Help me find a decent rucksack!
- Thread starter twinkle
- Start date
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tiswas-steve
Über Member
- Location
- Forest Hill S.E. london
Ive just purchased a veude juicy air 9 today from E-bay. ( great price !! ) Anyone know anything about said bag ?
Alan Whicker
Senior Member
- Location
- The very best hotels
I've got a Deuter airflow-type rucksack, which works very well for me. I've never really got on with pannier bags, but I have been know to strap a rucksack to a rear rack.
Deuter bags, by the way, are bombproof. I've also got a Deuter 40 Litre travel pack that's had some real abuse over the years and it still looks like new. Lowe Alpine and Tatanka are also 'unwearoutable'.
Deuter bags, by the way, are bombproof. I've also got a Deuter 40 Litre travel pack that's had some real abuse over the years and it still looks like new. Lowe Alpine and Tatanka are also 'unwearoutable'.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Hi Twinkle (and as I’ve not seen you about here before…Welcome)
I personally don’t like panniers as they are too specific to bikes (I guess that's obvious). If I am going to spend cash I like to know that I may at least get more than one function from an item and so I opt for a rucksack every time.
The trick with a rucksack is to look for one with a really good, comfortable venting system on the back, the bit that sits on your back. I have a "Vaude Bike Alpin Air". it has a "frame" on the back that has a mesh panel stretched between the two sides of the frame, the mesh sits on your back and cool air flows between your back, and the rucksack. It proved perfect all summer and provided a great tool for walks in the park and picnics with the kids etc. It also looks pretty smart (rather than a little bag perched up on your shoulders)
I love my rucksack and would really recommend the "Air" system (or the brand). The alpin air comes in a few different sizes (I have the 30+5), is really adjustable (even to your torso height/size) with plenty of adjusters to enable the right fit. If you get one, do read the manual (that, coming from a bloke!!) as it explains how best to set the bag up for max comfort. The bag has tons of compartments for dirty washing, clean clothes, wet weather gear, repair kits, fleeces, Lights etc and it also has a few “secret” compartments for cash, jewellery (cufflinks for me) and the like. Best of all, it has a handy orange outer that you pull out of a bottom pouch when it rains, to keep everything perfectly dry (and this really works well)
Good luck with the commute, Hope you find what you’re looking for.
Jonny
I personally don’t like panniers as they are too specific to bikes (I guess that's obvious). If I am going to spend cash I like to know that I may at least get more than one function from an item and so I opt for a rucksack every time.
The trick with a rucksack is to look for one with a really good, comfortable venting system on the back, the bit that sits on your back. I have a "Vaude Bike Alpin Air". it has a "frame" on the back that has a mesh panel stretched between the two sides of the frame, the mesh sits on your back and cool air flows between your back, and the rucksack. It proved perfect all summer and provided a great tool for walks in the park and picnics with the kids etc. It also looks pretty smart (rather than a little bag perched up on your shoulders)
I love my rucksack and would really recommend the "Air" system (or the brand). The alpin air comes in a few different sizes (I have the 30+5), is really adjustable (even to your torso height/size) with plenty of adjusters to enable the right fit. If you get one, do read the manual (that, coming from a bloke!!) as it explains how best to set the bag up for max comfort. The bag has tons of compartments for dirty washing, clean clothes, wet weather gear, repair kits, fleeces, Lights etc and it also has a few “secret” compartments for cash, jewellery (cufflinks for me) and the like. Best of all, it has a handy orange outer that you pull out of a bottom pouch when it rains, to keep everything perfectly dry (and this really works well)
Good luck with the commute, Hope you find what you’re looking for.
Jonny
Ivan Ardon
Well-Known Member
Uh - oh! Zombie thread re-incarnation!
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Ivan Ardon said:
Damn....Got me...I must check those post dates!!
Well, seeing as the thread has been revived, I might as well have my two pennyworth.
I think there is no single answer - it is a personal choice. I've tried small rucsacks - cheap ones but with proper waist and chest straps to keep the weight firmly supported against the body, so it doesn't swing about. Even so, I do not feel comfortable with the weight added to my back.
I now use a single pannier (on the left-hand side). When I ride I don't even know it is there - and occasionally find myself reaching back to check that it is still there. I don't experience any unbalance with having only one pannier. I don't know if a single pannier looks naff, and I don't care as I can't see it anyway.
I have a cheap rack (alloy one with a sprung clamp) - This is not very strong or secure, and I'm on the lookout for a stiffer and better quality replacement, but it hasn't let me down (yet). The pannier was approx £11 or £12, from Lidl as one of their specials (both local Lidls only had left hand panniers when I went in - I can only presume that the right side ones are more popular and they had already gone. This suited me as I wanted a left side one - I have a light on my offside seatstay). The Lidl pannier is a roll top type, made out of a sort of waterproof groundsheet material, with welded seams - I don't know how sturdy this will prove to be - but as I only load it lightly and not very often, I think it will be OK. I'm well pleased so far.
Edit: Also, it has a small handle, so you can just lift it off and carry it.
I think there is no single answer - it is a personal choice. I've tried small rucsacks - cheap ones but with proper waist and chest straps to keep the weight firmly supported against the body, so it doesn't swing about. Even so, I do not feel comfortable with the weight added to my back.
I now use a single pannier (on the left-hand side). When I ride I don't even know it is there - and occasionally find myself reaching back to check that it is still there. I don't experience any unbalance with having only one pannier. I don't know if a single pannier looks naff, and I don't care as I can't see it anyway.
I have a cheap rack (alloy one with a sprung clamp) - This is not very strong or secure, and I'm on the lookout for a stiffer and better quality replacement, but it hasn't let me down (yet). The pannier was approx £11 or £12, from Lidl as one of their specials (both local Lidls only had left hand panniers when I went in - I can only presume that the right side ones are more popular and they had already gone. This suited me as I wanted a left side one - I have a light on my offside seatstay). The Lidl pannier is a roll top type, made out of a sort of waterproof groundsheet material, with welded seams - I don't know how sturdy this will prove to be - but as I only load it lightly and not very often, I think it will be OK. I'm well pleased so far.
Edit: Also, it has a small handle, so you can just lift it off and carry it.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
Well, it doesn't look very cool, but after a few commutes with a rucksac, I went the rack and pannier route. I can carry all kinds of stuff, if needed. Maybe 30 kilos with Ortlieb Back Roller Classics and a cheap aluminium rack. Total cost, maybe £110 from Wiggle, and you can use them for touring if you want to. The Ortliebs clip onto and off the rack in five seconds.
I just hate the feel of a sac on my back when riding. BTW, that is just my personal preference....each to his/her own...
I just hate the feel of a sac on my back when riding. BTW, that is just my personal preference....each to his/her own...
