Probably is an understatement.
Have convinced the GF to ride a transalp this year, and hopefully a few smaller trips here and there.
Want saddle bag and bar bags.
I already have a 11l ortlieb saddle bag. It does its thing well enough, but it's a pain loading it. Leave it on the bike and try and balance the bike whilst packing it or take it off, which makes packing it much easier, but it's a pain attaching it back in the bike.
I really like the fact it's waterproof and cannot see the point of bags that are not.
I want another saddle bag. The requirement being that it's waterproof and is easy to pack. I'm guessing a detachable dry bag is the best option.
Another option was a Tubus rack and a Decathlon dry bag strapped to it.
On top of that I want a bar bag. Again, waterproof and easy to load. Something like the Topeak Frontloader?
Both bikes are drop bar, so space between the levers is limited.
I'm guessing a frame bag, too, but things like tent pole can be strapped to the frame. Problem here is we are both short arses so ride small frames.
Will use a tent (MSR Hubba Hubba) as it doesn't weigh much more than bivvy and tarp or hammock and tarp.
Many fanks!
I prefer harness and removable dry bag for both front and rear. I just happen to use Wildcat kit. This is their handlebar harness - https://wildcat.cc/collections/handlebar-solutions/products/lion-handlebar-harness it will take dry bags from 5L up to 20L. I've also stuck half a Big Agnes tent (their version of the MSR) in the back of the dry bag so no issues with the poles but with drop bars you might have a problem, you'd have to check.
Similarly for the back, I use Wildcat Tiger https://wildcat.cc/collections/seatpost-solutions/products/tiger-drover-saddle-harness , again with a removable dry bag.
I think rack and dry bag works pretty well, less faffy and probably more stable. However, if you do go down that route get a really burly bag and don't put anything hard on the bottom of the bag as the rack will wear a hole through in no time.
Dry bag on rack also gives more capacity than most saddle bags if that's an issue for longer trips.
My current set up is topeak frontloader, alpkit custom frame bag and the ortlieb 11l saddle bag.
My new set up is ditching the ortlieb and using the toppeak 29er disc rack and dry bags.
Like you said, the ortlieb is good but its a faff. At least with the rack I can use double ended dry bag for easy access to kit and also strap odds and sods on when required.
The top peak frontloader is pretty much faultless and the aplkit frame bag as cavernous.
I use a harness/drybag system for seat and bars. You've identified the main issues with the all-in-one approach. I use Revelate bags. There is a new Revelate Q/R seatpack that looks very nifty. Might be worth investigating.
If you're made of money ( 🙂 ) the tailfin stuff works well
https://www.tailfin.cc/product/rack-and-bag-sets/s-series-rack-bag-sets/
I got fed up with the faff involved in packing an Alpkit Koala, and persuading it to stay stable. Replaced it with a Restrap holster setup, which has worked really well. As a bonus, the system can be expanded by stuffing items between the holster and dry bag. I do also have an Alpkit Big Papa, which works much better than the Koala - but is quite large.
If you want to go for Wildcat bags enter code stw21 at the checkout and get 20% off. Runs until the end of this month.
If you want to go for Wildcat bags enter code stw21 at the checkout and get 20% off. Runs until the end of this month.
Thank you kindly. I bought a wildcat seatpost bag a few years ago and now I have got a handlebar one to match. Great quality kit.