Bikepacking bag maker Apidura and storage solution specialists 76 Projects pair up to create one of very few large-volume saddle bag options designed to work on mountain bikes and adventure bikes with dropper seatposts. Using a low profile design protected against tire rub and a dropper post adapter that slightly reduces dropper travel, the Innovation Lab’s Dropper Saddle Pack could be the perfect solution for taking your full-suspension mountain bike on a technical multi-day bikepacking trip.
Apidura Innovation Lab + 76 Projects 6L Dropper Saddle Pack
Apidura’s idea for a Dropper Saddle Pack was to start with a low-profile but still large-volume bag, protect it from tire rub, and mount it securely & safely to the dropper post’s slider.
We’ve seen plenty of people strap a standard bikepacking saddle bag onto a dropper post, but besides the risk of scratching the slider (when wet grit inevitably gets between constantly moving straps & your post), big bags also hang low enough to risk rubbing the tire when dropped, especially on a full-suspension bike. EVOC proposed an option with compact bags that attach up to 3L of gear to the slider, and Revelate’s Shrew packs the same volume hung only from the rails. The Blackburn Outpost Elite is the only one we’ve seen offering more space (up to 10.5L) thanks to an alloy pack brace you bolt to the saddle rails.
76 Projects Dropper Post Collar
Lightweight bikepacking experts Apidura choose to work with someone specializing in adapters to create a secure & safe way to strap a compact bag to the slider. 76 Projects designed a simple hinged collar that clamps around your dropper post shaft with a silicone gripper to fit either 25 or 26mm dropper sliders (including those from Fox, RockShox, RaceFace, Thomson & more…) The clamps flanges keep a 1″/25mm strap in place securely from your saddle pack, the square back helps stability, and chamfered underside profile at the post should prevent damage to your post’s seal when you drop down.
Fixing the 3D printed clamp to your dropper will reduce the travel of your dropper post, most likely limiting travel by around 35-40mm. But it will depend a bit on the design of your dropper’s head and individual setup & installation. Adding significant weight in the bag to the upper telescoping portion of your dropper post will also slow down the return in your post, and likely will accelerate wear to the post’s bushings & seals as it moves up and down.
Apidura Dropper Saddle Pack
The new Apidura Dropper Saddle Pack itself is essentially just a scale-down and reinforced version of their original Backcountry Saddle Pack, optimized to work with dropper seatposts, long-travel full-suspension, and bikes with limited rear tire clearance. The latest project from their Innovation Lab, the 6L capacity bag is made from the same light, durable & water-resistant VX21 used in the Backcountry Series, with similar roll-down closure & saddle rail attachment.
What it does different is a narrow 25mm seatpost strap to attach to the Dropper Post Collar, a flattened lower shape to keep it away from your rear tire, and a velcro detachable polyethylene (HDPE) skid plate to prevent the rear tire from damaging the bag if they do hit each other when your suspension bottoms out unexpectedly.
Dropper post bikepacking – Pricing & availability
The Apidura Dropper Saddle Pack including the 76 Projects Dropper Post Collar sells for $156 / 144€ from Apidura, ready to solve your dropper post equipped bikepacking woes. Or if you just need the low profile bag for a small bike frame with tight tire clearance (but not using a dropper post), you can get the reinforced Apidura Dropper Saddle Pack on its own for $121 / 109€. At the same time, direct from 76 Projects, you can buy the Dropper Post Collar for $35 / 35€.
