Sackville Bar Sack review needed please.

[lungimsam]

Considering this clamp on handlebar bag. But was wondering:

1. Does the NITTO bag holder hold tight, or rotate down under the weight of the bag and its contents? What about on bumpy terrain?

2. Does the bag sag, since there is no rack under it?

3. Is it as waterproof as a Carradice Pendle/Barley/Nelson, etc. traditional saddle bag?

4. Does the lid open away from the rider, so you can access while riding?

5. I do commuting and recreational road rides up to centuries, maybe try for a 200k sometime. Any reason why I should bypass a setup like this and go whole hog and get a way expensive decaler/rack/Berthoud-ish set up instead? Or will this be great for my needs?

[RJM]

I had one of these set ups on my Sam Hillborne for two years but sold it. I shouldn't have sold it...stupid, stupid, stupid. I've often thought of buying a new one but I am now using Sackville panniers in rear with a small trunk sack up front.

1. No, it is solid. I never had a problem with it moving under any condition.

2. The bad does not noticeably sag. I guess if you put a few medium size rocks you would see the fabric sag, but under normal loads it doesn't appear to sag. It isn't box-like sturdy though as it does hang from the nitto rack. Sits squarish with what I consider normal loads.

3. I don't know about those other brands but it isn't waterproof. The top lays down and you can see that water could enter through the sides if you get into a downpour.

4. Lid opens away from the rider...if I remember. Quite handy to take things out of it while riding.

5. I think the set up works awesome and would work quite well for those kinds of riding. It also looks really cool. If you go the decaler/rack setup, it will probably be more stable as that setup is held by two points instead of just the top; but, honestly, I never felt any issues with bag sway or anything. I will say I always put heavy tools and tubes ect. in a tool wrap under the seat, so that heavy stuff was never in the handlebar bag. I tended to keep jackets and food in the barsack, and for that it worked wonders.

[Andrew Marchant-Shapiro]

I have no experience of the particular bag, but I think I can answer this question!

It depends.  My riding has been for the most part similar to yours.  Commutes ranging from 3-9 miles each way, relaxed group rides, event centuries.  Every few years I do a week-long (or so) supported tour.

In all that riding, I have used handlebar bags on and off, generally smaller than this one, on some rides, but not all.  They've generally been smaller than this, and have done a fine job.  My  main reasons for liking handlebar bags are (1) food and (2) map cases.  I've discovered another reason recently, described below.

I didn't start using a large handlebar bag (comparable to the bar sack) until I acquired a bike that was made to handle a front rack--a Velo Orange Rando.  I put a Ostrich F516 on there (see photo).  It's also designed for a Nitto-type support, and has a stiffener in the bottom so it doesn't sag, but I modified it to go on the rack and use a decaleur.

With the rack-mounted version, I decided that I had enough space to carry a solid lock setup (an Abus mini-U and a heavy cable), a good thing since I'm teaching at a college in New Haven and when there have to lock up outside.  And the bag is big enough for that lock setup, some food, a Kindle, a jacket, and some other stuff and still have a map case!

So the real question is not whether you should go whole hog or not, but what you want to carry in the Bar Sack.  If, like me, you need to lock up outside, and for longer rides use a map and/or cue sheet, I think a bag of that size is hard to beat.  And while the Berthoud bags are the ne plus ultra, there are lots of bags (including the Bar Sack) that will only cost you part of an arm and a leg.  My Ostrich, purchased from Japan, cost less than $70 shipping included.  But of course, it's nylon, not the highest-quality organic cotton canvas, etc.

[lungimsam]

Update about Sackville bar sack:

I ordered the bag and the NITTO F-15 rack.

Thanks for the info everyone. Between your comments and the rivsite reviews on the bag page, it sounds like a good bag setup.

Noone said it drooped under weight. Everyone seems happy with their set up. RJM had a long term review above, and he still loved it. Keeps out the wet enough apparently, and I have one of those map covers to lash to it during events. That will be much better than strapping a cue sheet to the shifter cables, which is what I do now. Just wish RBW would have made the bag with a cue sheet plastic on the bag lid. That looks like the only feature it lacks. Wonder why they didn't. They thought of everything else. Glad it has side pockets! Looking forward to ease of opening and closing with the magnet closure. Sounds good.

I also checked into:

Berthoud setups (I researched different online retailers):

1. Berthoud also has a bar bag that doesn't need a rack, like the bar sack. Uses the NITTO F-15 or their black plastic QR clamper thing. No side pockets, but has cover plastic for cue sheet. Has elastic cords, not magnet.

2. Berthoud, whole hog, bag/front rack/decaleur setup:

Applause goes to the Compass Cycles for being the only site I saw that informs you that there are straps on their Berthoud bags that can be used for attaching bag to bars instead of needing to buy a decaleur. That  would save me 80-160 bucks or so right there to not get a decaleur at first and see if the straps would be enough if I ever want to go the rack/bag route. Could pony up for a decaleur later if I felt the straps weren't stable enough. Thanks Compass Cycles for that valuable and good-hearted piece of information.

For now, I will try the rackless bag setup and see how it goes. I hope it works out great. I have only a fistful of seatpost on both my bikes, and that makes for my Pendle saddle bag dragging on my back tire on one bike (53 Bleriot) and slumping over my rear fender on t'other (52 Sam). So a front bag sounds good to avoid that, plus I can access stuff on the go, and get my teardrop aeroshape going on my bikes. ha ha.

[Allingham II, Thomas J]

The Berthoud bags (there are two sizes) that don’t need a decaleur (uses the Klik-Fix bracket) are wonderful bags.  I use both on my Atlantis (depending on how big my load is; they can be exchanged in 5 seconds because of the Klik-Fix) and I love them.  Very solid, instantly removable, include a map case, lovely to look at, and  available in two sizes, one of which has side pockets.  What’s not to like?  Here’s a  pic of each size:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37542512@N04/11252425444/in/set-72157624427413755  (larger)

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37542512@N04/8243374585/in/set-72157624427413755  (smaller)

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[lungimsam]

Nice bags. The one I saw on the Boulder site doesn't have side pockets. It uses the Kick Flix. I hear you can also use the NITTO F-15 rack with them. 

[Aakash Desai]

I was interested in a handlebar bag/decaleur and front rack setup until I started looking into saddlebag options. Have you considered something like a Dill Pickle large saddlebag or the Riv Sackville saddlesacks? 

[MKahrl]

I've been using this set up for about two years. 

1. The rack does not droop if tightened properly. 

2. I carry a 4 pound SLR camera and the bag does not droop noticeably.

3. In downpours water leaks in from the left and right sides of the cover.  I carry a couple of shower caps in the side pocket and one of those solves the problem in about 4 seconds.

4. Not only does the top open away from the rider but the clasp is magnetic.  Very convenient.  Your handlebar mounted magnetic compass will be rendered useless.

5. Inside front pocket convenient for a cell phone where it's easier to hear and easier to answer than from your back jersey pocket.

5. I bought additional Nitto racks so I can use the one bag on other bikes.  But the rack is easy to move from bike to bike too.

6. It's easy to move the bag off and on the rack.  Mount the rack level with the ground and use the supplied bolts on the rack ends but not the washers.

Michael Kahrl

[lungimsam]

@Aakash:

I have been using the Carradice Pendle Saddlebag, but it is so big it drags on the rear wheels of my bikes unless I use a fender. Then it sits on the fender. I don't want to put racks on the bike.

The next bag size down by Carradice is the Zipped Roll. But I think I need something a little bigger. I don't tour or anything, and a Pendle sized bag is enough for me.

So I thought I would try a front bag and see how I like it.

I think the only rack I would ever want to put on my bikes is a front rack, but only if I had to for larger bag reasons or to mount a dynamo powered light.

@ MKahri: Thanks for the info and tips # 3 and 6. Very clever!