Recommend me a Rucksack

[akb]

I am looking for a general everyday rucksack which can be used for my commute to work, MTB trails and also as a general hiking sack. I would prefer it to be 100% watertight (or near as can be) and also of durable construction for the MTB trails that it goes through. Preferably a double strap with chest/waist clips for support and hydration function too.
What do you use and would you recommend it? Budget is about no more than £75.
Cheers in advance.

 

[calibanzwei]

No idea on its level of water resistance, but I was very taken with the construction of my brothers North Face Borealis 27 and it ticks your support/hydration boxes too...

 

[Norm]

Mine is a Lowe Alpine Air Zone Active 28. You'll thank me later.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

i have this one - deuter speedlite 15l works wonders for my commute (i leave shoes at work) and has a pouch for a hydration pack with a dedicated hole for the H2O pipe. dual straps too and a funky little clip at the bottom for a light to be attached

 

[amaferanga]

[url=http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=295]Aplkit Gourdon[/URL]

Simple, cheap and 100% waterproof. I have a Gourdon 20 for commuting.

 

[jay clock]

+1 for Deuter Speedlite. Superb quality bit of kit. Would not say 100% waterproof but you could use cheap Alpkit drybags like these http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16316&category_id=295

 

[akb]

Thanks all, some good starting points. I have also found this; any thoughts? I know it is designed for water submersion, but seems upto the job in both rigidity and waterproofness.

 

[PpPete]

Aplkit Gourdon

Simple, cheap and 100% waterproof. I have a Gourdon 20 for commuting.

+1
And with impeccable customer service too.
I have a Gourdon 30 which I've used for everything from Mountain Marathons to shopping (on bike). Any more than 30l and I'd not be wanting to carry it on a bike. Grocveries are heavy !

 

[srw]

A pannier or saddlebag for commuting.
A water bottle for hydration.
A rucksack for hiking.
You could get good quality examples of all three for less than £75.

There's an obsession these days with "do-it-all" devices. They never work as well as specialised individual devices.

 

[martint235]

I've got a deuter Bike1 for commuting. The first (and only) backpack I've had that I've not needed to wrap the contents in a plastic bag. It comes with a stowable rain cover and I've had mine for about 4 years with no problems. Also has a space for a hydration pack.

 

[martint235]

A pannier or saddlebag for commuting.
A water bottle for hydration.
A rucksack for hiking.
You could get good quality examples of all three for less than £75.

There's an obsession these days with "do-it-all" devices. They never work as well as specialised individual devices.

He might just prefer commuting with a backpack, I do. It isn't anything to do with it being a do it all device.

 

[akb]

I have explored panniers and racks but not really a fan. Much prefer my valuable posessions on my back instead of strapped to the bike. It also the added weight of an already heavy commuter bike.
Thanks again for all the comments and recommendations.

 

[MickL]

check out the Proviz Rucksack, waterproof (tested this week) also supports hydration(with nice little clip on the shoulder strap to hold on the end), The Hiz Viz might put you off but its a sound rucksack and ticks all the boxes.

 

[Norm]

Thanks all, some good starting points. I have also found this; any thoughts? I know it is designed for water submersion, but seems upto the job in both rigidity and waterproofness.

Hmmm... it's a very personal thing but I spent quite a time (and tried many, many options) before buying the Lowe Alpine one I recommended above.

The thing is that cycling is a different action and a different position to walking (& sailboarding!) so the design needs to be different. If you are canted forward whilst cycling, on a bike with drops of a flat-barred roadie, it is best to take all of the weight of the rucksack onto your hips, which means you can wear the shoulder straps a bit looser, increasing comfort, decreasing stress points and allowing greater weight to be carried.

Walking sacks, like the one you linked to, are usually designed to be carried fairly close to the body, which doesn't allow for any air flow and which puts extra weight on your shoulders / wrists / hands when cycling.

It depends on your needs, in a big way. If you are carrying a significant load or over a significant distance, you need one which is the right size for you (back length, shoulder width, bag shape etc) and you won't get that from recommendations on here or from Amazon / ebay searching, you'll only find out by trying them on. If you are carrying a smaller load or going over a shorter distance, then these things aren't as important.

 

[akb]

Hmmm... it's a very personal thing but I spent quite a time (and tried many, many options) before buying the Lowe Alpine one I recommended above.

The thing is that cycling is a different action and a different position to walking (& sailboarding!) so the design needs to be different. If you are canted forward whilst cycling, on a bike with drops of a flat-barred roadie, it is best to take all of the weight of the rucksack onto your hips, which means you can wear the shoulder straps a bit looser, increasing comfort, decreasing stress points and allowing greater weight to be carried.

Walking sacks, like the one you linked to, are usually designed to be carried fairly close to the body, which doesn't allow for any air flow and which puts extra weight on your shoulders / wrists / hands when cycling.

It depends on your needs, in a big way. If you are carrying a significant load or over a significant distance, you need one which is the right size for you (back length, shoulder width, bag shape etc) and you won't get that from recommendations on here or from Amazon / ebay searching, you'll only find out by trying them on. If you are carrying a smaller load or going over a shorter distance, then these things aren't as important.

Thanks Norm, very informative and useful. There is a Go Outdoors store around the corner so will use that to establish comfortable style etc.