Although there isn’t a clear answer to this, one thing is sure, a pommel bag can usually carry more weight than a traditional saddle bag. And this isn’t because of the materials they use but their positioning. A standard rear-mounted saddlebag is generally mounted just above a horse’s kidneys, making that area quite sensitive to weight. While pommel bags are located just above or on the sides of its withers, an area where horses can withstand a lot more weight. Another thing to remember is that the size of the pommel bag can also affect the maximum weight it can carry. For most medium size pommel bags, this capacity is around 200 lbs.