them.

I have one of these in the mail from speedgoat:

http://www.somafab.com/bags_twnqr.html

~1.5l capacity (vs '1-2' for the one the OP linked). QR available, but I opted against that.

How is the warranty with Topeak? Are reciepts needed on returns? CyclesLambert's lifetime warranty did not require a reciept tho the LBS did ask for one but I didn't (I honeslty can't find it tho I knowI have it. Yes it's messy here :o ).

I'm thinking of gong in next week and getting a bag or having a model ordered if not in stock. I just want to prepare myself asking here first because my LBS is more geared for high end stuff and when Iwas talking about lighting with one of the CSR's there it seems like they don't know jack other then BLT and Cateye smaller blinkies are the brightest out there and don't know WTF a EL530 is.

Another vote for the Topeak. I have the medium. I usually carry:

• Tube (700cx23-28)
• Pedro's Tire Levers
• Patch Kit
• Multi-tool with chain tool
• Energy bar
• Spare cash
• Keys
• Digital camera or eight spare AA batteries

I can cram my wallet in there too if I unzip the expanding section.

I also slide my glasses case into the elastic straps underneath. Great for having both pairs at twilight or if I'll have to read something at my destination.

My favorite feature is that you can order extra QR mounts separately. (Have your LBS look in the QBP catalog.) I have one bag and two extra QR mounts so I can swap it between the three bikes. It's a lot easier and cheaper to keep one bag stocked instead of several.

Topeak hasn't let me in all the years of commuting. I've got one bag I more from bike to bike, open and close to swap tubes, take out tools, etc, etc.

My only experience with topeak's customer service involved my road morph pump. Good company with excellent service.

I can't say. I've never needed service on their stuff. The receipt issue might be more of a question for the LBS, anyway. See how willing they are to back up what they sell.

Going to upload my images later so you can see the sizeI'm going for.

They just sent me the 3rd head for my smarthead floorpump adapter. Speaks great of them, though I'm no longer so sure about the durability of the smarthead...

They also sent me a part for my road morph really quickly. Fantastic service no doubt about that.

Here's another vote for Topeak. I've got several of their seatbags and never had a problem. The quick release feature is really nice, and allows you to quickly remove the bag, switch your bag between bikes, or use different size bags for different purposes. I've never had a warranty issue with one of their bags, but I had a Topeak pump that developed a problem, and they mailed me replacement parts free of charge.

I'll have to think of favorite seatbag manufacturers to subsequently post into a premium-quality, medium-quality, and budget-quality format.

Its on the big size, but carries everythign you want, and fits into a pocket in seconds to go shopping.

http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/sea...asp?fl=1&site=

Jarery, that model from Arkel looks great. What a fantastic and detailed website they have! Do you own that particular model personally or have you seen it in use with teammates/clubmates?
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts, because it looks perfect on their website...

I have a Jandd. It was cheap and it works fine.

I have Vaude Tool L bags on my main bikes. They're sturdy, have quick-release, and two zippered compartments. I put things like tube, patch kit, etc. in one compartment and use the other for things I'm regularly taking out of the bag like keys, cell phone, driver's license which makes fishing things out of the bag much easier. I'm not sure if many bike shops carry them but it looks like there are places you can order them.

http://www.vaude.de/hps/upload/cmi24...4073_GROSS.jpg

Ok, I finally got to figure out how toupload the images again. :o

My seat bag setup. You can see here my current Schwinn seat bag which has worked wonders for ~2yrs on potholes, jumps, curbs, offroad, etc. It's a solid winner but the velcro strap thing is not really easy to take on/off. I had to glue an extra velcro underneath it to hold more securely.

It just takes more time when I'm outside and opens me up longer in exposure time when locking up and securing the bike which I want to reduce the exposure time incase there are shifties around.

I'll take a photo of what is in the bag today and upload it. LikeI said I don't have the packaging of the bag and from what I remember at Canadian Tire they didn't even say how much space the bag holds in cu. or L.

I am looking for a bag slightly larger then this bag but smaller then the broken bag I returned as you can see the damage from 2 weeks of riding on my site. I prefer the slim size so that the PB Superflash has more area height exposed to shine at the cagers so they can see me there.

Thanks for all your help.

I own it, it works great. It is on the large size for my Scott road bike for group rides, but for my commuter or when doing brevets its great. Also built to last forever as all Arkel products are.

That Arkel bag's awfully cool; wish I thought of doing that!

To the OP: Ditch the carrying pouches and whatnot for the patch kit, spare batteries, etc. Those things just take up space.

I often end up riding at night. I need the extra batteries. I ride on/off road and about 1-1.5hr each way distance. I try to avid glass and such but I keep the patch kit more for insurance. I've found I do use the repair kit from time to time to retighten stuff all over the bike. The chaintool is the only thing I guess I could let go but seeing as I ride about 10-15 offroad and the fact that a chaintool is one of the hardest things to fashion out in the field I keep it with me. I used to carry front/rear lights, the light mounts, hand cleaners, hand creme, sunscreen etc in there but pretty much narrowed it down already to what I carry now a days with my knowledge of repairs (not great).

I may get a Topeak Alien tool which can slim things down a bit.

Edit:

10-15 = 10-15km combined round distance just on the offroad parts and not a total round distance of the trip.

Ah, sorry -- what I meant was, keep the patch kit, but leave out the pouch that holds it. I have one of those packets that came with a pouch carrying two CO2 canisters, an inflation tool, patches and levers, and it takes up half the space if I leave the pouch itself at home and toss everything loosely into the bag.

The batteries could probably stay loose as well, but maybe the plastic's a good idea to keep them from touching anything conductive & losing their spunk.

I have an Alien as well. Every once in a while, I wonder if it could be replaced -- usually by something smaller or slimmer. But then I come to my senses and remember that it's a pretty rockin' little kit.