FIDLOCK is a well known company for their innovative magnetic fasteners that can be found on everything from helmets to camera straps. One of FIDLOCK’s latest products is the new PINCLIP saddle bag which combines a waterproof expandable saddlebag with their PINCLIP fastener design. It’s a slick design that uses a combination of magnetics and mechanical locking to allow the saddle bag to be quickly installed or removed from saddle rails. Retail price on the PINCLIP saddlebag ranges from $54.99 for the 400mL small version to $69.99 for the medium sized 700 ml we have in this review. The bags include the PINCLIP saddle rail mount and feature a waterproof design. FIDLOCK has also incorporated their V-BUCKLE S latches on the rollup top as well as an integrated rear hook to attach tail lights.
The FIDLOCK PINCLIP saddlebag combines a waterproof rollup saddlebag design with the brand’s clever PINCLIP saddle rail attachment.
| Retail Price | $54.99 – $69.99 (as tested M version) |
| Rating | 9.2 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 151 (bag), 28 (PINCLIP attachment) |
| Likes | + Waterproof design with roll-up top + Easy to install and remove from bike with PINCLIP attachment + Integrated rear hook for taillight or radars |
| Dislikes | – Confusing magnetic latch – No internal pockets or dividers to organize contents |
| Where to Buy (US) | FIDLOCK |
MOUNTING
One of the key features of the PINCLIP saddlebag is the PINLOCK mounting system. This uses a combination of magnets and mechanical force to allow the bag to be quickly installed or removed from a bike. The bag includes the PINLOCK saddle rail mount which simply tightens down onto the saddle rails and has a protruding square peg. FIDLOCK has incorporated a matching receiver onto the top of the saddle bag which has two rollers that lineup to the circular cutouts on the peg. Attaching the bag to the base is as easy as bringing them near each other as the strong magnets pull them together and force the rollers into the grooves on the peg.
Once attached, the bag is very secure and cannot be removed until you pull back on the plastic pull lever on the receiver of the bag to unlock the peg and release the bag. It’s a clever design that uses the magnetics to make attaching easy, and mechanical force to ensure the bag is secured in place. The saddle base is also compatible with FIDLOCK’s PINCLIP GoPro action cam mount which means you can swap the bag out for a camera to get riding footage when you don’t need a saddlebag. Note, the bag does not attach to the seat post which makes this a great bag or mountain bikers or bikes with dropper posts.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the FIDLOCK PINCLIP saddle bag has a semi-rigid rollup waterproof design that is similar to many bike-packing saddle bags. The main structure is rigid with internal plastic reinforcements to create a tapered rectangular profile. A large rear bevel gives the bag a sleeker appearance while the rear opening is a roll up soft fabric design. FIDLOCK only offers the bag in this black finish but does have a smaller 400mL version available. The PINLOCK attachment can also be purchased separately from the bag as it can be used with action cams or to make swapping between bikes easier. Branding on the bag is limited to FIDLOCK on a side tag for an otherwise minimalist appearance. The exterior of the bag has a waterproof fabric material with an attractive grid pattern and textured feel.
The other notable feature of this bag is the FIDLOCK V-BUCKLE S which replaces a standard plastic buckle. It’s an interesting design that uses a combination of a latch and magnetic to streamline opening and closing. The magnetic means you can simply place the two sides of the buckle close to each other and then let go to have them latch in place. Opening the buckle is less intuitive and requires pulling up on the fabric strap to lift the latch out and push the outer buckle away. To their credit, this design works one handed unlike most plastic buckles which require placing pressure on both sides of the buckle to release. Per the instructions, the roll top has to be folded 3 times to make the saddlebag waterproof and have the buckle face outward.
RIDING IMPRESSIONS
We installed the FIDLOCK PINCLIP saddlebag onto our Decathlon Triban RC520 as a way to carry supplies and gears. The medium sized version we have with its 700mL capacity is well sized for everyday carry items and roadside repairs. It’s similar in capacity to the SILCA Mattone with a single rigid main compartment that is accessed from the rear. We were able to fit our normal tube, tire levers, multi-tool as well as patches comfortably. While the gray interior isn’t as nice as the bright yellow that Topeak uses on some of their bags, it’s a big improvement of the normal black interiors that make it impossible to see any of the contents. The lack of internal dividers or pockets does mean you end up stuffing everything in and have to pull multiple things out to find smaller items.
While we were hopeful that the magnetic FIDLOCK V-BUCKLE S would be a great design, it’s honestly a bit confusing and has a few issues. It takes a bit of time and fiddling to figure out how to operate and is not a reversible design. That means if you don’t do the proper 3 folds to close the bag the buckle will face inward and is much more difficult to operate. To be honest, we had to read the instructions to figure out if our buckles were attached incorrectly before seeing that FIDLOCK specifically states to have the buckles facing outward. However, if you want additional capacity you can also leave the bag open which lets you carry longer items if you don’t have to worry about rain.
The PINCLIP attachment design is also reminiscent of the Topeak Duo Fixer design which also uses a quick-release saddle rail bracket design. While the Topeak design only uses plastic tabs instead of magnetics and levers, it is a dual slot design which allows you to connect tail lights or other accessories above the saddle bag. We expect FIDLOCK will add more options for the PINCLIP attachment beyond just camera attachments to offer more versatility to the design. Otherwise the magnetic design is easy to use and makes it easy to swap bags between bikes without fussing with clips or straps.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the FIDLOCK PINCLIP saddle bag to be a well designed waterproof saddle bag. FIDLOCK has integrated their clever PINCLIP saddle rail attachment which uses a combination of magnets and a locking clip to secure the bag directly to saddle rails. It’s a smart setup that holds the bag securely and makes it a breeze to swap the bag between bikes. We were less impressed with the FIDLOCK V-BUCKLE S which replaces a traditional plastic buckle on the rollup top with a magnetic design. It’s an interesting design but not as intuitive as we hoped, and is directional which requires the user to roll the top up a full three times. That said, the FIDLOCK PINCLIP is a well built saddlebag that offers nice capacity and a great quick-release PINCLIP attachment design.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by FIDLOCK. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.