Saddlebags
are bags that are attached to
saddles
.
Horse riding
World War I pannier-style saddlebags containing a first aid kit
In
horse riding
, saddlebags sit in various positions, on the back, side, or front of the saddle. Most attach to the saddle by straps and ties. They can be made from various materials. Although leather was the traditional material, it is heavier and requires more maintenance than many modern versions. There are several types: Pommel bags (which sit in front of the saddle), traditional paired saddlebags (which lie on the hips of the horse, on either side of the cantle), and assorted smaller bags such as a cantle bag (a small tube-like bag that sits just behind the saddle), or a single small saddle bag that may be carried on the off-side (right hand side) of an
English saddle
.
Pannier
-style bags are sometimes fitted over a
pack saddle
used for
packing gear on a horse
or other pack animal (often, a mule or donkey) rather than for carrying a rider.
[1]
In Turkish Anatolia, Iran and Baluchistan, saddlebags are traditionally woven in wool, with a front face decorated with
Soumak
and a plainer flatwoven back. Slits are left along the opening for a rope to close and secure the bag to the pack animal.
[2]
[3]
Bags range from tiny to large (over 25 liters). Smaller bags, known as
seat bags
,
wedge packs
, or
seat packs
fit completely under the saddle. Larger bags which project behind and sideways are usually called
saddlebags
; a well-known example is the
Carradice
Long Flap, for many years a staple of British cycle tourists especially on the weekends.
Recumbent bicycles
have much larger seats than the saddle of a conventional bicycle, and special bags are available which attach to the seat; these are also called seat bags but are typically the size of small touring panniers.
On a
motorcycle
, modern
panniers
are normally hard-shell cases mounted behind the seat and on either-side of the rear wheel, attached to a framework (which bolts to the motorcycle frame) known as a
carrier
. Modern panniers are made to be quickly-detachable.
Historically, the origins were in military use for
despatch riders
, where soft, often canvas-type woven material bags were fitted to the motorcycle by rudimentary frames enabling the rider to carry documents securely. After hostilities ended, any left-over items including the motorcycles could be obtained from
army-surplus depots
, particularly after
World War II
during the 1950s when there was an increase in motorcycle use as a cheap form of transport.
Saddlebags also are available as modern motorcycle accessories (similar to
western saddlebags
described above) to place across the rear portion of the motorcycle seat, making them quickly detachable. They can then be carried over the arm or shoulder of the rider.
Made of leather or
vinyl
(leathercloth or imitation leather) with stiffening, they are known as
Throwovers
and come in different shapes and sizes to be used as travel
luggage
or a handy temporary container for items such as shopping.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Saddle bags
.