CHARLIE SEAT BAG

The Charlie Seat Bag attaches securely to your saddle rails and seatpost, providing a large chunk of cargo room for bikepacking-style endeavors. Large seat bags typically sway quite a bit side-to-side; not so with the Charlie. RailWing V2 prevents bag movement and allows for very quick removal of the bag at camp.

FEATURES = BENEFITS:

• RailWing V2 technology = a cinched, no-sway ride on the roughest roads or trails; bag installs and detaches from RailWing and bike in seconds; no tools required for RailWing V2 install on saddle

• Simple, secure rolltop closure with locking roll cinch strap = compresses cargo and provides excellent ride quality with minimum fuss

• Internal framesheet = provides streamlined structure where necessary

• User-replaceable wear parts = long-term service life

• Built with weatherproof materials and closures = your cargo is protected

• Truly artisan-level design and build quality = beautiful gear that lasts with elevated function and reliability

DISADVANTAGES:

• Not dropper compatible

• Not 100% waterproof: built with weatherproof materials, but it is a sewn product, so in heavy downpours dampness may show at the seams

• Craftsmanship like this doesn’t come cheap

Choose In-Stock or Build-to-Spec.

IN-STOCK: I keep as much gear built and ready to ship as possible.

BUILD-TO-SPEC: Click here for current lead time. If nothing’s in stock or you want a different color, Build-to-Spec is an option. This costs a bit more because your gear isn’t built as part of a batch. Choose one or two colors at checkout. Available color swatches are shown in the photostream - in order shown, left to right: Black, Cayenne, Ocean Blue, Evergreen, Goldenrod, Coyote Brown, Dark Camo, Olive Green, Marigold, Matrix Gray, Slate Gray, Red, Electric Blue, Southwest Turquoise, Deep Purple, Blaze Orange, Lime Green.

WEIGHT: 15.5oz/440g, true measured

VOLUME: 6-10L, depending on how far you roll it down, true measured

DIMENSIONS: 7.5”W x 14-19”L x 7”H

ORIGIN: 100% built by Venture Handmade in the USA. Majority of material is recycled and made in the USA.

COMPATIBILITY - CLEARANCE: Requires 8” of clearance between your rear tire and saddle rails.

• If you have a full-suspension, measure with the rear suspension fully compressed. You must deflate the rear shock and bottom out the rear shock to confirm this measurement. An easy estimation method is to drop the post, measure to the rear tire, and subtract your bike’s rear wheel suspension travel. If the estimate is close to 8”, take the more difficult measurement to be certain.

COMPATIBILITY - SADDLES: Works with essentially any saddle with typically shaped saddle rails behind the seatpost, including carbon rails. Not compatible with Brooks leather, Selle Anatomica, and similar saddles with extremely wide-spaced, curved rails behind the seatpost.

COMPATIBILITY - SEATPOSTS: Works with any rigid seatpost. Not compatible with dropper posts unless you treat your dropper as a rigid post, and tape the stanchion to protect it from abrasion where the Charlie straps in place.

VIDEO: See above for video instructions.

STEP-BY-STEP:

• First, install the RailWing. Take the upper strap with the alloy buckles and thread over the rearward-facing portion of the saddle rails. Hold the lower part of the RailWing against the back of the saddle rails, facing backwards and down.

• Fasten the two parts of the RailWing together by adhering the top velcro strap with buckles to the lower part with the saddle rails in between. Keeping the whole assembly centered on the rails, pull each side of the upper strap VERY tight before fastening to the lower. Finally, wrap the center velcro around the entire assembly and VERY tightly secure. The RailWing should move very little on the saddle rails.

• Pack the bag with stuffable items - clothing, shelter, sleeping gear - and close tightly with the roll closure and rear cinch strap.

• Finally, install the bag by loosely slipping each side’s main loop strap into the alloy buckles on the RailWing. Secure the nose strap firmly to the seatpost. Press the velcro top of the bag into the RailWing, keeping the bag centered. Last, tightly cinch the side main straps.

• At camp, leave the RailWing installed and simply remove the bag if desired.

FREE SHIPPING in the Lower 48! For details on shipping and returns, click here.

What I do, why I do it, and the way it’s done:

• I’ve been working in the bicycle industry since 1997 and hand-building gear for bicycles since 2010. A lot has changed over the years, but what’s remained the same is my motivation. I’m still here, still innovating, still building, and still believing in American craftsmanship.

• My process is human-scale and analog, not corporate and digital. I’m not intentionally a throwback; that's just the way life makes sense to me. I can’t help but push back on a modern age obsessed with technology, externalization, and efficiency at all costs… a world that increasingly feels inhuman. Working with my hands and conversing with my customers is good for me, good for customers, provides purpose, and supports my family. I count that as a win.

If you feel like reading, here's a proper manifesto.