Listen up if you like all your accessories in one place (and ride a Bontrager saddle). Bontrager just launched a new Blendr saddle bag with a compatible fender. This new Blendr setup can stash your tools, keep your backside dry, and keep you flashy with a rear light attachment.
What is it? Bontrager Bendr Saddle Bag
Yes — it’s a saddle bag, but it’s more than that. The new Blendr bag from Bontrager works seamlessly with the brand’s lights and all-new clip-on fender. The selling point is the ease of on/off for the other accessories.
The Blendr saddle bag is a fairly straightforward design internally. The slightly padded, water-resistant bag holds a place for tools, Co2, and other trailside maintenance needs. The bag comes in three different sizes: Small (.29L), Medium (.5L), and Large (1L). We received a medium-sized bag, which can easily fit most of what I take for a gravel ride.
My packing list usually includes a small multi-tool, tube, Co2 and head, tire levers, Dyna-Plag tool, and some cash if I’m lucky. The medium-sized bag is the catch-all for many riders, though I can see the utility in a small, uber-efficient road bag and an all-day exploration large bag.
The Blendr bag attaches using two-bolts 5m hex bolts and mounts securely to most (not all) Bontrager saddles. It’s worth noting that we tried to see if the mount would also attach to Specialized saddles with a similar horizontal-two-bolt design. The Specialized SWAT bolt pattern is wider than the Blendr mount, meaning you must have a Bontrager saddle for these accessories.
Furthermore, the new Blendr bag only works with Bontrager Aeolus, Verse, Boulevard, and Commuter saddles and is incompatible with Bontrager RSL-level saddles. Bontager also states the Blendr Bag is not for use on mountain bikes. This note is a bummer because the Fender mount would be convenient for off-road.
The bag has a secondary strap that attaches to the rails of the post to give the pack more stability. The strap is the same material used for the Blendr lights and is easy to install around larger seat posts, like one on the new Trek Madone SL 7.
Bontrager Blendr Bag Details:
- Sizes: Small (.29L), Medium (.5L) and Large (1L)
- Saddle Compatibility: Bontrager Aeolus, Verse, Boulevard, and Commuter saddles
- Price: Small: $59.00, Medium: $64.00, Large: $69.00
Bontrager Blendr Fendr
Have you ever tried to get a fender on your bike with a saddle bag? It’s rough, even with the pocket-size ones. Bontrager Blendr Fender could make protecting your posterior easier without needing straps and zip ties.
The new Blendr Fender uses the Bontrager Blendr mount to attach and install easily. The fender is 8 inches long, and tappers from 4 to 2.5 inches at the tail. The coverage is on par with most stubby rear fenders and should keep riders dry for commutes and training.
The body of the fender is compact enough to store in a commuter bag or jersey pocket with little to no extra bulk. The fender also has a mount for a Blendr light, making it easy to be seen. We love the addition of the light mount, but depending on the angle of your saddle, the fender might block some of the visibility of the light. It would be nice to see some adjustability of the fender (and therefore the light) to maintain proper visibility for all. The adjustment on the bracket allows you to move the position of the bag, but the light and fender are fixed.
The Blendr Fender is sold separately for $15.00, so if you’re committed to the Blendr life, this could be your new bad-weather training buddy.
Price: $15.00
Bontrager EcoTack Recycled Bar Tape
Bontrager’s newest bar tape is made from partially recycled materials and delivers a nice tactile feel with a grippy exterior. The tape is designed for all-around riding, not just commuting or the racer life.
The Eco-Tape boasts 3mm of shock-absorbing foam, right in the middle for most bar tapes nowadays. The tape composition is 45% recycled materials and 29% biobased foam. The top layer is tacky but doesn’t hinder the stretchy nature of the tape while wrapping bars.
The EcoTack Bar Tape comes in at $34.00, putting it on the more premium side of Bontrager bar tape. We’ve had very little time on the EcoTack Bar Tape yet, so we can’t genuinely speak to the performance or longevity of the material. It is nearly $10 more than the Bontrager gel tape, but we have a sneaking suspicion that this Tack Tape will replace the current (non-recycled) bar tape in the Bontrager lineup.
The EcoTack Bar Tape comes in five colors, including Classic Black, White, Power Surge (Green), Keswick (Olive), and Azure (Baby Blue).
Bontrager EcoTack Bar Tape:
- Colors: Black, White, Power Surge, Keswick and Azure
- Price: $34.00
- Weight: 108g
For more information, check out TrekBikes.com
