Carradice Odyssey Saddlebag 26L

The Carradice Odyssey Saddlebag 26L is an exceptionally waterproof and durable bag that offers a huge 26-litre carrying capacity to open up a range of bikepacking adventures. Used in conjunction with Carradice’s Saddle Support system it is incredibly stable on the bike and can carry big loads with ease.

Made from super-durable 1000 denier Cordura, this voluminous saddle bag might be part of Carradice’s new Adventure range, but it has actually been around for some time.

Stu reviewed a camouflage version back in 2023, but this new all-black update has been revised to deliver a sleeker and improved product with a different approach to external pockets, no internal pockets (which is a shame) and less reflective detailing on the outside.

It took me about 40 minutes to get this onto the bike alongside the Bowland Handlebar Bag and the accompanying handlebar and saddle supports for each product.

I then spent another hour admiring the double-bike-packing-bag look, and loading various combinations of wild camping and bike kit into each one. This pack can easily take my compact sleeping bag and mat and either a bivvy or my GoLite Shangri-La pyramid tent (with poles sticking out the side).

I then spent a few more hours on Ride with GPS planning a host of summer adventures. Whatever combination of luggage you are planning to buy, it will only really pay dividends if it takes you on big rides into wild locations.

The Odyssey is an impressive pack. Its closest competitor is Carradice’s own 25Lt Camper Longflap Saddlebag, which is a far more traditional product. I’ve got plenty of friends who use this and love it. Which option you go for is probably dictated by your preferred look, because functionality and performance are very close, although the Odyssey is both slightly lighter and larger, so that might help tip the balance for you.

Pack your bags…

I’ve used this for commuting, longer audax days and bigger multi-day adventures that have involved big climbs and a few off-road sections. I was carrying loads of up to 7kg in this bag and could not have been more impressed with its performance.

There was no rattle, no wobble, no sway and not a hint of shimmy: in fact nothing to disturb the graceful souplesse of my pedal stroke (my regular cycling companions might not use quite the same description.)

Of course, that performance only comes if you are using this in combination with the Bagman Expedition Saddlebag Support Rack that will set you back a further £79.95 for the Quick Release version. That’s a lot of money, so you really need to know you are going to be using this regularly.

But you have plenty of time to get your value for money. This is a durable product that is going to last you for a good number of years. Carradice oversees the production of all its products in the UK and this bag has been designed for durability with reinforcements where it might wear more quickly.

Carradice makes big claims about its waterproof credentials and it passed this test with flying colours. As we started the night section of one ride, we were hit by torrential rain and gusting winds that threatened to throw us off our bikes on a fast descent in Snowdonia. Not a drop of water got in and all my kit remained bone dry despite hours of downpour.

The roll-top inner, weather-resistant lining and generous lid all help here, as do waterproof reinforcements on the pocket lids.

These side pockets will easily take a repair kit on one side and a few inner tubes on the other.

Carradice has done away with the clip closure in favour of sturdy Velcro. It works well but I think I’d prefer the reassurance of a clip buckle.

Night rider

The big capacity storage area is best used for camping kit or items that you don’t need regular access too. There are bungee cords on the outside to stash wet clothing or things you might need in a hurry and there is a reflective Carradice logo that doesn’t come close to the reflective detailing on the previous incarnation of the Odyssey.

And of course there is a useful loop for an additional rear light at the back, and a set of D-rings to stash extra kit.

And when you switch from a big camping adventure to a day ride, the Odyssey doesn’t look at all out of place, especially on the kind of long-distance day rides I enjoy. I would usually use a 9L Super C saddle bag but the roll top on the Odyssey ensures that things stay in place even when I am carrying less. To be honest, I use the capacity to pack a few luxuries or extra warm gear in case the temperature drops.

The fact it will work for a range of different rides is good news, because I don’t really want to be swapping between saddle bag options unless I have to. What’s more, I don’t have the Quick Release feature on my other saddle bags.

And the luminous orange inner is rather nice too. It makes it easier to find kit in the middle of the night and this is made even easier by the big lid that allows you to see everything inside.

I use seatpost saddle bags every now and again and tested the Zefal Z Adventure R11 a few years ago, but I am no fan of them. I hate the way that you have to empty the entire thing if you want to access whatever you packed at the very bottom. I feel you can’t beat Carradice-type saddle bags for accessibility and ease of use.

Pros and cons?

So in the interests of balanced journalism we now come on to the case against the Odyssey and I’m having to work hard here.

In terms of updates from the original Odyssey – I miss the internal pockets that have gone (potentially helping to save weight) and it does seem a shame to not have as much reflective detailing on the outside. This is one feature that really stands out and you can see other riders at night from hundreds of metres away when they are using products like the Carradice Super C Saddlebag.

Most cotton duck Carradice products are signed by the person who sewed them together. My Super C Saddlebag was signed by Sue and you can see a picture of her here. (Hi Sue – big fan of your work!)

There is no signature on the inside of the Odyssey I was reviewing and that might be because it was an early test model or because the construction and sewing is different.(Sue, Christine or Debbie – could you let us know in the comments below? This trio are real experts and Carradice says it takes each one of them two years to train for this role.)

And one other small gripe is that if I were buying this and using it as my regular audax bag, I would like to be able to sew a couple of badges on, as I have done on my other Carradice bags. I don’t feel confident putting a needle through the Cordura and orange lining here. Maybe I can iron one on?

And that is it… there is really very little here to quibble with on a near perfect piece of kit.

Value

Before some clever product development team came up with the phrase ‘bikepacking’, people used to do something called ‘cycle touring…’ stick with me because this is quite complex.

Cycle touring required larger-volume bags called ‘panniers’ and these could be carried on the front and the back of the bike. This meant you could pack a larger tent, bigger sleeping bag and generally enjoy more food, comfort and luxury.

You can still buy a pannier rack and set of roll-top panniers easily offering a few times the capacity of this saddle bag at a lower cost. But then you wouldn’t be able to ‘bike pack’ and enjoy a night shivering under the stars in your ultra-lightweight sleeping bag on a strip of bubble wrap.

If you are intent on Type 2 fun (and as you’re on road.cc I presume some of you will be) then the Odyssey is a great option that will allow you to travel fast and light.

There are lots of seatbags available from brands like Restrap and Apidura and these don’t require the cost of an additional support system. I’m not a big fan of these (as I said above) but in terms of value they are a good option. You can buy the 14L Restrap for £124.99 or the 16L Ortlieb Seat-pack for £159.

I tested the Topeak DryBag MTX Trunk Bag a while ago and that is the closest I’ve come to the ease of use of a Carradice because you can access kit easily and it is entirely waterproof. But it still requires a specific support system and doesn’t have the same luggage capacity.

And if you dig around you will find smaller producers making products like the Wizard Works Shazam! saddle bag that looks very much like a Carradice. You can pay up to £245 for a rather beautiful custom-made pack and if win the lottery I might well do that.

So, closest competitors that sit in this non ultra-racing niche are probably other Carradice products and on that basis the Odyssey is definitely good value.

For a wide range of other options, check out our best bikepacking bags and best pannier bags buyer’s guides.

Conclusion

Not cheap but this is a brilliant option for big bikepacking adventures on faster touring bikes. The Odyssey has been updated and developed as part of Carradice’s new Adventure range and it performs brilliantly on the road – stable, waterproof, durable, and a joy to use.

It is worth spending a little more on the Quick Release system that makes it easy to take this bag wherever you go, thanks to the neat carry handle.

Coupled with the new Bowland Bar Bag this looks great on the bike and sits somewhere between Carradice’s traditional aesthetic and the world of ultralight long-distance riding.

It is a well-thought-through update and a bag that will encourage you out of the door on bigger adventures.

Verdict

Fantastic update that sits in Carradice’s new Adventure Range and delivers excellent performance on big biking adventures

All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.