Carradice SQR Slim Bag including SQR Bracket
4.8
5
19
19
Excellent commuter option
Been using this instead of panniers and rack
Easy to setup - only problem was had to take out seatpost to fit the collars on. Apart from that it was a case of tightening a couple of screws
I do have an alloy seatpost though - haven't worked out what the effect would be on a carbon seatpost
It's just about big enough to fit a laptop in a protective sleeve, clothes, wash stuff and lock. I wouldn't be able to fit shoes in there as well, but I leave a pair at work
When riding I don't feel it at all, apart from if I'm out of the seat
Best thing is the commuter is also my winter bike, so at weekends I just have the small SQR mount on the seatpost
08 November 2012
Good sturdy bag
Excellent bag, It is light but holds all my work gear for commute. Sturdy mounting and quick release. Only criticism, as with all black lined bags is my stuff gets lost inside!
18 August 2012
Spacious and sturdy quick-release bag
Although the SQR Slim was difficult to discover, to find for sale, and constituted something of an investment, the cost and wait to receive it (several months, UK-US) were decidedly worthwhile. I was looking for a quick-release and (solely) seat-post-mounted bag that had both enough space and capacity (cargo weight limit) to carry my laptop and other heavier items; the SQR Slim is all of those things, and then some.
This is a well-designed and sturdy piece of equipment. I view the Slim as a necessary part of my commuter rig. I would not, however, mount it to other rides -- carbon seat posts might not play nicely with the SQR bracket, and, frankly, it is perfectly and solely a commuter bag anyway. The main compartment has enough room for my 15" Macbook Pro, books/files, food/shaker, shoes, and a change of clothes, while the zippered pocket carries miscellany (tools, patch kit, CO2 pump, keys, phone, wallet, chargers, etc). There is a cinching inner closure that is covered by the buckled outer "lid" -- a design that does seem to be keeping my belongings in place and dirt/bug-free thus far.
Depending upon your seat post length, frame size, and saddle position, you may occasionally feel your hamstrings making contact with the bag. Also, those who've never used any kind of moderately sized (or higher-riding) bike-mounted luggage should initially ride carefully/mindfully, since a fully-loaded Slim changes the way your bike handles.
This bag is nearly ideal for my purposes, but I've used it long/well enough that I can see areas where it could be even further perfected. Ideally, Carradice's changes would include: redesigning the handle or relocating the reflective feature (as is, the former slides down and covers the latter); changing or redesigning the bolt installations; adding some interior padding or a padded laptop pocket; using sturdied parts (I worry about the longevity of the plastic bits in the SQR system and of the bag clasps); adding rubber bits or something to keep the bag from suddenly loosening and rotating around the seat post (or redesigning to allow virtually unlimited tightening of the SQR bracket to the seat post); continuing to work on the bag's closure design (to decrease the risk that water/road debris will get sprayed up into the bag and making it a less potentially dirty open/close process); adding a removable shoulder or chest carrying strap; and redesigning the bag such that it could stand, unsupported and "on end" on flat surfaces. Different color options and more reflective features would be nice, but certainly not necessary.
Lastly, although I cannot speak to performance in rain/snow or to the performance/noise of the bag on road surfaces more rough than brick, I've been using it ~25-35miles/day on rough asphalt, concrete, and brick, with tail/head/cross winds up to 10-15mph, and it's performed nicely. I hope the plastic bits on the bag and in the SQR system hold up over time...but even if they do not, I will pay for a replacement system -- THAT is how much I love this bag.
20 July 2012
It has transformed my commute.
It was a pretty long wait for this item, but I'm extremely happy with it after receiving it.
Commenting on the bag itself - it is as close to perfect as possible, changing what is an ordinary 20km commute into a feeling of freedom as if I am on my weekend rides.
Yes, the exposed bolts on the inside can be improved on(see tip by reviewer tourer78) , perhaps a reflective piping and adding a little netting at the sides to slip in a bidon or similar will probably make this bag absolutely perfect, Version 2 perhaps. But even without those I would happily buy this bag again.
Great job Carradice.
08 June 2012
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