 POD, clip and pouch |
 Somewhat kite-shaped |
 Unobtrusive appearance |
knog POD Small Saddle Bag £17.99
The saddle pack, pouch, bag – call it whatever – is, for most of us, one of cycling’s must-haves. While it is possible to carry spare tubes, multi-tool and, if carried, a puncture repair outfit either in back pockets or in a cut-down bottle, behind the saddle is best. Not least, of course, because the space is there.
It helps if the bag chosen happens to look good. Aussie brand knog’s small POD does, although it would arguably look better hanging a little higher and closer to the saddle. Constructed using moulded EVA plastic for the shell with a finish called – really – KNOGahide, the POD comprises a single compartment with a full-circumference water-resistant zipper. A small Neoprene pouch big enough for a small mobile is provided. The quick-release system uses a bracket mounted as a semi-permanent fixture to the saddle rails with knog’s Klickfix attachment rail. Removal involves pinching two red tabs together to release the fixture and is both quick and very easy.
The shape of the POD, visually attractive though it is, is not especially efficient as a use of space. With a triangular plan starting in a rounded ‘nose’, it has to be loaded carefully to maximize carrying capacity. The EVA shell is just flexible enough to ease doing up the zip if something with the wrong type of bulges is inside.
It’s a neat, well-made and nicely executed piece of kit. Since the mounting system works so well, we’d like to see the provision of two brackets to allow its ready use on two machines. The self-tapping screws in the bracket are very tight and have Phillips heads; we’d like to see pre-formed threads in the plastic or Allen heads to make initial fitment easier. And a slightly blunter front would make packing a lot easier.
Weight is a claimed 80g and capacity 750ml.
