daihard 

Hi.

I'm about to make a purchase of my first road bike. I will probably post more details once it happens.

Now, one of the accessories I want to buy at the same time is a saddle bag. I currently have a Topeak bag on my hybrid bike. It works well, but I want something that's more compact and preferably more aerodyamic. Do you guys have any recommendations?

TIA!

EnsitMike

Just take a trip down to the local LBS and pick one out. Saddle bags are just bags, and none are really any different than another.

jkuper

Take a look at Scicon bags

Homebrew01

Yup. Decide what you want to carry with you and get a bag the right size.
I just bring 2 tubes & levers, so a small one is good.

Cookiemonsta

Another thing to consider is to just put things in the back of your jersey. You can fit a lot more stuff in there than you can fit in one of those small saddle bags, it is free, and it does not bother you when riding at all (you do not notice it is there).

MagicHour

Sometimes I just use a jersey pocket as poster above mentioned, but in cases where ive just done some work on my bike and want to carry an extra tool or 2 I use a Jaand mini tool kit seat pack:
Mini Tool Kit Bag
Also on long rides You need to carry food, and maybe need to stash a windvest or knee Warmers-then the seat pack comes in handy and frees up pocket room.
This Jaand is one of the smallest I've seen, and has been on my bike for years and is still kicking.

StanSeven

I have the Arundel Uno. It's very small and doesn't detract from the looks of the bike, if that's what you are after. It has one tube, a patch kit, levers, and a CO2.

I carry a mini pump in my jersey and a cell phone. I like the little pouch just in case I forget to pack everything I need in jersey pockets

SirHustlerEsq

Check out your pockets, they work well.

Nachoman

True except to the extent that you can generally choose between small medium and large. I personally like as small of a saddle bag as possible that will hold all of the desired equipment.

clausen

+1

Elan 210, Like a wallet not a purse.

gsa103

Lezyne Micro Caddy is good also. The small is small. You can fit 2 small levers, patches, 2 CO2 cartridges, 1 very small inflator, 1 tube, 1 small multi-tool. Basically, everything you need, provided you're very careful about how you pack. The catch is that is that is probably 110% capacity, and you basically have to empty and repack the bag to get anything. The medium is probably better if you want a little more space.

f4rrest

f4rrest

Pro tip: if you use a latex tube as your spare, it's smaller and leaves room for a patch kit, spoke wrench, and a couple hex keys.

chaadster

Less discerning cyclists may think a seat bag is a seat bag, but some of us know better and demand better.

For example, some bags use strap mounts that rub at your thighs and wear on the post. Why would you settle for that when you can have a bag that not only does neither of those two things, but incorporates an easy on/off and between bike portability between bikes?

Why accept a bag that makes getting to the contents difficult when you can get a similarly sized bag that opens widely and makes organizing a breeze?

How about integrated tire levers? Light mount points? Water resistance? Reflective elements?

No, I don't find bags indistinguishable, which is why I use different bags on various bikes; the right tool for the job.

I'm a great Scicon fan, but Krieg and Jandd also have bomes in the fleet. Fizik is tempting me to try, too.

Jiggle

Bontrager Draftpack. Yes, it's as slick as the name sounds.

metalheart44

Have a favorite Scion?

Dave Cutter

I like a medium sized bag so I can cram in a flimsy cable lock [that I rarely use anyway]. All the cool kids [AKA other old geezers] I know use the really small bag.

krobinson103

I went for a slightly longer bag to hold a bit more stuff. But then I pack heavy on tools on any bike I ride.

sfrider 

Topeak F25 aero wedge small or Fizik ICS small if have a Fizik saddle.

TheSame

Topeak Areo here too. works great and looks good.

I don't really like using my pockets to carry tubes / co2 pump. I'd rather have it always with the bike. Rather not forget to pack it.

chaadster

For general use, the Scicon Compact 430 Carbon is my choice because it's sized just about right to carry what I like to have for solo and club rides: tube, Ritchey CPR9 tool, heavy zip tie, nitrile glove, loose patch kit, ID, credit card, $20 bill, iPhone5, and a pack of Gu (mostly to pad phone from slapping plastic bracket in top of bag, which I found out, the hard way, can crack phone glass). Those just about fill it, though there's still a tiny bit of space, especially since I moved to Panaracer R'Air tubes, which are exceptionally compact, and I've been considering some skeleton first aid, even if only bandaids and wipes.

The bag has integrated tire levers, which makes packing a bit easier, and I really like the quick release mount and full zip top, both of which make quick work of getting stuff in and out of the bag. Shortcomings are that there's no light mount, but I prefer to run a seatpost mount Knog Road, anyway, and though there's reflective piping, it's so thin as to be of dubious benefit. A lower profile mount which tucks the bag closer to the rails might be aesthetically more pleasing, but I like the look as it is pretty well.

chaadster

+1 on that, and I really like to have nothing but food stuff in there, maybe a superlight jacket, or to shed arm/leg warmers. I certainly dislike to pocket anything I don't need at hand, or won't use during the ride.

Manweiser

Arundel Dual. Its compact but still fits 2 tubes, patch kit, 2 C02, multi-tool, chuck and tire levers. After two seasons with the Dual, I will be buying a second.

Doc V

I like the Timbuk2 XL saddle bag. It works great because it fits a tube, 2 tire levers, Crankbrothers multi-19 tool, stick-on patches, keys and my LG Optimus G phone with a little room to spare; all the things you need for a ride. Accessing it is easy as the whole back portion flips down.

RPK79

I use a small Bell saddlebag that I found at Wal-Mart on clearance. It is just big enough for me to fit one tube, two levers, a multi-tool, and my car keys. I have a larger bag that I can swap in if I want to carry more.