Stiffening leather saddlebags

So my new saddlebags lose their shape when empty. The front caves in causing the bottom to sag close to the pipes. As shown:





They are designed so the outer side of the bag is longer than the other side so they expand in a sense. When fully loaded this isnt a problem but the majority of the time they wont be.
Putting this simple piece of wood inside solves the problem perfectly, but it looks bad and will come out of place easily.





So im wondering what i can use? I dont want to rivet or glue anything as it would need to come out when heavily loading the bags for more room. Trying to think of a product which can slide over the rim of the bag to firm it up, but can also be removed, like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUdsX0pjN8E

Any ideas?
Much appreciated

I cut a piece of wood the same size as the bottom & placed it in the bags. This gave me a really rigid bottom. I then cut up a strong plastic box & stuck it back together, the right size for my bags. This gave me a strong bottom and rigid sides. 
Hope this gives you ideas as to a possible fix for you. 

Maybe a harder base would stop the sides caving in. Otherwise a strip of metal i could crimp alone the lip would work just fine but no idea where to get some.
Ill see what i can come up with

You could make a frame for the inside out of an old coat hanger? (wire type)

I dont think that would be strong enough

A good metal panel to use is from old computer cases, very sturdy and don't take any room at all. Go  to your local tip and ask there for some old cases, cut them up to suit, and fit the insides of your panniers, you may need some small rivets but still a good cheap mod.

I wouldnt want to rivet it because when camping etc i need the extra room the bags give by expanding outwards, hence the idea of something firm that can simply crimp onto the lip of the bag. 
I'll try putting a piece of wood in the bottom though, that might also stop the side caving in.
A bit L shaped panel of some sort would work too. I may just cut a plastic box up as suggested.

Mr I has done his so thats a good recommendation But I also like Alfies suggestion if you can find a good guy at the local tip. It may be advantageous to keep them packed with something light either way, that will help them stay looking nice when not used.

Do you have a pic of how you did it Mr I?
Did you just use one of those clear plastic containers?

I will take some pics over the weekend Eazy.

Awesome thanks!

Just to add my 2p worth, my bags are similar so I bought 2 baking sheets from the 99p store used tin snips to cut them to size and riveted them to the bottom of the bags using washers on the outside, very light weight and solved the problem.

I could rivet but i'd prefer a removeable option.
I did think about getting some aluminium tube, cutting it to the length of the bag (like that wood), and making one small hole in the bag either side and using small black cable ties to hold the tube in place. 
That or Mr I's idea, what ever i do it needs to be easily removed.

Could you take some pics today Mr I if you get the time?

I made an inner box for my saddle bags out of that corrugated plastic that Real estate agents use for their signs.

So several steps to follow:

1.  Sell your house

2.  Take down Real Estate agent's sign

3.  Cut in the form of a cross, with the central rectangle to suit your saddlebag bottom and the arms of the cross to suit the height of your bags.  Allow for tabs on the arms of the cross to strengthen the areas to be glued.

4.  Apply Araldite liberally to hold together

Mine could be lifted out of the bags, that would allow you to use the expanding feature of your bags, but I mainly left them in them.

Lol thanks, i had since bought a couple of clear plastic containers from ebay which fixed the problem and makes for easy removal of items if i need to

You  could always try the stationery file binders the u shaped channel they use for holding reports together put along the top edge under the flap hope this makes sense

Buy/scavenge 2 plastic containers the same size (Tight fit is best) as the inside of the bags and cut the top off to suit. If your bags have rounded front and rear bottom edges simply trim those edges off to suit. Farmers have drench containers of all kinds of shapes and these are generally really sturdy. Empty containers can be found at the recycle centers or even new jerry cans come in all sorts of sizes and shapes, you just gotta find the one that fits best.

Plastic can also be welded, heated and shaped.

I use oxford soft bags that have been sandwiched on the bike side with 3mm sheet plastic (poly somthing or other from a plastics specialist). The outer has been shaped and designed to hook over the 19mm tube of the luggage bracket. This has made a very professional clip on clip off arrangement. Once clipped into place, they don't move at all. They also can be expanded to their fill width.

The biggest thing to do is have a solid platform to attach to and support the hanging bags. I hate throw over bags and anything that takes more than 5 seconds to fit.

Anyway PM me with your e-mail and I can send some pics of my setup for someone to put in the forum.

What about a piece of ply cut to size?  Cut a finger hole in the middle to remove it easily & smooth the edges off with sandpaper

Or you can cut one piece of wood with the same shape of the bottom saddlebags, cut in half and joined them with two hinges. So it was only need to press down and it will be flat with the weight you want to put. Whenever you want, just pull up, no drilling, no screws, nuts, etc....