Silca’s Mattone saddle bags have been a popular option for cyclists thanks to their compact design and BOA closure system. The Mattone Web is one of the latest additions to the lineup and is the most affordable and adaptable bag variations. Retail price for the Mattone Web Seat Pack is $36 with a total expanded capacity of 0.38L. Thanks to the combination of stretch mesh and a Hypalon Strap with dual guides for the BOA dial, the bag can easily be compressed or expanded to accommodate different rider needs. One of the welcome features of the bag is the velcro rear attachment that makes it easy to access the items without having to remove it from the saddle rails.
The Silca Mattone Web is a more affordable and compact bike saddle bag for cyclists looking for a slim and versatile bag setup.
| Retail Price | $36 |
| Rating | 9.5 / 10 |
| Weight (in g) | 61 |
| Likes | + Lightweight and compact design + Contents are accessible without removing from the bike like the standard Silca Mattone bags + Easy to use and secure BOA dial closure system with a single attachment point |
| Dislikes | – Small size limits amount of gear you can fit inside it |
| Where to Buy (US) | Silca |
UNBOXING
The Silca Mattone Web uses the Hypalon Strap to attach to a cardboard backing with product information printed on it. Removing it is as simple as releasing the tension from the BOA dial and sliding it off.
MOUNTING
The Silca Mattone Web attaches to the saddle rail at a single point using their unique Hypalon strap design. It’s a stiff and durable strap that routes through a slot on the saddle bag and over each saddle rail. The strap should be oriented to have the BOA cable guides on the outside. The red cables are then slid through the guides on each side of the strap and then tightened down to secure the bag in place. Thanks to the mesh construction, the bag has a flexible design that compresses down to the size of the gear inside the bag. With the more compact size and construction of the Silca Mattone Web, there is no need for a second mounting strap or attachment point which makes it easy to install and remove the bag on a bike. Note, with the saddle rail attachment you will not be able to run a saddle rail mounted taillight.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Mattone Web has a unique mesh construction that is taller than it is wide. At the full 0.38L capacity, the bag has the physical dimensions of 20 x 9 x 5 cm (8 x 3 x 2 in). Compared to the other Mattone bags that mimic more of the “brick” shape that Mattone translates to, the Mattone Web has a flexible construction. Silca also recommends this bag for mountain biking or wet weather riding not because it is waterproof, but because it can let water in and dry out. That’s compared to the other Mattone bags which can retain water in heavy rain and can risk mold if not wiped. The exterior of the bag is constructed from flexible black mesh side panels and nylon rip-stop material for the outer pieces.
As with the other Mattone bags, such as the Silca Mattone Grande, the Mattone Web uses the Hypalon strap with BOA dial to attach to the saddle rails. It’s a rugged and wide fabric strap that loops over the rails with cable guides on each end integrated into it. The red cables go through one guide on each side of the strap and through a guide at the bottom of the bag. It’s a more flexible design that should make it easier to access the bag without having to pull it off the bike. As you tighten the BOA dial the strap and bottom guides help compress the bag together as well as secure it to the bike rails without the need for additional mounting straps.
This is a lower level BOA dial which means you have micro tightening but no micro loosening. That means you simply pull up on the dial to release all the tension and can then pull on the cable to get more slack to open the bag or install it. Note, you can also install the Mattone Web on the top tube or other locations on a frame thanks to the versatile strap mounting system. Silca has utilized a more traditional rear opening with the Mattone Web rather than the wrap-around zipper of the other Mattone bags. The opening has a velcro attachment closer on the top of the bag to protect it from dirt and grime. Flipping the lid open you have a single large compartment that is large enough for a single mountain bike tire intertube, CO2, tire levers and a CO2 canister. You’ll need to pack light though as the bag is designed to tuck underneath saddles instead of offering a large carrying capacity.
RIDING IMPRESSIONS
We’ve actually been riding with the Silca Mattone Grande for nearly four years now, note the bag has held up well with only minor fraying on the strap, as it was one of our favorite saddle bags with it’s clean design and secure mounting. The new Silca Mattone Web is an interesting variation that combines some of the elements of the Mattone with a more flexible mesh construction. It’s also smaller than the extra-large Grande which meant we could only fit a Butyl rubber tube, Padros tire levers and a Topeak PT30 multi-tool. What we left out was a multiple TPU tubes we normally carry as backup in the larger saddlebag, although there was still room for CO2 or another smaller item with the flexible mesh construction of the Silca Mattone Web.
Installed on the bike, the saddle bag look sleek and the narrow width lets it hide behind saddlebags and underneath saddles. We were impressed with the updated BOA closure system which places the BOA dial on the bag itself, and only the guides on the strap. That results in a cleaner and simpler setup that also allows the bag contents to be accessed without removing the strap. That has been one of our biggest complaints about the Silca Mattone Grande, and the standard Mattone or Mattone Ultimate variations, as it can be frustrating to have to fully remove the bag for road side repairs. The Mattone Web avoids that problem with a flip down design that lets you access all the contents while the cables are in their slack position.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Silca Mattone Web to be a well made and versatile saddle bag. Silca has taken the best elements of the Mattone bags and created a more affordable and expandable Mattone Web saddle bag. The bag retains the distinctive BOA dial system, but improves it with a center mounted BOA dial and a dual guide setup on the Hypalon strap. It’s a more affordable bag thanks to the simpler mesh construction that allows the bag to be more flexible. One of the big improvements of this bag is that you can also access all the contents without removing it from the bike which makes roadside repairs less frustrating. The only negative with the saddle bag is that it is relatively small for longer rides where you would want multiple tubes as backup. That said, the Silca Mattone Web is a welcome addition to the Mattone lineup and offers a more flexible design.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by SILCA. 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.