Large SaddleSack Initial Impressions

[Deacon Patrick]

I just did my initial ride with the Large SaddleSack. Since I am very familiar with 15 months of using my small and xs SaddleSacks, as well as the TourSacks, I know and trust the heartiness and rain/snow proof (I can trust my stuff will stay dry without any added liners).

For me, the best gear becomes "invisible" when using it, so I only interact or notice it when I am putting stuff in or taking stuff out, and even then it should be simple and without hassle. That's certainly what my Hunqapiller does. My "only" issue with the small SaddleSack is it is simply too small for carrying a full day's worth of clothing and gear (shade tarp) for the range of weather the Colorado Rockies tosses my way (40˚F temp range, sun, rain, snow, hail, sleet are all possible in some combination, no matter what the forecast calls for).

Loading it is simple. Minimal thought and brain energy required. As others have commented, it's one big cavernous maw and you just fill it. Wonder where your stuff is? One place. That's big. Taking less? It does that well too. Taking more than goes inside? Irish straps and the d-rings on top take care of that. Lock, Irish straps and miscellaneous "always" carry items fit graciously in the side pockets. Maps in the removable pocket on top. 

I think I've found the one bag (along with the xs on the front) that will live on my Hunqapillar and look forward to getting it's loving abuse started.

Photos and additional comments here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/9018007912/in/photostream/

and here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/9016822459/in/photostream/

With abandon,

Patrick

www.MindYourHeadCoop.org

www.OurHolyConception.org

[PATRICK MOORE]

Will someone please post a photo of the gaping maw of the Large Saddlesack? I'm curious to see how cavernous it is.

Thanks.

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http://resumespecialties.com/index.html

patric...@resumespecialties.com

Albuquerque, NM

[Deacon Patrick]

Happy to once my brain recovers from my daughter suddenly dancing in front of me and I can walk again. Unless someone beats me too it.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Deacon Patrick]

Brain recovered enough for me to test a few things before a planned bikepacking trip with the family tomorrow. Here is a photo set that shows the maw, and attachment with the TourSacks via Irish straps.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/sets/72157634073536262/ 

With abandon,

Patrick

[Anne Paulson]

What you can't see well in Patrick's superb pictures is the inner
flap. The Large Saddlesack has the front to rear flap that buckles
down, nicely visible in the first two pictures. But it also has
another inner flap that goes from rear to front; it is opened and
hanging down in Patrick's first picture. When you overstuff the Large,
the front flap doesn't cover your entire load. But that's OK, because
the rear flap flaps forward and holds it all in. Maybe I'm not
explaining well, but that rear flap is genius; it wraps up your load
and keeps it all together.

-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

[PATRICK MOORE]

The Medium has this flap, too and I agree, it's a great design addition. I've overstuffed my Medium so that outer and inner flaps barely meet, but as long as you can get a strap to hold the outer flap in place over the inner one -- either the stock ones or a carry-along (I use an Irish) you can practically double the load of the M.

But the Medium (the largest I'd want for my purposes) is too small in the opening and too flat in height to be a true alternative to a good pannier. 

I will add though that in my considerable experience, the M is certainly the best no-rack saddlebag I've owned and, with careful packing (and that's the rub) can carry almost as much as a single Ortlieb Packer.

[Eric Platt]

So does the small, for that matter.  Swap between the small and medium on my Hillborne.  The small is nice for general riding, but it can start wobbling and making a tink, tink, tink sound when the buckle hits my rear rack.  The newer version won't do this as they've reversed the buckle/strap arrangement. 

Eric Platt

St. Paul, MN

[PATRICK MOORE]

That's impressive! But with my Banjo Bros market panniers *I* can carry that watermelon + a couple of six packs!

On Wed, Jun 12, 2013 at 10:10 AM, Christopher Chen <cc...@nougat.org> wrote:

Here's mine with a 16lb watermelon, with room to spare...

http://flickr.com/photos/99743766@N00/9022305528

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[Peter Morgano]

Market panniers dont have a top flap though, do they?

[PATRICK MOORE]

They are as in the photo. (The lid isn't waterproof by any means, but I don't generally ride to the grocery store in pouring rain.)

[Peter Morgano]

i see, I had them confused with the Minnehaha grocery pannier.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/bags-panniers/minnehaha-grocery-pannier.html

I dont like Panniers personally, riding between parked cars and traffic I dont want my bike to be any wider down there than it has to be. I am always aware of getting squished between the two, or else i would have gone for the wider bosco bars too.

[Christopher Chen]

Not sure, but if these dimensions are right:

13.5″ L x 8″ W x 15″ H

That watermelon was larger than that smallest dimension.

But Anne was right--with the top flap, I can carry a six pack on top of my camping load:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumachrome/8732869528/

...and look classy doing it.

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"I want the kind of six pack you can't drink." -- Micah

[PATRICK MOORE]

Oh don't worry, you can get a 16 lb watermelon in one of them, easily with room to spare. They have that ideal balance of stiffness to keep their shape and flexibility to accept oversize items.