RRP $179.99

No bikepacking setup would be complete without a Saddle Bag to match its frame bag, so CamelBak put their thinking caps on and dreamed up their mid-size, 9-litre saddle bag.

The Saddle Bag is sewn from the same main fabric as the Frame Pack, ECOPAK™ sailcloth. The lower end, which secures to the seatpost, features added material that enhances abrasion resistance in areas where the bag comes into contact with the bike frame or becomes coated with grime from the rear wheel. In the middle of the sandwich between the two fabrics, there is a layer of plastic that gives the lower end of the bag some rigidity. Internal seams are taped for water resistance to an IPX5 level, meaning the internals should be “protected from a low-pressure water stream from any angle.”

Across the the top of the bag, you’ll find a bungee criss-cross for stashing extra gear, there’s a nice twist on this one in that there’s a handy hook on the end of it to help ‘wrap’ gear or pass through an opening; handy to ensure my jandles didn’t drop off while riding the Pakahi track.

The rear edges of the bag have printed reflective strips, and there’s a rear light loop on the underside, ideal for foggy Waikato mornings.

The layout of securing straps is familiar: one pair passes over the saddle rails and clips around the body of the bag, while another pair secures the closed roll-top to the main body of the bag. Two small velcro straps across the front of the bag secure the whole load to the seat post; these are the only straps that have multiple mounting points, offering a small but necessary amount of customisation for how the bag mounts on different bikes.

So, how does the bag go in the real world? It does the job to a reasonable level but isn’t perfect.

Securing the bag to my bike was simple, mainly thanks to its simplicity and the limited options for where the straps could mount. Once secure and loaded, the straps can be cinched up and locked in place.

On the road, the load is stable and sway is minimal. Off-road, however, I found that I needed to tension the straps at regular intervals to keep it firmly in place. Eventually, the straps were so tight that I’d essentially squashed the bag’s contents, mainly clothes, so it wasn’t a big deal, but annoying nonetheless. Everything under the straps was secured in place, but when fully loaded, I found that the roll-top end, lacking supporting straps or rigidity on the underside, became floppy and bounced around a bit. While it didn’t detract from its use, it wasn’t an aesthetically pleasing or completely stable experience when off-road. The bag certainly performs best when it’s not completely filled, and the closer the ‘roll’ closure is to the structured front end of the bag, the better.

In my experience, the bag lived up to its IPX5 water resistance rating. After spending several hours on wet gravel and in heavy rain, the interior of the bag had a small amount of dampness where the rear wheel had sprayed up, but from the top side, the interior was dry. Like many saddle bags, packing gear into a dry bag before loading it would be recommended, particularly if it’s to be used over successive days, where the bag itself may not dry out.

Compared to similar bags, this one is on the lighter side, but I wonder if adding a little more weight in the form of more strap mounting points and a larger rigid section would be beneficial, offering a better overall experience without adding unnecessary weight.

Overall, I think the Saddle Bag does its job, but before purchasing, I’d recommend test-fitting it to the bike to ensure it fits comfortably in place. Although it’s technically a 9-litre capacity, I’d recommend loading it as if it only has 8 litres, keeping the load closer to the mounting points to help avoid sagging and excess sway when off-road. If I were using this bag solely on the road or smooth gravel, then I’d have no qualms in using it regularly.