Almsthre Signature Saddle Bag XL

A liter of capacity doesn't sound like much until you start filling it. Almsthre's Signature XL Saddle Bag measures 6.5" long by 3" wide by 3" tall, and the XL in the name is literal — this is the bag for riders who have stopped editing what goes under the saddle. Two tubes, a multi-tool, CO2 cartridges, tire levers and a credit card all fit, with a dedicated sleeve left over for a phone. If you ride long enough that a mid-ride flat is a statistical certainty rather than a hypothetical, the extra room earns its keep.

Construction is ripstop fabric with a water-resistant finish, which handles road spray and a surprise shower without soaking through to your spares. The zipper is waterproof, sealing the one seam that usually lets water into a seat pack. High-wear spots — corners, the strap anchor, anywhere the bag contacts saddle rails — get Ride Armor reinforcement, which is what keeps a bag this size from wearing through at the contact points after a season of daily use.

Inside, the liner is high-visibility, so a black tire lever or a CO2 cartridge actually shows up against the fabric instead of disappearing into a dark corner. That matters more than it sounds when you're sorting through a bag at dusk with cold hands. Dedicated loops hold CO2 cartridges and tools where you put them rather than letting everything shuffle into a pile at the bottom, and the phone sleeve keeps a screen separated from the sharp edges of a multi-tool.... Read More