Banana sax reviews needed. Stuff fall out?

[Lum Gim Fong]

Looks like the opening angle and lid are oriented on saddle mounting to where things could fall out unless there is something to stop that that I am not seeing in the rivbike pics.

The lid doesn't look so precise as to stop allen wrenches or some other small stuff from falling out.

Any reviews and experience? Otherwise looks like an awesome saddle bag! Curious because I might get one!

[Garth]

  Put like groups of like tools/gadgets in a small bag/cloth/container of any sorts so there is no chance of anything falling out.

 Think "modules" so to speak, containment withing a container. Use the imagination !

[Christopher Murray]

This is a pretty tried and tested design, I don’t think anything is falling out. Would I toss my Paul Newman Daytona* in there? Probably not. I have never had anything fall out nor have I heard reports of things falling out.

Cheers!
Chris
*i do not actually own a Paul Newman Daytona

[Joe Bernard]

There's a top and bottom sleeve that fits a wallet and phone tightly, plus a toggle closure thingy that closes over the big pocket, then another toggle thingy which pulls the lid down tight. These toggles have an adjuster to snug them up good, nothing is going to fall out. I have a Banana Sax, I love it, go buy one right now!

[Tim Bantham]

I have a banana Dax and I love it. I use it in place of a wedge style bag when I am just out for a ride. It has larger capacity then the x-small Sackville but less than the small. As far as small stuff falling out I don’t feel there is much risk of that. I put my multi-tool and tire irons in a ziplock along with tubes. Every else is jammed in as needed. You can overstuff it because it has the nice toggle closure on the inside as well as the outer flap. I find it to be extremely useful for when out just riding. Way better then those tiny wedge bags.

[Conway Bennett]

I'll piggy back and ask banana sack vs the xs saddlesack, what do folks prefer?

[phil k]

Conway, I prefer the banana sax!

Doesn't sag, hugs the saddle tight, and it roomier than the XS.

[Surlyprof]

Banana sax is more accessible than the xs. I’ve found the xs can be a little challenging to get stuff out of.

John

[Joe Bernard]

The Banana holds more stuff, but XS has the more secure and easier to use zipper if that matters to you. For 14 bucks more I prefer the Banana Sax, but they're both great bags.

[Lum Gim Fong]

Is banana sax waterproof?
Stuff stay dry inside during/after rains?

[Joe Bernard]

Riv's bag section says all of them are made from waterproof waxed cotton. Will your stuff stay dry on a rain ride? Probably. Will it stay dry if the bag sits outside all day getting drenched? Possibly not. I have a rain cover for a smallish bag Riv sold me years ago and I never used. If I find it and you want it, I'll mail it to you.

[Deacon Patrick]

In my use of the scottish waxed canvas Riv uses, and a variety of their designs, I’ve never had a water entry issue that wasn’t my fault for leaving the bag open without cover as I loaded or unloaded it in a downpour or whiteout. Otherwise they’ve withstood days of near solid though varied rain and snow bikepacking and day riding. I now lean over the bags to access them in wet conditions or find a tree that isn’t yet dripping or things just get a bit wet. They’d get wetter if I had the bag in a bag in a bag set up recommended, and my stuff is designed to be happy when wet anyway. Still, I prefer it dry, and dry it remains.

With abandon,
Patrick

[Grant @ Rivendell]

It''s not for carrying loose gold dust or diamonds, but the Banana sack is secure and adaptable to any load. There's a sleeve pocket for a phone, and a stiffener opposite that, and you can put skinny jangly things in with the stiffener, to secure them. If I have any doubts I just wad up a bandana and put it on top and close the sideflap things. I've forgotten to toggle it closed and even then, front or rear mount, nothing's fallen out. All that said, it's still probably best to say "It's more secure than a general pants pocket" and leave it at that!

[phil k]

Definitely more secure than pants pockets, or even these pockets. Rode mine around forgetting to buckle it as well - phone, wallet, keys. Nothing fell out.

[Joe Bernard]

Check out Grant's A Celebration Of Banana Sax on Le Blahg. 3 Sax!

https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/peeking-through-the-knothole/early-may

[Conway Bennett]

This thread plus that the blue was going away pushed and that I gave my wife my baggins hobo bag pushed me over the edge. I just ordered the banana sax and a bosco bars for my tandem.

[Tim Butterfield]

This thread pushed me over the edge also.  Mine should arrive Monday along with an Otto lock.  I got the brown sax so I could use it with both my blue Homer and green Atlantis.

On Sat, May 12, 2018 at 12:35 PM Conway Bennett <captaincon...@gmail.com> wrote:

This thread plus that the blue was going away pushed and that I gave my wife my baggins hobo bag pushed me over the edge.  I just ordered the banana sax and a bosco bars for my tandem.

--

Sent from my IDevice

[Lum Gim Fong]

Ok.
Almost sold but can it hold:

One multi tool
One lightweight rain jacket
One tube
Spare brake cable
Patch kit
Sunglasses
7” mini pump (mini morph)
Iphone
Keychain
Bag lunch

I would just get another Carradice Pendle bag but I dont like how floppy/sloppy/shapeless they look in my bikes.

[Joe Bernard]

Nope. It'll hold most of it, but I don't think you can top the rest of that list with sunglasses and a lunch.

[Garth]

  FWIW, This prolly doesn't fit the "look" you seem to prefer, but for a rock solid no-sway saddle bag the Revelate Pika to work very well. This is Revelate's "small" version, the Viscacha is even larger capacity.  I had the original Banana bag years ago and ended up selling it because of the sway and I prefer no thigh contact with bags at all. I tried various ways to minimize the sway and rub but it was a venture in futility. Sure, it "looked" great, but frankly... so what, and to whom  ? The Pika also engulfs a Banana bag capacity holding 6-12 liters. It ranges in size by rolling up the open end as you need it. It has perfectly placed adjustable/locking straps to eliminate any movement or excess. The fabric is waterproof, but it's not a "dry bag" in that the seams are not factory sealed. For practical purposes your stuff is not going to get wet. 

 I carry a small roll of tools, 2 40mm tubes, another small bag with cell phone, wallet, neck buff, etc., a featherweight vest and water resistant jacket that packs into your fist. I don't even "try" to pack it in there tightly, and I still have another half a bag left . The bag rolled up to it's smallest size it looks like a You could fit a 12" mini pump in there, prolly longer as I have never used the bag @ full length.  At it's smallest rolled up size, it looks like an average seat bag. As you expand/unroll it as needed it grows kinda like Pinocchio's nose !  

If you are curious, do an image search for " Revelate Pika " and you can see how it changes shapes as needed. 

[Lynn Creamer]

I am a new owner of a Banana Sack and it has far exceeded my expectations. I love it. I’m able to fit my phone, glasses, a Ball pint size jar of oatmeal, a jacket, and have room for more. Its brilliantly designed. I never worry about anything falling out.

[Ron Mc]

I put the Brooks little Millbrook bag on my '57 Lenton - well, just because it belongs there.  

It opens the same way as the banana bag, could argue the straps are more secure -

- honestly, the banana bag looks more versatile.  .  

Even this little bag is holding a tool roll with a long list of required tools, two boxed tubes, cafe lock, working rags, saddle cover, and plenty of room for sunglasses, weather shell, and even peeling a long-sleeve base layer.  Opting out on the fabric extras, could probably fold a Barlow EL in here, as well.  

But for wallet, keys, and cellphone - RandiJo bartender, which also doubles for an extra water bottle holder.  

    

Like my Gino/Cygo mount on the fork lamp boss?  

[Patrick Moore]

The Pika is a pretty good design. No sway; rolls up compactly when carrying little, but expands amazingly when completely filled; I've carried surprisingly large grocery loads in mine. I did sell it because I found other bags better for my use, but for minimalist, non-supported, and non-sway saddle-attached carriage, that and the Viscacha are wonderful. The downside is that, when you fill it up completely, you have all your load stuffed into a long, narrow tunnel, so this isn't the best bag for frequent and rapid access to contents.

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[Shoji Takahashi]

Lum Gim Fong,

Staying in the Riv family, if the banana sax is not quite large enough, I'd recommend the Saddlesack Small.

Shoji

Arlington MA

On Monday, May 21, 2018 at 10:01:12 AM UTC-4, Patrick Moore wrote:

The Pika is a pretty good design. No sway; rolls up compactly when carrying little, but expands amazingly when completely filled; I've carried surprisingly large grocery loads in mine. I did sell it because I found other bags better for my use, but for minimalist, non-supported, and non-sway saddle-attached carriage, that and the Viscacha are wonderful. The downside is that, when you fill it up completely, you have all your load stuffed into a long, narrow tunnel, so this isn't the best bag for frequent and rapid access to contents.

On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 3:20 AM, Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:

  FWIW, This prolly doesn't fit the "look" you seem to prefer, but for a rock solid no-sway saddle bag the Revelate Pika to work very well. This is Revelate's "small" version, the Viscacha is even larger capacity.  I had the original Banana bag years ago and ended up selling it because of the sway and I prefer no thigh contact with bags at all. I tried various ways to minimize the sway and rub but it was a venture in futility. Sure, it "looked" great, but frankly... so what, and to whom  ? The Pika also engulfs a Banana bag capacity holding 6-12 liters. It ranges in size by rolling up the open end as you need it. It has perfectly placed adjustable/locking straps to eliminate any movement or excess. The fabric is waterproof, but it's not a "dry bag" in that the seams are not factory sealed. For practical purposes your stuff is not going to get wet. 

 I carry a small roll of tools, 2 40mm tubes, another small bag with cell phone, wallet, neck buff, etc., a featherweight vest and water resistant jacket that packs into your fist. I don't even "try" to pack it in there tightly, and I still have another half a bag left . The bag rolled up to it's smallest size it looks like a You could fit a 12" mini pump in there, prolly longer as I have never used the bag @ full length.  At it's smallest rolled up size, it looks like an average seat bag. As you expand/unroll it as needed it grows kinda like Pinocchio's nose !  

If you are curious, do an image search for " Revelate Pika " and you can see how it changes shapes as needed. 

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[phil k]

Lum,

It depends on how big your multi-tool, rain jacket and lunch are. I just did a test run, and I can pack my spurcyle multitool, park patchkit, schwable SV14 tube, rolled up brake cable, & phone with plenty of space left. I think if I got a packable rain jacket and if my lunch was a modest PB&J, with a bag of almond nuts or beef jerky it would fit. I don't have a mini pump to test it. My pump is on my frame. I prefer my food in a front bag anyways.

[phil k]

I'll take pics when I get home.

[Rod Holland]

Partially off-topic: does the Banana Sax require saddlebag loops, or will it mount on garden-variety saddle rails? I've stared at the pictures, but am unsure of what I'm seeing.

rod

[Justin, Oakland]

Get a Stem bag (Randi Jo, Donut Sack, etc) and put your phone and sunglasses in it for better access then it should all fit.

-J

[phil k]

Its for saddle loops.

[Grant Petersen]

 About the Banana Sack, just an opinion :

1. Sway is often an unnecessary concern. There is a difference between an "on the bike" problem and an "in the head theoretical" one.

2. Security is good. The least secure mount, ironically, is the original intended mount, on the saddle loops. Then the Bsack's at its most horizontal. Even then, it's 100 percent secure when closed, and probably 95 percent secure when you shamefull fail to close it right, when the flap's just flapping free. You can make it 99.googolplex secure with a free-flapping flap if you push a bandana down on top of your BananaLoad and use the elastic stuff under the flap (to hold the banandana in place). Then only neutrinos can escape its clenched maw.

The original bag of this type, made in France by Gilles Berthoud, was made as a saddle bag. Gilles is a master bag designer, a bicycle rider, and the design was little-to-notatall changed from its first public use. We copied that with our first version (which we called the Banana Bag) in the early 2000s, and no problems there, either.

3. The BananaSack, tho, mounts equally well or maybe 2 percent even better to the handlebar. That's thanks to Roman, I think, who suggested the new and embarrassingly obvious solution of two separate straps, like saddlebags have. Mounted on the front, the Bsack is nearly vertical. I can access everything in it while riding, and on a road (not a trail) it's not even necessary to close it with the miraculous toggle.

3. It mounts wonderfully on the sides of baskets.

4. The elastic thing makes it easy to overfill.

5. The fore-and-aft slots (one has a stiffener) are good for phones, tire levers, flat stuff.

Bags should be easy to use on and off the bike. The mouth of the BananaSack is like the mouth of a largemouth bass, ready to engulf anything that comes its way, with no buckles or zippers or roll-top weatherproofing to mess with. It's not waterproof when submerged (like the bass it mimics!), but it'll handle an apocalyptic rain, and if you doubt that, you can stuff your stuff in a Target bag before putting it in.

It's not the bag for everybody and every use, but as handy day-bags go, it's where we want it to be. There are lots of nice bags of about the same size out there. It's hard to go wrong these days. Yay!

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[Joe Bernard]

Ok let's take a look. My "lunch bag" is a lunch bar and the jacket is Ibex Breakaway, which would be thicker than a summer shell. So thin the jacket and make the lunch bigger..I think you have the same volume. I was wrong, it all fits!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kGalusW6AgJiqZem2

Joe Bernard
Novato CA.

[Joe Bernard]

Check out the latest Blug for a video of what fills a Ban(d)ana Sack.

[Tim]

I wonder how I’d like it on Bullmoose bars? I really want a front bag on the Hunqa.

[sameness]

Bonus sneak peek footage of the MIT AHH ("M-O-U-S-E...") at 0:59.

Jeff Hagedorn
Los Angeles, CA USA

[Joe Bernard]

It should fit great. The rear (now front) loops will fit just inside of the V, then wrap the other strap around the quill. Easy peasy!

[Howard Hatten]

Good eye Jeff

Howard
Livonia Mi

[Bob Lovejoy]

Indeed!  And not to detour the thread, but the sizing/geometry page has been somewhat updated.  The new AHH and Atlantis(MIT) sizes are included...

https://www.rivbike.com/pages/geometry

Bob

Galesburg, IL

[Lum Gim Fong]

Got the grey grid!
Thanks for the info.
I think it will hold everything I need for spring/summer.
For fall/winter when I need to carry extra tights/wool shirt/jacket, I can use my grey grid bar bag to match.