Was reluctant to spend the money on this saddle bag, but I was going on a trip that required riding 100 miles per day for 7 days. I usually just carry a Dyna Plug and my small battery operated pump with me, but based on the fact that these rides were un supported and there was no available services for most of them I decided to get the bag. It worked out great. I was able to put my small multitool, a co2 cartridge, a mini pump hose and my dynamite plug kit. Turns out I had to use it twice. Once for a friend and once for myself. Highly recommend this product.
I already had several non-Ortlieb top tube bags, and I wanted the convenience and added security of a quick-release system that would allow me to bring my valuables into a market with me and didn't require me to fiddle with rethreading and adjusting straps each time I got back on.
The Ortlieb Fuel bag and Top tube bag use the same mounting system. Ortlieb offers the Ortlieb Mounting-Set to support the use of the same bag across multiple bikes. But if you are handy with an awl or hot nail, you can modify the bags you already own.
This system works very well in retrofitting other top tube bags. All the hardware you need to attach the quick release to your bike is included. I converted a Timbuk2 bag to take advantage of the M5 frame bosses. The included internal bag fasteners provide enough rigidity to remove the four frame and stem straps from the bag and rely solely on the bosses.
I no longer have to worry about:
1. straps wearing down the bike frame and stem finishes
2. a top tube bag flopping from side to side
3. leaving valuables or an expensive frame bag on the bike when I head into a store or overnight accommodations
Finally, if you pick up a couple of these, you can quickly move one bag between bikes and swap bags on your bikes depending on the ride's needs.
Not the cheapest out there but one of the lightest. The bags have a front opening that will allow cables to get through for chargers or other items. The straps are well made and wrap easily as well as hold even in rough terrain. Zippers are for the most part easy to open and close while riding but I wouldn't recommend that unless it's smooth pavement so nothing falls out. My only concern for the waterproof part of the bag is the front cable entry. It seems like it's just slightly too open depending on how water is splashing up on to the bike. I wasn't able to test this out but it's possible that anything you put in there you might want to be be able to get wet. Fabric is durable and cleans pretty easily with soap and water. If you have issues with bottle clearances I would recommend a bottle cage that shifts it down a bit and/or a side pull capable bottle cage.
The Silca Mattone is a slick seat pack that has room for my essentials (tube, tire levers, CO2). I like how it attaches to the saddle with a thick rubber strap and the boa closure, so no unwanted rubbing of plastic or metal on the saddle or seat post. I don't understand how it could be accessed while attached to the bike (as claimed by the product description), but that's alright, I would typically take a seat pack off the bike when repairing a flat anyway. I haven't tested the water-resistance yet.
