Mountain Ridge Gear Saddle Bags Built for serious trail riders, hunters, and backcountry adventurers, our saddle bags are designed to provide ample storage without compromising rider safety or animal comfort. Constructed from rugged 1000D Cordura® nylon, these bags are built to withstand years of hard use in demanding conditions. Premium YKK® zippers provide reliable performance, while the integrated MOLLE attachment systemallows riders to attach compatible accessories such as GPS pouches, water bottle holders, bear spray holsters, first aid kits, and other small essentials that need to remain readily accessible on the trail. The removable cantle bag features 40-inch compression straps, allowing bulky items such as a tripod, shed antlers, rain gear, bedroll, jacket, or other trail essentials to be securely attached to the top of the bag. When needed, the cantle bag can be removed and used independently, giving riders additional flexibility in how they organize their gear. Why Don't We Make Larger Saddle Bags? We are occasionally asked if we can make our saddle bags larger. The short answer is yes—but we intentionally designed them the size they are for both rider safety and animal comfort. Rider Safety Matters The cantle bag is sized to fit within the profile of the saddle's cantle. An oversized cantle bag can interfere with mounting and dismounting by making it more difficult to swing your leg over the saddle. In a routine mount, this can be inconvenient. In an emergency situation where a rider needs to exit the saddle quickly, an oversized cantle bag can become a safety hazard. Designed for Your Animal's Comfort The saddle bag pouches are carefully sized to minimize pressure over the animal's kidney area. Larger bags often encourage riders to carry more weight farther back on the animal, placing loads where they are less comfortable and less stable. Stability on the Trail Large, oversized saddle bags are more likely to swing, flop, or bounce when traveling over rough terrain. If an animal jumps a log, crosses uneven ground, or makes a sudden movement, oversized bags can strike the animal's sides. This unexpected movement can startle even well-trained horses, mules, and donkeys, increasing the risk of an accident. Our saddle bags are designed to ride close to the saddle, stay stable on the trail, and carry the gear most riders need for a day in the backcountry. Need More Capacity? For riders who require additional storage, we recommend utilizing the removable cantle bag for bulky items and reserving the MOLLE system for small accessories that benefit from quick access. For extended trips, additional cargo can be carried in pommel bags or on a pack animal. This approach distributes weight more effectively while maintaining the safety and comfort of both rider and animal. As with all Mountain Ridge Gear products, every design decision is made with durability, functionality, rider safety, and animal comfort in mind. Are they insulated? Many riders ask if our saddle bags are insulated. Rather than adding bulky insulation that takes up valuable storage space and still requires riders to deal with melting ice, we recommend the PackIt® Freezable Lunch Box. Its slim design fits neatly inside the saddle bag pouches and, during our testing, kept food and drinks cold for approximately 5–7 hours without the need for loose ice or separate ice packs. It's an excellent solution for carrying lunches, snacks, or cold beverages on the trail while keeping the saddle bags lightweight and versatile. Check out the Freezable Lunch Boxes
