Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Straight Cut Design Dropper Seatpost Saddlebag Review
The Scotland-made Straight Cut Design Dropper Seatpost Saddlebag works alongside the Wolf Tooth Valais dropper clamp, dishes up 4.5L of storage, and is perfect for fast and light trips on technical terrain. Miles has been busy testing one for the last few months. Find his review here…
We’re living in the golden age of bikepacking bags and gear-hauling options. There are so many options these days, from the latest lightweight racks compatible with full-suspension mountain bikes to high-capacity roll-top bags styled after more traditional saddle bags. We also can’t forget about the popular dropper-compatible seat bag, which was and in some cases still is the best option for bikepacking trips or events where fast and tight is the answer. In reality, modern dropper post seat bags are just larger, more sophisticated versions of the tiny under-saddle bags that have been around for ages. However, unlike those little bags, some modern options can hold upward of 10 liters and are designed specifically for dropper posts.
While there are a few unique takes on the dropper post seat bag, most attach to the dropper’s stanchion and loop up under the saddle rails, cinching up under the saddle. Brands including Bedrock Bags, Ortlieb, and Blackburn stabilize their bags with stiff “mini wings” that attach directly to the saddle rails, and the majority of the bags rely on Wolf Tooth’s Valais dropper stanchion clamp to provide a lower attachment point while also protecting your dropper post.
The Straight Cut Design Dropper Seatpost Saddlebag uses a more traditional design, using simple webbing straps under the saddle rails and a large velcro strap that secures around a Valais clamp, not too dissimilar from the JPaks DropperPak I reviewed here. One thing that’s slightly different is the position of the lower strap, which allows the Wolf Tooth Valais to sit right up at the top of the stanchion, therefore only reducing your dropper post’s travel by about 25mm, assuming the bag clears the tire.
The Straight Cut Design Dropper Saddlebag is made from your choice of X-Pac or Liteskin fabric and an inner fabric in a variety of color options. The panel facing the saddle is made from a durable and water-resistant 1000d Cordura, and there are internal HDPE shims that wrap around the base to the top and side panels to provide structure and rigidity. While the fabrics used are either waterproof or water-resistant, the bag does not have sealed seams, so it is not 100% waterproof. Straight Cut says the bag was designed intentionally to limit the number of seams and possible ingress spots, though. Otherwise, the bag is fairly standard with locking side compression straps, a roll-top closure with a secure cam buckle compression strap, and a simple velcro strap that loops around the Valais.
As far as compatibly goes, Straight Cut recommends at least 150mm (6″) between the center-top of the seatpost and the closest edge of the tire. On hardtail or fully rigid bikes, this is pretty easy to measure, but on full-suspension bikes, you’ll need to account for rear shock movement. For comparison’s sake, most dropper post bags requires around 5-6″ of tire clearance. The Rogue Panda Ripsey is an outlier and requires just 3″ of clearance with the included bag at half capacity. This measurement is important for shorter riders and smaller bikes, where the clearance between the rear tire and saddle is minimal. This can get even trickier for folks running long-travel dropper posts, which is great for riding but reduces tire clearance with the saddle dropped right down.
When packed tight and cinched up tightly, the saddle bag only has a slightly wobble/bounce to it while riding really rough terrain. Due to its smaller size, this was hardly noticeable while on the bike. The HDPE inserts do a good job at keeping the bag’s shape and ultimately help it feel solid while riding. The main insert runs from the upper saddle rail straps along the spine of the bag to where the Valais strap is and continues along the base of the bag where the main roll-top closure strap is secured. With all straps secured to HDPE inserts, tension is consistent throughout. Plus, the added benefit of locking buckles means it doesn’t loosen up after a few hours of riding, which is far too common for basic non-locking buckles.
It’s these nice little details that make Straight Cut’s take on a dropper post saddle bag surprisingly functional despite its somewhat standard look. It’s also great to see the Valais strap so close to the saddle rail straps, which allows the saddle clamp to sit right up against the top of the dropper’s stanchion without limiting the bag’s capacity or rubbing awkwardly. There are even some small repurposed road tubes attached onto every strap to help hold excess webbing and a small plastic tab on the roll-top closure to help create a clean roll.
Being very picky, the only real drawbacks I can see are the bag’s smaller size, its position on certain saddles, and the price. At 4.5L, it’s not huge and would be reserved for lightweight summer trips here in British Columbia. While this isn’t exclusive to this bag, it’s also worth noting that on certain saddles, the bag can extend up above the back of the saddle, which can touch your bum when you’re shredding hard. Lastly, it’s not a cheap bag at £170 (~$290 USD), but you’re getting a thoughtfully designed dropper post seat bag that’s handmade by a one-person operation, so I think it can be justified for some folks—especially those living in Scotland.
Pros
- Handmade in Scotland using high-quality materials.
- Many small details add up to a functional and useful bag.
- Wolf Tooth Valais sits high on the dropper’s stanchion.
- Your choice of fabric color.
Cons
- Not waterproof.
- Fairly small bag. Likely reserved for lightweight trips or warmer weather.
- Angles up above saddle on certain setups.
- Pricey.
- Capacity: 4.5L
- Material (as tested): White X-Pac, Cordura
- Weight: 265 grams (9.3oz) (without Wolf Tooth Valais)
- Place of Manufacture: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Price: £170 (~$290 USD)
- Manufacturer’s Details: StraightCutDesign.com
Wrap Up
I wasn’t initially expecting much from Straight Cut Design’s take on the modern dropper post saddle bag. In all honesty, I wasn’t even sure if I’d publish a dedicated review of it, but was happy to see it in person when I showed up with a custom frame bag Ross made for me. Don’t judge a book by its cover, or something along those lines. The Straight Cut Design Dropper Seatpost Saddlebag has some great features and a thoughtful design that is functional for almost anyone running a dropper post. Ross has done a good job at dialing in the shape and positioning of the straps to the point that it’s probably one of my favorite pint-sized dropper post bags yet. It gets a thumbs up from me.
Further Reading
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