Environment Transportation The 8 Best Bike Saddle Bags of 2023 Our top pick is Green Guru Hauler Bike Packing Bag. By Steph Dyson Steph Dyson Steph Dyson is a bilingual freelance travel writer, guidebook author, and blogger originally from the UK. She covers sustainability and adventure travel for Treehugger. Learn about our editorial process Updated January 11, 2023 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Environment Active Automotive Aviation Public Transportation We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Treehugger / Chloe Jeong Whether your dream is lightweight bikepacking cross-country with nothing but you and the open road, or you’re after a low-carbon way of traveling to and from the office each day, a bike saddle bag is a superb accessory to adding to your cycle. Because they attach directly to the bike, rather than using rack mounts like a standard pannier setup, they’re more likely to fit your bike and provide a streamlined approach to storage for on the road or mountain. Easily strapped to the back of the seat above the wheel, saddle bags should fit every type of bicycle, whether you’re riding a road bike, mountain bike, or even a gravel bike. While they’re certainly not as large as rack bags, most are big enough to pack essentials, whether that’s a puncture kit and a water bottle, or a full sleeping bag and duvet jacket for an overnight adventure. Here are the best bike saddle bags for a range of cycling uses. The Rundown Best Overall: Green Guru Hauler Bike Packing Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: REI Co-op Junction Seat Bag at REI Jump to Review Best Splurge: Rockgeist Mr. Fusion Seat Pack at Rockgeist.com Jump to Review Best for Road Bikes: Ortlieb Seat-Pack Saddle Bag at REI Jump to Review Best for Mountain Bikes: Topeak SideKick Wedge Bike Seat Pack at Amazon Jump to Review Best with Water Bottle Holder: Axiom Cycling Gear Seymour Oceanweave Wedge 1.3 H2O Seat Bag at REI Jump to Review Best Small Bag: Paguro Upcycle Kenny Eco Bike Saddle Bag at Paguroupcycle.com Jump to Review Most Chic: Herbert and Winifred Leather Bike Saddle Bag at Etsy Jump to Review Best Overall Green Guru Hauler Bike Packing Bag 5 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Greengurugear.com If plenty of room is top of your must-have list when it comes to investing in a saddle bag for your next cycling adventure, look no further than this surprisingly substantial choice. Made in Colorado, this bag has a capacity of 16.2 liters, making it big enough to carry a warm jacket and even a lightweight sleeping bag. There’s no need to worry about your bedding getting wet during the day; the bag’s roll-top closure means you just fold and clip it closed, keeping it fully waterproof and with the bonus that you’re avoiding zippers that could break if the bag is overstuffed. There’s also a small, easily-accessible pocket right at the top for items you might need during the day, making this convenient for any cycling trip. Added sustainability points come from the fact that the company uses donated and defective outdoor gear to be upcycled into its products. Everything from used bike inner tubes, wetsuits, and climbing ropes finding a new lease of life in these bags. Price at time of publish: $88 Best Budget REI Co-op Junction Seat Bag 5 Courtesy of REI View On REI Roomy enough to fit essential items such as your wallet, smartphone, D-lock, and water bottle, but still small enough to go snugly under the seat, this saddle bag ticks a lot of boxes—including being affordable without compromising on space. Because of its smaller size, you can guarantee that your rear light is still visible and it has a reflective logo and loop for low light, making it a safe choice, too. The zipper entry is also a quicker and less fiddly choice when you’re battling cold or wet weather conditions. Manufactured from rugged, water-resistant nylon, this is a fantastic all-weather bag, made even more impressive by the fact that it uses Bluesign-certified materials. This means that the manufacturing process is free of chemicals that are hazardous to human health, ensuring that water and air pollution faces strict controls, workers are protected and you, as the consumer, are never put in contact with anything damaging. Price at time of publish: $40 Best Splurge Rockgeist Mr. Fusion Seat Pack 5 Courtesy of Rockgeist View On Rockgeist.com If you’re worried about your saddle bag—and you—wobbling when you’re on more intense rides, this pack is just the ticket: it has an integrated, mini-rack that attaches beneath the seat and keeps everything securely in place. At 12 or 15 liters in size, the dry bag that makes up this saddle pack fits a substantial amount of gear and can be removed and packed independently while the rack holster remains in place, making it less cumbersome than many other competing designs. Fully waterproof and made from heavy-duty nylon to protect it from damage, it’s a sturdy choice. The rack is available in three different sizes, to accommodate different seat post diameters. Weighing in at 19.8 ounces, it’s reasonably light for the space it offers, ensuring that your bike remains as lightweight and streamlined as possible, to help you avoid any swaying or other instability on the ride. Price at time of publish: $230 for large The 7 Best Bike Cargo Trailers of 2023 Best for Road Bikes Ortlieb Seat-Pack Saddle Bag 4.8 Courtesy of REI View On REI Whether you’re bikepacking, touring, or just commuting, this streamlined 16.5-liter saddle bag from Ortlieb is an excellent choice for your road bike. You can adjust the size of the pack by using the roll closures to either slim it down to eight liters or take it up to a full 16.5 liters, with an air release valve allowing you to compress it even tighter, helping to reduce drag when you cycle. This bag is pretty much everything you’ll need: Big enough to store a sleeping bag and even a lightweight tent, but light enough (the bag is only 16.1 ounces) to not weigh you down. It’s also waterproof (but PVC-free) and easy to secure to your seat post. It’ll be as at home out in the countryside as on the roads to work. Thanks to its narrow design, it should fit most bikes as it requires less tire clearance than other models. Price at time of publish: $185 Best for Mountain Bikes Topeak SideKick Wedge Bike Seat Pack Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon When you want a bit of protection for your valuables, this semirigid, weather-resistant saddle bag will keep everything safe and in one piece, even when you’re throwing the bike around uneven terrain. One of the reasons this bag is so good is its clip mounting system. This fits onto the base of the saddle and dispenses with flimsy tear tape and straps, making it quick and easy to secure the bag to the bike. Big enough to fit keys, food, your phone, and other essentials, but not too big that it’ll slow you down, this bag will be your ideal partner for your next mountain bike adventure. Price at time of publish: $47 Best with Water Bottle Holder Axiom Cycling Gear Seymour Oceanweave Wedge 1.3 H2O Seat Bag Courtesy of Amazon View On REI View On Amazon You can avoid buying single use water bottles and keep yourself hydrated on a ride with this pack made from recycled fishing net polyester with a waterproof coating to keep everything dry. Because abandoned fishing gear makes up 10% of all plastic ocean pollution, this bag is good for reducing plastic waste not only because it's made with recycled material but can help you stash your reusable water bottle. A gear capacity of 1.3 liters might not sound like a lot, but this bag is surprisingly roomy inside. Fit essential items such as your credit card in the interior pocket and others such as a jacket and food in the main compartment. The water bottle's location at the back of the bag offers easy access while riding, too. It’s also very lightweight, coming in at only 4.48 ounces. Price at time of publish: $72 The 7 Best Reusable Water Bottles, According to Our Tests Best Small Bag Paguro Upcycle Kenny Eco Bike Saddle Bag Courtesy of Paguro View On Paguroupcycle.com View On Projectcece.com Made using recycled bike tires, bike inner tubes, and sturdy military canvas, this high-quality saddle bag is a great option when it comes to eco-friendly but still functional cycling accessories. This UK-based brand only sells products made from upcycled materials that would otherwise find their way into landfill, giving them a second lease of life and helping you reduce your environmental impact. Attached by an adjustable long clip strap to the base of the saddle, it’s roomy enough for storing bike tools and other essentials such as a phone or wallet, and will keep them dry and protected from the elements. Price at time of publish: $62 Most Chic Herbert and Winifred Leather Bike Saddle Bag Courtesy of Etsy View On Etsy Looking smart as you cycle up to the office is a breeze with this handmade leather saddle bag that fits snugly behind the seat. Available in tan or black, it’s a truly stylish alternative to a more sporty pack, but still has enough space to fit a puncture repair kit, as well as your phone, wallet, and keys. Made from hard-wearing buffalo leather that can also be personalized with up to 10 letters for an added touch of personality. This bag is guaranteed to catch people’s attention as you head off to your job and should work just as well with an electric bike as with a conventional one. Price at time of publish: $57 Final Verdict For ample space for bike touring or even just your daily commute, opt for the Green Guru Hauler Seat Bag Bike Pack, which will fit practically everything you need for a day or even more out on the roads. If more secure and stable protection for electronics is more what you’re after, the Topeak SideKick Wedge Bike Seat Pack is rigid enough to stay in one piece. What to Consider When Shopping for Bike Saddle Bags Tire Clearance One of the major barriers against a saddle bag fitting your bike correctly is the tire clearance. This is the distance from your saddle to the rear tire and affects how the pack fits, so it’s essential to measure this on your bike before buying. Size Saddle bags come in various sizes. Small bags are generally enough for just fitting in essential tools in case of puncture, while larger packs are the choice for bikepacking or other more long-distance activities. If you want something that works for both, a seat pack that has variable capacity—such as a roll closure to adjust how much space you have—can offer the best of both worlds. Thigh Chafing Given the saddle bag fits just below the saddle, there’s always the chance that it may touch your thighs when you pedal—a potentially sore and entirely unavoidable occurrence. To prevent this from happening, we recommend buying a bag that’s narrower at the seatpost so that it tapers to wider further back from you and your legs. It should keep you away from the fabric and any chance of chafing or other unpleasant rubbing. Frequently Asked Questions How do you attach a saddle bag to a bike? All saddle bags attach to a bike differently, so it depends on the type of strapping.Many come with a combination tear tape and strap setup, where the strap wraps around the D ring at the base of the saddle before tying into place, and the bag is then held securely using the tear tape at the seat post. For a more secure attachment, consider a rack, which fits around the seat post and gives the saddle bag a metal rack onto which it rests. This stops it from moving when you cycle and makes putting the saddle bag on and taking it off really easy, as you don’t have to remove the rack each time you want to access the bag. What is the best way to clean a saddle bag? The best way of cleaning your saddle bag depends upon the type of material it’s made from. It's always a good idea to check if the manufacturer provides any recommendations or instructions. For a nylon or other plastic-coated bag, use a nylon-bristled brush or cloth and mild detergent, water, and elbow grease—stains should come straight off in the process. If it’s a leather saddle bag, we recommend purchasing leather cleaner, which can be applied using a soft cloth to the surface of the bag to wipe away dirt and grime. How should I pack my saddle bag? Depending on the size of your pack, a saddle bag is the ideal place to keep essential items for your journey. For a small saddle bag, you’ll want to include kits mending your bike, including new inner tubes, a tire lever for removing your inner tubes, a mini pump, a multi tool (including a chain tool), as well as a pair of gloves for keeping your hands clean when doing any fixes. If you’ve got a larger bag, snacks, a jacket, and water are also riding essentials. Why Trust Treehugger? We researched the market to find the best bike saddle bags, and prioritized options made with eco-friendly materials like recycled fabric. The author, Steph Dyson, is committed to helping consumers make more environmentally-friendly choices when it comes to outdoors equipment and enjoys spending her free time out on the bike and in the mountains testing out sustainable clothing and accessories. The 8 Best E-Bikes of 2023 View Article Sources "Ghost fishing gear." World Wildlife Fund.