Mounted search and rescue

["Kate Beardsley" <katebeardsley@hotmail.com>]

Claudia,
Great topic! I'm a bit of a saddle bag snob and seem to never be truly happy 
with what I can find.

As far as cantle bag/rear saddle bag combos, the two best options I've found 
are Saddle Software Systems and TrailMax.

Saddle Software Systems are found at: 
http://www.havesaddlewilltravel.com/store/index.php/cPath/45
They are spendy, but do seem to be made durably and with fairly nice design. 
There are lots of options to mix & match. Most of the saddle bags come 
designed to attach to "saddle suspenders" that lay across the back of your 
saddle, then you choose what size and design of actual saddle bags you clip 
on. The saddle bags also can be used as back packs and bike panniers. Then 
you can choose to add one of several styles of cantle bags on top of your 
saddle bags. When this company first started, I got very irritated because 
buyers were encouraged to buy the largest saddle bags and cantle bags and I 
found all sorts of people overloading their horses and creating problems 
(they had the space - why not fill it?). Now there are more choices and the 
buyer can choose what size load to carry.

TrailMax products can be found at:
http://www.outfitterssupply.com/products.asp?dept=10
This company also has saddle bags and cantle bags that you can mix & match 
to some extent. They are less expensive than SSS, but also not quite the 
quality. I see a lot of people on the trail with TrailMax.

I'd love to hear what other options folks have found as I will be replacing 
my system this year.(I replaced my 18 year old system last year with a cheap 
knock-off that is NOT sufficient.)
Kate


"We are what we repeatedly do."

Kate Beardsley
...building relationships
...developing athletes
..."driven" to excellence
Central Oregon
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 10:39:36 -0500
> From: "Claudia LaChance" <Claudia@tqc.com>
> Subject: Re: [MSAR] trail bags?

> Hi All
> I have been pricing and keeping an eye on ebay for trail bags. It seems 
> hard
> to find a cantle bag, 3 piece style without paying big bucks. I did find 
> one
> on ebay, but now the price is so low I wonder about the durabilty. It is
> also black and I'd like one I could easily find in the dark if need be.
> What do you all use or recommend?
>
> Claudia LaChance