Saddle packs are the unsung hero for cyclists. They sit quietly under your saddle, carrying things like a tube, a CO2, some tire levers, maybe a patch and a multitool. They typically aren’t noticed until they are needed. They come in many sizes, shapes, and different designs, but the new Redshift Quickdraw line of saddle packs offers a unique solution to attach it to your saddle rails.
The Quickdraw is really two parts, the strap and the bag. The strap uses a main nylon strap to wrap over top of the rails and around the bag, pretty standard for a normal saddle bag, but that’s where things take a turn. Attached to that strap are clips for the rails (7mm round rails only), and a magnetic base. The clips are attached to an elastic material that allows the clips to fit rails that might be different distances apart and keeps the nylon strap attached to the bike. Since the only strap is around the rail, the Quickdraw is perfect for dropper and suspension posts.
The magnetic interface is what keeps the bag attached to the strap and still allows for quick removal. This makes it was to take the bag with you when you need it. When you have a flat, you can take the entire bag with you to where you are making the repair, instead if it staying attached to your bike, or having to fiddle with remounting the bag under your saddle when you are done. Or, maybe you are at a coffee shop and you don’t want to leave your bag on the bike. Just loosen the nylon strap, pull the bag off the nylon mount, and off you go. When you are done, place it near the magnetic mount and the bag pops back in place, and you can tighten the nylon strap and be on your way.
The bag itself is pretty standard. it uses abrasion-resistant fabric with reflective touches. It waterproof with a waterproof zipper. Inside, there is a small, neoprene pocket for small items that you want to keep separate from everything else. The zipper starts at the front left side of the bag, and unzips all the way around to the back left corner, allowing you to open it like a suitcase and provide easy access to everything.
The Quickdraw is available in two sizes, small and medium. Both tuck neatly under your saddle, and you can even run an Ass Savers Regular Fender with the Quickdraw underneath. The small is 120mm x 80mm x 50mm (0.48 Liters), and can fit up to a 700cx43 TPU tube, electric pump, mini tool, tire levers/tire plug tool. It can fit up to a 700Cx50 butyl tube and still have room for compact tire levers. So basically, it’s not going to carry the kitchen sink, but you can still fit quite a bit in the small.
The medium is about 15MM taller (120mm x 80mm x 65mm, 0.66 Liters) and is well suited to stuff mountain tubes. For example, you can fit a 29×2.4″ TPU tube, mini tool, 2 x CO2, compact tire levers, or a 29×2.4″ butyl tube and compact levers.
You can also buy the strap separately, allowing you to run one bag between multiple bikes.
Both sizes come in at $69.99 ($99.99 CAD, £64.99 GBP, €74.99 EUR, $114.99 AUD), and the separate strap is $19.99 ($29.99 CAD, £19.99 GBP, €24.99 EUR, $34.99 AUD). The Quickdraw comes with a 90 day risk-free trial and a lifetime warranty.
The Redshift Quickdraw saddle packs are available now.
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.
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