Wizard Works Shazam! Saddle Bag Review

During our live What’s In Your Bag series on YouTube, we had a few questions regarding traditional saddle bags and basketpacking setups. Specifically, how they differ from a modern seat bag or handlebar roll. In my opinion, traditional saddle bags and basket bags focus less on saving weight and more on function and simplicity. Although UK-based Carradice was, and perhaps still is, the go-to manufacturer for burly saddlebags with impressive carrying capacity, there are other options popping up from manufacturers like Swift Industries, Bags by Bird, and Wizard Works that we’ve had great success with. I had Harry over at Wizard Works put together a Alakazam Basket Bag that I reviewed here, and at the same time he sent over this Shazam! Saddle Bag for me to check out.

• 
• 
• 

The Wizard Works Shazam! Saddle Bag is a somewhat traditional long flap saddle bag. As with all of Wizard Works’ products, it’s handmade in London, available in custom made-to-order colours only, and exists in one massive size. Similar to the Alakazam Basket Bag, the Shazam! uses a roll-top closure with an exterior long flap closure to keep its contents secure. Unlike other saddle bags we’ve seen, it relies on hardshell construction by way of a 1mm HDPE sheet, which is designed to add stability and structure to the entire bag, while also giving it a recognizable ‘U’ shape. There’s also an internal aluminum reinforcement at the upper attachment point to provide plenty of rigidity.

I chose a rust cordura and olive X-10 X-Pac construction, to match the basket bag, of course. The Shazam! attaches to the saddle loops via two Voile Nano Straps, which works well for those running leather touring saddles or most Brooks saddles. For those running a saddle without loops, you’ll need to pick up an aftermarket adapter like the Hobopieces Restuvus or Carradice Bagman QR. Although it’s possible to simply secure the bottom of the bag onto a seatpost with the provided nylon strap, Wizard Works strongly recommends an additional saddle bag support. The Carradice Bagman Support – Expedition works perfectly. The Shazam! can also be used as a handlebar bag, and requires no extra adapters or supports in that position.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

The Shazam! has one large main compartment that’s concealed with a roll-top closure and an exterior flap. The interior has a fluorescent yellow floating liner, which makes finding small items much easier. There are also two exterior side pockets that Wizard Works claims can hold a full-sized burrito each. The main flap is extendable, so when the top is unrolled, it makes for a truly massive bag. Truthfully, I never packed the Shazam! that full, and for the most part I’ve focused on keeping things tight and closer to a 10L pack size—which is still quite big.

Paired with a Carradice Bagman Support, I had no issues with excessive sway or movement while riding doubletrack and gravel roads. That said, it swayed noticeably more when empty or packed very lightly. It performed better when packed down with a few pounds of gear. The exterior, although not waterproof, did an excellent job at keeping its contents dry on several extremely wet commutes this winter. As expected, Wizard Works’ craftsmanship is top notch and the Shazam! is built to last. As mentioned earlier, it might not be my first choice for a technical singletrack bikepacking route, but for those commuting and touring gravel roads on the same bike—it’s certainly worth checking out.

Here’s an example of how much you can fit, which is probably a touch over half full. The highlight video above was shot with this packlist.

Running the Shazam! as a handlebar bag is another option that’s officially endorsed by Wizard Works, and offers an equally good user experience. Like a basket bag setup but without the extra weight of a rack and basket, running the Shazam! on the bars offers a massive amount of storage that’s easy to pack and readily accessible on the go. It’s a bit large for my taste when lashed to my bar, as it sits quite high and due to its size I’ve had no choice but to squish my cables against my bike’s headtube.

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

For those riding small frames, adding in a minimalist front rack like Soma’s Champs Élysées Mini Front Rack could be a good option to add more packing space. Due to its size and design, it still wouldn’t be my first choice for technical riding, but it’s nice that the fit is relatively universal and can be used in a few different ways. It’ll be important for riders concerned with tire clearance, in both the front and the rear, to take some measurements before ordering. Unlike more modern seat bags and handlebar bags, the Shazam! is quite tall, which may be limiting for those on smaller frames. You’ll need a minimum of 7” of clearance from the upper attachment point to bottom of the bag to avoid tire rub.

• Capacity: 10.8L-22.5L
• Material (as tested): Olive X-10 X-Pac, Rust 1000d Cordura, Nylon Liner
• Weight: 840 grams (29.6oz)
• Place of Manufacture: London, UK
• Price: £179 (~$220 USD)
• Manufacturer’s Details: Wizard.Works