SILCA Mattone Grande Saddle Bag Review - feat. BOA Dial + Hypalon Strap + Waterproof + Inner Pocket

While most bike photos on Instagram or other social media sites rarely have them installed, saddle bags are an essential accessory for most cyclists. It’s a great way to carry extra tubes, repair tools and even food on rides. In this review we’ll be looking at the latest SILCA saddle bag, the Mattone Grande. With “Mattone” being Italian for brick, the Mattone Grande is referred to as the “bigger brick” saddle bag. Even though the Mattone Grande offers 77cm3 which is double the capacity of the original Mattone, the retail price is only a few dollars more at $55. The Mattone Grande retains the same waterproof YKK zipper and high visibility red interior. What is unique about the Mattone bag is that it uses SILCA’s elastic Hypalon Strap w/ BOA dial ($30 separately) to secure it to the saddle rails rather than traditional velcro straps.
Rather than using common velcro straps to attach the saddlebag to the bike, SILCA has incorporated their elastic Hypalon Strap w/ BOA dial. The strap wraps around the saddle rails to keep the Mattone Grande tight against the saddle. Thanks to the wide strap and strength of the BOA dial the Mattone Grande doesn’t rattle or sway even though it only has a single attachment point. Attaching the bag to the saddle rails is as simple as sliding each side of the strap through the saddle rails and pulling the wire for the BOA dial through the plastic hook. That’s easier said than done though, as the clearance for the wire is minimal which means you need to carefully align the wire and pull it through. That means removing and installing the bag isn’t as convenient as you’d expect for a BOA closure system but may improve with use.
Visually the SILCA Mattone Grande lives up to the “bigger brick” product name. The saddlebag has a rectangular profile with internal dimensions of 150mm x 90mm x 55mm which means it’s still relatively compact and tucks underneath saddles. The exterior of the Mattone Grande has a leather like exterior with a waterproof YKK zipper that wraps completely around. Diamond-like stitching on the bottom of the saddlebag provides a texture contrast to the otherwise smooth exterior as well as the SILCA logo. Branding is limited to that logo and “SILCA” printed on the Hypalon strap which gives the Mattone Grande an understated appearance...
... Read the full review @ thesweetcyclis...
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00:00 Intro
00:11 Unboxing + Specs
02:30 Fit + Finish
06:26 On The Bike
08:23 Comparison (Topeak Burrito Pack / EVOC Saddlebag/ KOM Cycling Saddle Roll)
11:26 The Final Score
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SILCA - silca.cc/
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[@angelortiz353]

Best saddle bag i ever owned fits snugged and carries just enough of what i need

[@salsalawyer]

for security, i like that it's not readily accesible to get inside without almost completely removing the bag.

[@TheSweetCyclists]

I'm still using this bag on my main bike and the lack of accessibility is my biggest complaint. Fixing a flat or just trying to get something out of the bag takes some time. If you're worried about security that could be a good thing, but a thief can always just walk away with the entire bag.

[@salsalawyer]

@@TheSweetCyclists true but I'm meaning keeping the items from falling off or rattling.

[@TheSweetCyclists]

Ah, that makes sense. You definitely won't have things falling out of the bag with this design.@@salsalawyer

[@look5000]

I find it handy to have my multitool at the zipper of the Mattone so I can access without taking the bag off the bike.

[@kevingraham3272]

I wish I would have watched Your video; which was very helpful, before I purchased Silca Mattone grande. I have other Silca products and they are all A+. The Mattone Grande not so much. My biggest complaints are that it is not big enough for my needs, You have to take it off the bike to full access the contents, and I have not warm up to the boa wire gizmo. My favorite bag is the Tern Ride pocket. It is well made, holds more gear including a mini pump, and gear can be accessed without taking off the bike. It is not for everyone. It does not have hi viz interior.

[@TheSweetCyclists]

Thanks, glad the video matches your experience. I'm actually still using the Mattone now, but as you said the BOA mechanism isn't that great. It can be frustrating to get the wire through the hoop to secure the bag. Topeak actually has the Elementa saddle bag that's similar to this but offers accessible pockets without removing the bag (it is on the small side though).

[@SPHINX144]

Would this fit an iPhone 14 pro max? Already have a bike computer so I need to carry my phone inside the bag.

[@TheSweetCyclists]

No, I don't think it would fit. The internal dimensions of the bag are 150 x 90 x 55 mm which isn't long enough to fit the big 160.7mm height of the iPhone. You would need a larger saddlebag to fit the phone.

[@Bruh-lm4zr]

Of these 3 bags, which one is the best? EVOC Saddlebag?

[@TheSweetCyclists]

Yes, I think I prefer the EVOC Saddelbag over the SILCA and Topeak Burrito pack. The standard rear opening of the EVOC is a lot easier to use on the road. With the SILCA or Topeak Burrito pack it's very hard to access things in the bag without taking it off the bike.

[@sopadre77]

I searched videos on this bag specifically to see if I was right, from the product pics, in thinking it wasn't user friendly in that the zipper was in the wrong place and things would might fall out when you try and access them. I'll keep looking . . .

[@TheSweetCyclists]

Yes, the bag looks cool but it isn't that user friendly if you want to do roadside repairs.

[@sopadre77]

​@@TheSweetCyclistshad another question for you, when you get a chance. I noticed in an Amazon review video that the strap with the boa dial on it can be adjusted back an forth. Can you mount the bag "upside-down" where the lid is on top and then move the boa strap to the side where you can still access it? (Hope that makes sense)

[@axva1663]

@@sopadre77 You could mount it upside down, but the issue is that the lid doesn't have the little loop strap (see 2:43 mark) to weave the BOA strap through and restrain the bag from slipping out from your saddle. Hope this makes sense too!

[@sopadre77]

@@axva1663 it does! Thanks! I took a second look right after I sent that to you and realized the same thing; the little strap on the bottom would have to be moved to the lid. I don't have the required sewing skills. 😄 The search continues . . .

[@ronadler4442]

It’s too hard to go on google translate and check how you should say Mattone?

[@TheSweetCyclists]

Yes. You should hear how I've been pronouncing chamois.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Can you get that strap seperately?

[@TheSweetCyclists]

Yes you can. It's actually $30 on it's own - silca.cc/products/hypalon-edc-strap-w-boa-closure.

[@StanEby1]

Made in Myanmar. That is not China. Buy as many as you can. Go Burma!!! May your industries flourish!

[@johntechwriter]

Yeah, right, one of the most murderous military-run governments on the planet.

[@coolhand1966]

VeloCOLOUR Rocket Pocket is the original. You're welcome.

[@davidrsmith2417]

I really need a slightly longer "brick" bag that will also carry a smartphone.

[@TheSweetCyclists]

If enough people ask, SILCA might come out with a "Mattone Más Grande" saddle bag.

[@johntechwriter]

Your smartphone should be on a handlebar mount running the Cadence cycling app, which supports Garmin’s revolutionary rear light/radar (the Varia RTL515), which mounts on your seatpost, which is why you bought the Mattrone to begin with, to free up your seatpost.

[@johntechwriter]

You don’t want the grandé. You want the little Mattrone. It’s all you need and is far more elegant. This reviewer thinks everybody knows about BOA Fit System. If you don’t, it’s worth your while to look up. It works better than all the conventional ways to attach your pack.

[@TheSweetCyclists]

Agreed - the standard Mattone is a sleeker bag if you don't need the extra space. The BOA dial is definitely a lot nicer than traditional Velcro straps that get dirty and become loose over time.

[@applesandsynths]

I already own the Mattone but wanted the bigger version for longer rides. Thanks for the heads up that I don't want a bigger version 😂 /s