I have tried 3 bags from REI (thank god for their easy return policy) and none will fit the rails on the Brooks. I tried two Topeak and one Novarro. Any suggestions on a saddle bag that will work?

Have you thought about something from Carradice?
https://carradice.co.uk/saddlebags/index.html
Brooks are designed more for traditional saddle bags.

or from Minnehaha https://www.minnehahabags.com/
or acorn https://www.acornbags.com/

I have a big, 20$ Ravx saddlebag that fines fine on my B17.

+1 The Carradice Barley is a nice mid-sized bag I use with my B-17. The Ostrich is also very nice.

I second Acorn. I love my acorn bags and the guy who makes them is super helpful and friendly.

I've got two different sizes of Pedro's Blowout Bag, the big one on a B17 and the mini one on a Swift.

The Topeak Aerowedge with the clip-lock strap attachments works on a B-17.
For longer rides (300k +), I like my Carradice Pendle.

I have a rinky-dink bag wedge bag that I bought at REI that fits well. It is just as rinky-dink as any bag you can find at any bike shop.

I must be doing something wrong then. I have tried three "wedge" type bags and the doo hicky that attaches to the rails are too short. Seems the Brooks rails are wider or I am doing something wrong. Which is always a possibility. The other bags are nice, but way overkill. I have a rear rack with panniers for commuting to hold laptop, lunch, etc. I was looking for something for both commuting w/ panniers and riding without to hold CO2, multi-tool, tube, wallet, phone, etc.

Get the strap attach Topeak rather then the quick release version, works like a charm.

https://topeak.com/products/Bags/Aero..._medium_Velcro

+2 on the Barley. Great bit of kit..

Most saddle bags don't use "doohickeys" to attach, just nylon straps with velcro. I've used a Serfas bag, 2 Planet Bike bags, and a Jandd bag; all of which worked just fine. Just loop the straps, velcro down, away you go. It's just not that cosmic.

Is this the Novara bag from REI that you tried?

https://www.rei.com/product/780453

If so, I'm not sure what you did wrong. Because this fits my brooks just fine.

If you liked that Topeak bag and still want to use it, then this device is needed to make it work with Brooks saddles.

https://www.topeak.com/products/Xtras/F33Fixer

Otherwise, as one poster already suggested, you need a bag with straps. Which may be the easiest solution.

Acorn or Barley.

Trust a divtag to be awkward Brooks themselves make matching small seat bags sized to fit a few emergency items, including one c/w toolkit. There are also many inexpensive small bags that attach to saddle rails with velcro straps.

Ok, so with these larger bags (Barley for example), do you take this when fully loaded touring? I am not quite sure on the size. Still plenty of room on top of the rear rack from sleeping pad, bag, and tent? What about on weekend rides, just use this and put your tools, spares, snacks, etc. in?

For the commute I still be also using my Ortliebs to carry my MacBook Pro and what not, but would love to have a separate bag for tools, wallet, phone, tube, etc. instead of wasting space in a pannier and having to dig out when I want to ride on the weekends without the panniers.

Search "leather bike seat bag" on e-bay. I have the DFI bag (49.95). It fits very well. Don't feel bad about getting it from Asia. That is where most of Brook's seat bags are made.

Best regards,

Mike

Here is another vote for the Carradice Barley, If you don't need as much room the Carradice zipped roll is very good. I have one of those also

Be prepared to wait if you don't get on the list as soon as they are taking orders. I bought the medium/large and it was built wonderfully but it was tapered too much for my taste so I sold it. It was REALLY a beautifull bag.

I'll say it again; you don't need an expensive and specialized bag. Any $20 basic bag with nylon/velcro straps will work. I'm sure Nashbar or Performance sells one of their house brand ones for even cheaper.

Now, if you just WANT the nice bag...that's completely your prerogative.

Part of your problem was going for a Topeak bag. Most of those use weird clip on mechanisms that have limited compatibility.

As Banzai has stated above, you're simplist solutiuon is a bag with straps. But if you want a nice bag, then I will throw my vote with the others for Acorn's bags. I have the small bag and it can hold all you mention above and be used with panniers and camping gear. It can also be relocated to your handlebars should space become an issue. I have actually lashed stuff to the outside of the bag, so it is very flexible. The leather straps should work very well with your B-17s loops.

I also have the Barley and it is a nice bag, but may be too big for what you have described above. It also seems like those things are harder to get as they always seem to be out of stock.

https://www.acornbags.com/smbag.html

I'm another happy Acorn bag owner! I have the khaki/brown rollbag model, which looks schweet with my honey colored Brooks B-17.

https://www.acornbags.com/rollbag.html

I have a medium Acorn bag that I use for commutes where I don't have to carry much. It'll fit some minor clothing items, as well as lunch. It's wonderful, and it revolutionized my commute (plus, it allowed me to use my fun race bike more!)

However, when all I need to carry is a flat kit, a tube, and a multi-tool, it's a basic nylon bag for me.