Backpack Recommendations

[JayPowHound]

I have decided that it's time to bite the bullet and get a backpack that will work for me on the bike.

I have been sticking my little tool kit and a tube into a saddle bag, but it's becoming more and more clear to me that it makes sense to carry a 1st aid kit when travelling hrs from a parking lot, so I think I have come around to carrying a pack.

I know a lot of people ride with backpacks, but as of now I'm not one of them.

It obviously has to fit well, which will be a bit subjective, but I'm wondering where to start looking?

Low profile is a big priority, as is a strapping system that will successfully eliminate any lateral movement. My biggest concern about riding with a pack is feeling it move around behind me and worry that it could mess with my (already questionable) balance on the bike.

I'm sure that I'm over thinking this, and obviously I need to go to a shop and try shit on..

But what pack are you riding with? What do you love about it? What do you wish was different ?

[skinipenem]

friends love the osprey rev series for the dual strap system and decreased slop movement. bias is that they are sponsored by osprey; however, after trying them on we just ordered a couple.

[jm2e]

I had an Osprey Raptor series pack and hated everything about it. I don't return much stuff to REI, but in that case I was certainly glad for their 100% no questions return policy. I didn't like the bladder, the way it filled, the lid closure, the bite valve, the magnet thing. I didn't like the strapping system or the way it sat on my back. The sling thing on the back panel made it feel like it was an inch or two above my back and always wanted to roll off to one side or the other. The pack layout didn't work for me and shit was hard to dig out of it. I can only assume the Rev series are totally different and improved.

I replaced the Osprey with a Camelback Mule NV. The one I had was the older model with the pods and the mesh that supposedly helped with ventilation. Not sure about ventilation, but the pods really help the pack contour to my skinny, bony spine. In this aspect, the pack works really well for me. I also like how easy it is to open up the pack and get shit out. That said, Camelbak packs are designed to look good in the showroom. From my experience, their smaller packs tend to ride a lot better, and all their packs work best when they aren't fully loaded. Once they're full, you start to realize that Camelbak likes a narrow profile in their packs, which doesn't really carry well or contour to your back when hunched over on a bike. The more shit you put in it, the more it feels like a sausage. The pockets are designed so that as you fill them up, the volume moves farther and farther away from your back. Keep it half full and cinched down, it'll ride great. Stuff your jacket, sweater and pads in there and it's not so awesome.

I warranty replaced the above pack directly through Camelbak because their lifetime warranty is fucking amazing. They sent me a newer model of the Mule NV no questions asked. It was the one with the articulating back panels and I sold it on eBay. Should have kept it.

Thinking the warranty service would be slow, I bought a Camelbak Agent on sale. In theory, it was going to be awesome because it's aimed at "enduro" riders who need to strap pads and shit all over their pack. In that aspect, it's great. But in every other aspect, it's still a narrow assed Camelbak that just feels more and more like a sausage as you fill it up. Making it worse, is that the hip belt is nice and wide really close to the pack, but by the time the strap reaches your actual hip, it's just a narrow piece of webbing. Totally useless for actual "enduro" riding.

I have a friend with a Deuter pack and he loves it. Everything I say to bitch about the above packs, he swears is 100x better with the Deuter. Except the bladder. Camelbak bladder FTW.

[bean]

Sworn pack-hater checking in, have you considered a small medkit that will fit in a jersey pocket? Heat, weight, and all the extra crap you end up bringing (if you have storage space, it will end up filled with something) are good reasons to not ride with a pack.

[sb]

I have the red one, I am so much faster now.

Which is not saying much.

[NuMexJoe]

Scroll down and find the guy that has the barely used Dakine Nomad for sale. I absolutely love mine (although I did replace the bladder with a MSR), and it'd be a cheap way for you to try out a hydration pack and see what features you'd use and what you'd rather not mess with.

[radam]

I have a Dakine Shuttle pack which I like for short rides and for riding lifts. I also have an Osprey Raptor 10 that I like for everything else. Makes a great hiking pack as well. My back gets sweaty with both but I like to carry stuff so I don't get stranded. I've read good things about some of the new hip packs that are out there and would give one a try if I ever saw one in the flesh somewhere.

[Anospa]

I had a hydrapack when I first started riding, layout wasn't wasn't too bad but it moved around a bit. I have gone through 2 dakines in the past few years, which overall were great. I loved the nomad and how it split open like a suitcase and you could lay it out and find whatever you needed, but it was a bit tall and narrow. I have an osprey zealot coming now, I've liked my other osprey packs so figured it was worth trying out for biking and seeing if they stand up to the hype.

If I've managed to hydrate well and its a short ride, I'll just stuff my pockets/SWAT bibs with things I'll need. Anything over 2 hours and I start to think better about not riding with a pack.

[evasive_MT]

I just got the new Osprey Zealot 15 yesterday. I haven't ridden with it yet, but when I was transferring contents last night, my first impression was that it's a little over-engineered. The zippers and pockets aren't quite as user friendly as other bags, but they're more or less the same as their ski packs. Getting access to the reservoir isn't as easy other packs I've used either. I haven't had a chance to decide what I think about the self-contained tool stash. It seems like a neat idea but I've heard people say it's a pain.

On the other hand, it is much broader and flatter than my last pack (Dakine Drafter ca 2010). And it feels like it will ride better. It fits my Silky Big Boy saw perfectly, and the goggle/sunglasses pocket is nicely done.

Looking at them in person will be a lot easier than shopping online. For a first pack, I'd suggest getting something on the smaller, lighter side. I tend to use a 70z bladder for local rides. That's usually enough for me and my dog. The extra 30oz in a full 100oz bladder seems to be enough to push a pack over the "heavy" line for me.

[joetron]

I've been using a Camelback Volt13 for the past year. The bladder is carried down in the lumbar zone, which leaves the upper half a little slimmer. I really like it, carrying the water weight down low feels better on my back and the whole pack feels more stable.
The Hip straps have pockets, which is awesome.
I haven't had a Dakine pack in the past few years, so I can't speak to them.
I did have a few Osprey Raptors of different sizes, which I really liked initially. But then I won a CamelBack Octane LV at a race and was stoked on the lumbar bladder and the light weight, but it was a little small for bigger days so I got the Volt and couldn't be happier.

[bagtagley]

jm2e, that's the best explanation of (older, at least) Camelbaks I've seen. I have the original Mule NV, and couldn't have said it better. When lightly packed, it just works. The problem is, I only carry it in situations when it needs to be completely packed.

[Rontele]

I only ride with a 5,000 cu in backpacking pack.

[JayPowHound]

I only ride with a 5,000 cu in backpacking pack.

I was about to PM you.. thanks for saving me the effort!

[grskier]

I've been using one of these:


likes:
carry stuff
back protection
not a bad profile

meh:
stretchy bits I've overstretched, including the waist belt.... but I've been really hard on it.

[schuss]

Deuter makes the best packs I've used.

[nickwm21]

If you don't need h20 storage, go with a fanny pack.

[jm2e]

I was about to PM you.. thanks for saving me the effort!

I LoL'd

[juanbendedknee]

I've spent some time on these two bags- links to my reviews:

Evoc Enduro 16-
http://www.carryology.com/bags/road-...c-enduro-fr16/

Camelbak Kudu 12
http://www.carryology.com/bags/drive-camelbak-kudu/

My favorite is the Enduro because of the waist strap, its second to none i've ever used. I'm currently running a Platypus Duthie, and don't really have any feedback on it yet.

[evdog]

If you really don't want to carry a pack look into a frame bag for your bike. Might work if there is enough room in the front triangle. I know a couple guys who use these rather than a backpack. You can also get feed bags that hang off your stem/bar to carry bottles or whatnot, and there are also small bags you can get that strap to your top tube. I have all these and use them for bikepacking and sometimes on longer rides. Might give you enough capacity to carry what you need combined with the seat bag. And you can remove them when not needed.

[Eluder]

Deuter makes the best packs I've used.

This.

I had been using the newest Camelback Mule NV, which I liked better than any of the Osprey packs I have tried. It works well but is maybe bigger than I need 75% of the time. I was given a Deuter Race X at an event and at first glance I was not impressed. I just didn't look like would be a great mtb pack. Then I did a ride with it. Holy shit its stupid light and it fits better than any pack I have used to date. I actually like their bladder better than the Camelbak, but I understand people liking the familiarity. My NV may vent a tad better though the Deuter is no slouch in that category and wins at everything else for my needs.

[stormrider194]

I've had most of these packs and they all suck. In my opinion the best pack for riding is USWE. Look them up. Best money I have ever spent on a pack.