Silca Grinta Bags go Fast-Packing with Small BOA Bikepacking Bar & Saddle Packs
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Silca has a couple of small new Grinta bikepacking bags. But they’re geared more towards long road & gravel rides, rather than backcountry adventures. Calling them fast-packing bags, Silca’s canister-style Grinta Handlebar Bag and roll-top Grinta Saddle Bag are meant to just pack a few extra liters of gear for those longer, fast rides.
I’ve been riding with each in recent weeks. And appreciated the extra storage without having to overstuff my jersey and jacket pockets. Think: extra layers for rides in changing weather and extra snacks for long days away from easy refueling pitstops.
Silca Grinta light & compact bikepacking bags for fast-packing
Silca describes the new fast-packing Grinta adventure bags as based in the brand’s “commitment to performance, functionality, and rider experience, catering to both competition and casual exploration.” They rooted the design of the saddle bag in their popular Mattone seat packs, with a red plastic wire Boa-dial system for secure adjustability.
Tech details
Silca makes both bags from “weatherproof” CyclePET fabric, seam-welded to keep water out and your gear dry inside.
The 172g bar bag gets a waterproof YKK AquaGuard zipper. The 213g saddle bag features a simple roll-top closure, that’s paired with a 1/4-turn air release valve so you can easily compress it down no matter what you pack inside.
Who needs fast-packing bags?
Whether you really need bikepacking bags when you aren’t riding overnight is a matter of opinion. And hot debate. Plenty of roadies oppose even a conventional small saddlebag, thinking you should carry your gear in jersey pockets or a hollowed-out bidon in your 2nd bottle cage. To them I say, “ride on, and leave me be.”
Just like on MTBs where I long ago ditched the CamelBak, on road and gravel bikes I want to ride without a load on my back. Saddlebags are generally the best solution. And more size options – with easy-to-use features – are always a net positive.
Riding Impressions Review
This Silca saddlebag is especially useful, as it packs down neatly with the roll closure and on/off pressure release valve. Sticking just a light jacket inside, the main Boa loop let me really squeeze it down so it was small and out of the way.
But there was still enough room to stuff a rain jacket, a down jacket & leg warmers inside for colder weather rides. And anyway you pack it, the Boa setup does a great job of keeping the bag from swinging around underneath your saddle.
Realistically, I’m less interested in the cylinder hanging off the handlebar, but that’s just my personal preference. The Grinta bar bag is simple, functional, and actually accessible while riding from the single front zipper. With a removable plastic liner that gives it structure and keeps it from flapping around when less full.
Then, 2 rubbery main straps around the bar and a third webbing strap that can loop around your headtube or stem to keep it from swinging. Both with basic foam spacers to keep the bag just off the bar. The plastic buckles that close the straps are a bit fiddly. And it took me a minute to get used to them. But so far seem secure and kept the bag firmly in place over rough gravel shaking, as well.
Combined together, the pair are perfect for late winter rides when carrying an extra jacket plus arm & leg warmers. That means I can push hard through intervals on pre-season training rides, without worrying about freezing my ass off when a mid-ride storm rolls in and I have to descend out of the mountains soaked in sweat.
Silca Grinta bags – Pricing, models & availability
For now, Silca offers just 2 models of Grinta fast-packing bags. There’s the $95 / 115€ Grinta Handlebar Bag with 2L capacity inside the simple zip cylinder. And the more complex and unique $160 / 195€ Grinta Saddle Bag with 2-5L of roll-top capacity that you conch down and secure with two sets of BOA dials & red wires.
Both are available and in-stock now direct from Silca, or from their partner retailers.
I also wouldn’t be too surprised to see more options in the future. I might ask for a matching small partial frame bag or a toptube bag? Now, we wait and see how these first 2 are received.
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