If you’ve ever worried about whether you need to have a saddle bag, or if you have the right things packed in it, I’m here to put your mind at rest.

You don’t always need saddle bag, but it is the most convenient way to carry three things that you should have on your ride: An extra inner tube, a multi-tool, and a tire lever set. However, there are other useful items, and how you pack them can matter.

What to pack

Necessities

You don’t need to pack everything and the kitchen sink into your saddle bag. Space is limited, and you should pack as little as you can. Thankfully, I would say that there are only a few things you NEED before you start your ride.

Extra Inner Tube

Just make sure to buy an extra of the same kind as what is already in your tire! If you aren’t sure what to buy, take your bike (or just the wheel) into a bike shop and they will help you find what you need.

As much as we would like to not think about it, we’ll all pop a tire at some point. Fear not, though! Replacing your inner tube isn’t too difficult, and it’s a good skill to have. Just make sure to pack the extra or you’ll be walking to your destination.

Tire Levers

Tire levers are what they sound like. They are small levers that you use to put on and remove your tire from the rim. You can get a 3 or 4 tire levers for $5 to $10 on Amazon.

They are an absolute necessity if you get a flat and need to replace your tube. They are pretty cheap, and they are the kind of thing you’ll really regret not having once you want them. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter if you packed an extra tube, you are walking your bike home or to a local shop.

Multi-tool

Multi-tools usually include some combination of a set of hex keys, a knife, a screwdriver, and a wedge. I would mostly worry about the hex keys, though. They are the most common tool used to tighten or loosen part on your bike

You can absolutely get away with not having a multi-tool in your saddle bag, but it solves an incredible array of problems. It’s just too convenient to not put in the “necessities” group.

I have been on multiple rides where I or someone else hadn’t tightened something down enough before we got going. So, we stopped, I pulled out my trusty multi-tool, we fixed the problem, and enjoyed the rest of the ride.

If you want to check them out, this link will show you a good one with a case on Amazon.

Photo ID

saddle bag with my ID and key coming out

This is another item you can technically get away with not having on you, but it’s too important in an emergency to not include. Heaven forbid, but if you are in an accident, you’ll be asked for your ID.

Also, if you are all of age, having your ID means that your group can stop at a local bar or pub for food and drinks.

Keys

More specifically, you need to make sure you can get back into wherever you live. I’ve lived in places with FOBs, codes, ID cards, but now I just have a key. Every ride, I would make sure to stuff them into my saddle bag.

If I drive to my start location, though, I only throw in my car keys.

Good To Have

Patch Kit

The next best thing after completely replacing your inner tube is fixing it. Patch kits include all of the supplies that you need to seal up small holes and prevent leaks. They come in many forms, but accomplish the same task. Just make sure to read the instructions before going for a ride.

The patches in this kit on Amazon come pre-glued. Which is incredibly convenient.

Cash

You don’t need to keep much, just enough to get a quick meal, drink, or the supplies to fix your bike. I tend to bring my own food and drinks on a ride, but I can absolutely imagine needing just a little more to get me by.

If I’m riding with friends, I can also imagine stopping at a restaurant for a meal. Ideally, that kind of thing would be planned so you can know to bring a wallet, but you never know when inspiration will strike.

Rear Light

I guess this doesn’t technically count as “in” your bag, but a lot of bags will have a place to attach your rear light. Not every rear light is compatible, though. Some are specifically designed to attach to your seat post. Just make sure you aren’t blocking the light with your saddle bag.

Extras

Zip ties

Just after a multi-tool, zip ties are some of the most useful tools that you can keep in your saddle bag. Ideally, you can find reusable ones, but a small handful of regular ones will do as well.

Most riders will have something come loose on their bike at some point. Zip ties are, by far, one of the most convenient ways to tie something back down until you can get a more official fix for it.

CO2 Cartridge Inflator

There are adapters that you can put a CO2 cartridge into and then plug into your stem, and it will “pump” your tire to pressure in seconds. They are mostly used when you replace a tube during a ride and want to get back on the road as quickly as possible.

Make sure you get the adapter AND the cartridges, and also make sure to read all of the instructions and warnings before you ride with it. Here’s a listing on Amazon that bundles both together.

While I still prefer just an emergency pump, the CO2 cartridges are smaller and fit well into a saddle bag or a pocket.

What else to have on your bike

Emergency Pump

An emergency pump is just a tiny pump. It takes quite a bit longer to fill a tire than a floor pump does, but it is also much more convenient to stick on your bike than a floor pump is.

I highly suggest getting a pump, like this one on Amazon, that has a short flexible tube running from the pump to your stem. It is so much more convenient than the models that connect directly. I have one of those and, while it works great, I’m more nervous that I’ll break something.

Phone

Most everyone has a cell phone. If it is smart, you can use it for maps or for tracking your ride. If it isn’t, you can still call someone if you need to.

Either way, your phone is a great thing to keep on your bike. I don’t particularly suggest keeping it in your saddle bag though. Getting a phone mount from Amazon tends to scratch it less.

How to pack it

Inner Tube

If your inner tube isn’t already rolled up, we’ll need to roll it up before packing it. There are plenty of ways to do it, but here is just one way.

Pull it flat and have the stem towards one end. Take the other end and start rolling it tightly. Every once in a while, you may need to press on the core of the stem to let some air out.

When you roll it up to the stem, lift the end of the tube up a bit so the stem can rest on top of the rolled up tube. Take some sort of elastic band or strap and wrap it around the tube to keep it rolled up nicely.

Multi-tool

Your multi-tool should be made of metal. That means that it is incredibly strong and durable, but not everything else in your saddle bag is. I have heard stories of people finding holes in fresh tubes because of multi-tools, and I’ve personally found some scratches on things like IDs.

Your best bet for protecting the rest of your equipment is to wrap up your multi-tool. This one on Amazon comes with a case. However, mine didn’t come with one. So I just wrap it in a thin rag or with a paper towel.

Organization

My biggest tip is that you make it as easy as possible to add your ID and Keys to your bag. If you don’t have a pocket for them, find the side that the bag opens from, and stuff everything else on the other side. That will leave enough room to slip your keys in at the last second.

The picture above is how I personally pack my bag. I put the tube all the way to one side and the patch kit on the other, then the multi-tool and tire levers on top, and I keep my ID and keys in the pocket or on the side where zipper closes the bag.

How you pack your own saddle bag is truely and art. Yours won’t be the same size as someone else’s, and you won’t put the exact same things in it. Spend some time trying to figure out the best way to fit your stuff into your bag.

I hope that this article gave you the confidence of knowing what you want in your saddle bag, and how to pack it. Now you are prepared to take on your next ride.