Lizard Skins Cache Saddle Bag

Lizard Skin's Cache Saddle Bag is the middle child in a family of three compact wedge packs designed to carry your little essentials. To my surprise, it swallows more than I'd expected and seems pretty hardy. But despite being generally well made, in a fiercely competitive market, £20 seems a bit steep.

It's made from a sturdy 1000 denier fabric, which is easily wiped clean and feels pretty tough. I rather like our red sample, but it comes in 'goes with virtually everything' black, if you're planning on swapping it between bikes and coordination is important to you.

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Provocative tickling from the garden hose suggests it's as water repellent as most riders will need, and since it shelters beneath the saddle, only the most adventurous of river riders should find the zipper foiled.

Bereft of wind tunnel facilities I can't comment on its drag-cheating prowess, but that sleek profile also ensures there's no danger of it catching the thighs at higher cadences. At the rear, there's an unusually generous LED tab that offers decent tenure to most, even the really beefy designs such as Topeak's Redlite Mega. Sensible design keeps them at driver eye-level, too, which is great – just be a bit mindful if you're running a bright retina tickler.

> Beginner's guide to carrying luggage by bike

While not Tardis-like, true to claims and with efficient packing, the internal compartment will gobble a spare 700x23-28 tube, 20-function multi tool, tyre levers and a CO2 inflator. Keys/change slips into the mesh lip – but we are talking three or four keys not a jailer's bunch like mine! I've found it easiest to load first and then attach, since the fabric doesn't have a great deal of give, placing strain on the zipper. Since things sit sardine fashion, there's no hint of annoying chatter over washboard surfaces.

Attaching takes all of five seconds: simply loop the side Velcro around the saddle rails and the stabiliser strap to the post. I'm pleased to report that the latter is long enough to provide strain-free tenure to standard and oversized posts, with little sway. Suspension models such as my 'cross-inspired fixer's Cane Creek Thudbuster can often cause these to tear after a few months, but no sign of fatigue-inducing strain so far.

All told, it does exactly what it says on the tin. I've tended to pair ours with a top tube bag on longer rides – when I need an extra tube, energy bars, more tools and so on. Personally, I'd be inclined toward its big brother, but this size seems perfect for clutter phobic best bikes or when you want to travel fast and light.

Ultimately, while it's not bad value, its not that competitive either. If you didn't need something aero, there is a wealth of equally competent wedge packs capable of hauling loads for less. Some in-house shop-branded models offer comparable spec and lifetime warranties for half the Cache's asking price.

Verdict

Does what it says on the tin, but so do a wealth of others with smaller price tags