Randi Jo Hip Pack

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Hi Friends,

I will preface: I LOVE Randi Jo Fabrications. Every Peterson Rivendell has one. We live for the Bartender Plus bags. I adore her saddle covers. I have a hat with wool flap to keep my ears warm - best idea ever. If you don’t know about them, go check them out.

That said, there is a Portage Hip Pack on the website and that Mixed Berry bag is calling my name. https://randijofab.com/collections/bags/products/portage-hip-bag

There is just something about it. Waxed cotton, swoon. The happy berry colors, get the smelling salts. Beautiful handiwork. All the details have been considered.

But I would want to use it as a summer handbag for my regular stuff, not exclusively a bike bag/hiking bag. Wondering if anyone else on here has one and uses it as a multipurpose satchel. If it can make a convincing everyday bag, I’m out of excuses not to order one…

Leah

[Kim H.]

@Leah,

Upon reading your appreciation and love for a Randi Jo Hip Pack, I became inspired to share my experience with a different purchase of a WPB Nylon saddle cover other than a bag from her.

I bought a Randi Jo Fabrications WPB Nylon saddle cover in the color navy for my Brooks B67S saddle one and half years ago.

I really love it. I was surprised to find that there was:

"The Cordura under-flap is attached to the main cover at the rear and weaves its way between the underside of your saddle and over the top of your seatpost, where it meets the main cover again under the nose. This helps to protect the underside of your saddle! Three attachment points fully secure the cover; a hook and loop attachment at the nose and two industrial strength Poly. snaps on each side of the saddle cover which help keep the cover in place while riding. The fit is completed with an elastic binding that edges the entire outer cover and snugs up underneath the saddle sides. This all keeps the cover securely fit to your saddle"

Even though I do have full-time fenders and do not use the under-flap, I absolutely appreciate Randi Jo's talent of her sewing abilities.

https://randijofab.com/collections/saddle-covers/products/waterproof-taffeta-saddle-cover

Kim Hetzel.

[Kim N]

I cannot recommend this bag enough! The quality is super high — just like everything that RJF makes. I went with the mixed berry color option and recently got back from a trip where I used it as my everyday carry bag. I encountered snow and rain for an hour or so at a time and the waxed canvas kept everything inside dry. Inside I could store my camera, an extra layer, snacks, and squeeze in a water bottle to really test out the fully expanded capacity. I had a 1L Nalgene and it does fit, but barely. I'll probably want to swap that out with either a flexible water bottle or a smaller one in the future. This bag is really well made, and I think it'll last for a very long time.

--kim

[Leah Peterson]

Wow, Kim, thanks! What kind of trip was it? Were you using it like a handbag? That’s kind of what I’m wondering. It is obv a great bike bag but can it work as a summer everyday bag for an outdoorsy woman?

Thanks!

Leah

On Mar 26, 2025, at 7:03 PM, Kim N <k.nied...@gmail.com> wrote:

I cannot recommend this bag enough! The quality is super high — just like everything that RJF makes. I went with the mixed berry color option and recently got back from a trip where I used it as my everyday carry bag. I encountered snow and rain for an hour or so at a time and the waxed canvas kept everything inside dry. Inside I could store my camera, an extra layer, snacks, and squeeze in a water bottle to really test out the fully expanded capacity. I had a 1L Nalgene and it does fit, but barely. I'll probably want to swap that out with either a flexible water bottle or a smaller one in the future. This bag is really well made, and I think it'll last for a very long time.

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[Kim Niedermaier]

My trip had a mix of city trekking and day hikes. I wore the bag cross-body style (like in this product photo). YMMV depending on how you want the straps to work. It might be possible to tuck in the waist straps and then use a shoulder strap (example here) and attach that to the molle webbing for a more classic handbag look-and-feel. Haven't tried that myself!

--kim

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[Paul S]

Hi Leah,

I've had one for a couple of years and really like it!  In addition to the pretty colors (mine is blue), I chose this hip pack over the many other similar bags on the market because it's one of the only large-ish bags that does not have mesh facing the body.  I've found this mesh can shred nice wool clothing over time, so finding a mesh-free bag was big for me. 

The size is really nice, it can fit my mirrorless camera plus a few other odds and ends, even a reasonably packable jacket if you leave it partially unrolled.  I often use it around town as a cross body bag, rather than hip pack.  The one design features I'm not in love with is the placement of the bottom attachment of the front strap, which needs to be lifted up every time you want to fully zip/unzip the front pocket.  Not the end of the world, but kind of annoying since that pocket is where I keep all of my "easy access" items.

Paul

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Paul! Where are the pics!!! 😬

[dane...@gmail.com]

I've had mine for a while.  Works great. Mostly use it as a fanny pack but yeah fits on the handlebars too.

-Dan