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Silca Borsa Americano Silca Borsa Americano Silca Borsa Americano
Silca Borsa Americano Wallet

Silca Borsa Americano

6
by Tass Whitby
UPDATED Fri, Feb 09, 2018 15:47

First Published Feb 9, 2018

2
£45.00

VERDICT:

6
10
Water repellent, padded and made from recycled materials, it's a good option if you need this size, but it's expensive
Weight: 
90g
Contact: 
www.saddleback.co.uk
How we test

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The Silca Borsa Americano Wallet is a handy place to keep various ride essentials. It's water repellent, made of 'upcycled' inner tubes and wetsuit neoprene with a pleasing degree of padding, but it's pretty pricey – and a bit big if you don't need to fit an iPhone 7+ (or equivalent) inside.

  • Pros: Green credentials, water repellent, fits an iPhone 7+
  • Cons: Big unless you have an iPhone 7+, a squeeze for some jersey pockets

We've reviewed a few 'ride wallets' on road.cc, at a range of prices. Yes, you could use a (clean) dog poo bag, or a supermarket freezer bag, but taking the plunge and buying a purpose-made container is quite a nice idea, I reckon. If it does what you want it to.

> Find your nearest dealer here

This one is a bit large for my liking. If I had an iPhone 7+ I'd be glad it could fit in, but that wouldn't remove the fact that it can be a bit of a squeeze to get into a jersey or jacket pocket. And harder to remove, especially on the move.

Silca Borsa Americano Wallet - front.jpg

Aside from size, which might be perfect for your needs, it's a nice design, with an open section in the middle for your phone (or an inner tube, multi-tool, CO2 canisters, other stuff), one long pocket on one side (money, tyre levers...), and two on the other, the larger of which is just big enough for a credit card.

None are zipped – unlike with the Velopac – but that could appeal: ease of access, no potential scratching of your phone...

> Read more road.cc reviews of ride cases, wallets and bags

Although the sides and base are pretty much waterproof, and the Borsa keeps its contents dry in lighter showers, it's a shame the zip isn't more weatherproof – especially as it's likely to be sticking out the top of your pocket. There's a baffle behind it that slows down water's progress, but in persistent, heavy rain I'd be inclined to tuck it away under an outer layer.

Silca Borsa Americano Wallet - label.jpg

Is it really worth £45? It's £17 more than the similar size Velopac, £18.03 more than the Fickaskap Phone and Valuables Wallet, and £25 more than a large Sticky Pod. And a whole lot more than numerous simpler options. The Fickaskap has the bonus of being fully waterproof, and also enabling you to use your phone without having to remove it.

Overall, the Borsa provides decent protection for your phone, or a handy place to keep inner tube, tyre levers, patches and so on all together, ready to stick in a (large/stretchy) pocket for a ride. I like its look and padded feel, and it's proving robust too – which it needs to be really, for the price.

Verdict

Water repellent, padded and made from recycled materials, it's a good option if you need this size, but it's expensive

road.cc test report

Make and model: Silca Borsa Americano

Size tested: 17.5 x 9 x 2cm

Tell us what the product is for

Silca says: "We partnered with Colorado-based Ecologic Designs to create this simple yet stylish limited-edition storage solution for your every day riding essentials. Constructed of upcycled bicycle inner-tubes and upcycled wetsuit neoprene, the Borsa Americano is designed by SILCA and sewn by EcoLogic featuring four internal pockets of various sizes to give you plenty of storage options. The main compartment is designed exactly to the dimensions of an iPhone 7+ with case, resulting in minimal bulk or excess material. For the rest of the bag, it's really up to you what you want to carry. This bag is less structured than other SILCA bags, allowing the user to pack it however they like for minimal bulk and size. The large inner side pocket is perfect for storing cash or credit cards, while other pockets can hold everything from your house key to patch kit."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Silca:

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

NYLON COLORED INTERIOR LINERS

UPCYCLED BICYCLE INNER TUBES AND WETSUIT NEOPRENE

NYLON TEETH AND ZINC ZIPPER

WEATHER RESISTANT EXTERIOR

DIMENSIONS: 17.5CM L X 9CM W X 2CM T EMPTY (DIMENSIONS WILL CHANGE WHEN PACKED)

WEIGHT: 160 GRAMS

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
6/10

There's one corner where it looks like the seam's slightly off, otherwise it's well made.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

If the size suits your luggage requirements it does a good job. It's protective and tough, though not fully waterproof. It is quite bulky to squeeze into a jersey or jacket pocket; if you favour two-pocket jerseys/jackets they might accommodate it more easily.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Seems pretty tough.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

Silca says it's 160g – it came up at 90g on the road.cc Scales of Truth.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

Even taking into account its green credentials, £45 is pretty steep (Velopacs are £28, Sticky Pods £18 – even a Rapha Essentials Case is £25).

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a handy way to keep your ride essentials together in one place, if a bit bulky.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Its padded sides, and that it's made from 'upcycled' materials.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

That the zip isn't waterproof, and the size – it's a bit big for my jersey pockets.

Did you enjoy using the product? Mostly.

Would you consider buying the product? Probably not.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? If they had an iPhone 7+, maybe.

Use this box to explain your overall score

I can't criticise the size because it's designed to fit an iPhone 7+ and it does a decent job. It's expensive though, so it loses a point on that.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 51  Height: 169cm  Weight: size 10-12

I usually ride: Vitus Venon  My best bike is: Paulus Quiros

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, sportives, general fitness riding

Silca Borsa Americano 2018
Silca Borsa Americano
Silca 2018
Silca
Tass Whitby

Tass is our production pedant, who boldly goes hunting for split infinitives, rogue apostrophes and other things up with which she will not put. She joined road.cc in 2015 but first began working on bike magazines way back in 1991 as production editor on Mountain Biking UK, then deputy editor of MTB Pro, before changing allegiance to road cycling as senior production editor on Cycling Plus. She's ridden off-road but much prefers on, hasn't done half the touring she'd like to, and loves paper maps.

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2 comments

Avatar
bechdan | 6 years ago
1 like

ridiculous, anyone buying this has all money and no sense. Just buy a pencil case if you need something padded, and it isnt even waterproof! Ziploc bag, job done.

Avatar
nortonpdj | 6 years ago
0 likes

Silly.

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