About Saddlebaghq

Why I Started This Site

I bought my first "waterproof" saddlebag in 2008. The marketing photos showed it surviving a hurricane. In reality, it leaked during a light drizzle outside Flagstaff, destroying my camera gear and soaking my only pair of jeans for a three-week trip. That wasn't an isolated incident—it was the third piece of gear that year that failed to live up to the showroom hype. I was tired of dropping hundreds of dollars on luggage, jackets, and helmets that looked great in product photos but fell apart when subjected to actual asphalt, weather, and the vibration of a motorcycle engine.

Saddlebaghq exists because specification sheets don't tell you whether a zipper will jam when you're wearing winter gloves, or if a tank bag magnet will scratch your paint after six months of dust accumulation. I built this site to answer the questions that actually matter when you're 200 miles from home and the weather turns, or when you need to know if that "universal fit" claim translates to your specific bike.

About Cole Briggs

I've been riding for over two decades, starting on a beat-up Ninja 250 that taught me more about threshold braking than any classroom could. Since then, I've put miles on everything from litre-class sport bikes to 1200cc adventure machines weighing nearly 600 pounds. I spent six years as a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) instructor, teaching hundreds of students how to ride and watching firsthand how proper gear—or lack thereof—changes outcomes when things go sideways.

My expertise comes from the uncomfortable miles. I've ridden through 110-degree Mojave desert heat that melted cheap tank bag liners, and freezing Montana hail storms that tested every seam in my riding jackets. I've lowsided on track days, dumped adventure bikes in sand washes, and done 500-mile days that revealed exactly where saddlebag mounting hardware starts to rattle loose. When I evaluate a piece of gear, I'm not reading corporate press releases—I'm remembering what it feels like to fish for a zipper with numb fingers, or how a poorly distributed load affects handling in a decreasing-radius corner.

I don't review gear I haven't personally used for extended periods. If I'm recommending a set of panniers or a helmet, it's because I've sweated in it, crashed in it, or relied on it through conditions that justify the price tag. My teaching background means I prioritize safety construction and ergonomic function over brand names, and my riding history means I understand the difference between gear that works for a Sunday coffee run versus equipment that survives a cross-country tour.

What We Cover

This site focuses on the gear that gets you there and back. Whether you're a daily commuter navigating urban traffic, a weekend warrior carving canyons, or an adventure tourer planning months on the road, the reviews here are written for riders who use their bikes, not just polish them.

How We Test & Review

Every product featured on Saddlebaghq undergoes a minimum 30-day real-world evaluation. I don't unbox gear in a studio and publish a review. I mount the bags, wear the jackets, and ride with the gear through varied conditions—commuting in rush-hour traffic, weekend twisties, and whenever possible, the kind of weather that reveals manufacturing shortcuts.

My evaluation criteria focus on what matters when you're moving:

I need to be transparent: Saddlebaghq participates in affiliate programs, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this site. However, these relationships never influence ratings or recommendations. I have no incentive to praise subpar gear—my credibility is worth more than any single commission. you'll find negative reviews here alongside the winners, and if a product fails during testing, I document the failure exactly as it happened.

Get In Touch

Questions about whether a specific bag will fit your bike model? Want to know how a particular jacket holds up after a full season of daily riding? Or maybe you just want to argue about the best touring setup for the Pacific Coast Highway. I'm always happy to talk shop with fellow riders. Drop me a line anytime at info@saddlebaghq.com—I read every email and typically respond within a couple of days.

Questions? Reach us at info@saddlebaghq.com