Rucksack for commuting.

[Kell]

My trusty Deuter Trans Alpine 30 is giving up the ghost after four year of every(work)day use.

It's been pretty good in that time. Useful, comfortable, takes Camelbak, big enough, hadn't fallen apart (until now).

The obvious replacement would be another for about £90. But I see that the design has been changed and it may be that the new bag isn't as useful.

Anyone got anything they'd recommend that's a similar size and price, and would take a camelbak?

I know I can just get off my arse and go look, but I always like to see what people actually recommend.

[Bobley]

For many years I nipped about on my MTB with a Vaude Splash Air 20+5 on my back. My mates always asked if I'd brought the kitchen sink so I bought a Camelbak Octane thing instead, but its rubbish. The Vaude has a proper vented frame so it fits your back superbly and is a joy to cart stuff about with. I only realised after 18 months that the extra internal pocket was for a Camelbak!

I've nearly wrecked the Octane after 2 years but not sure I can live with a big bag for what I carry so may have to find something else.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Much easier with a seat post mounted rack and a pannier bag on top. Topeak MTX are great and loads better than a rucksack making you sweaty and knackering your clothing.

[Kell]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Much easier with a seat post mounted rack and a pannier bag on top. Topeak MTX are great and loads better than a rucksack making you sweaty and knackering your clothing.

I have toyed with that idea - but I figured they probably wouldn't take the weight.

On occasion I've cycled back with 5L of snowfoam before now, for example.

That's easily doable in a rucksack, but combined with clothes, and the weight of the Camelbak bladder, might be a bit much for one of those.

Also - I take my rucksack when I ski too. So it needs to be back mounted rather than rack mounted.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Kell said:

I have toyed with that idea - but I figured they probably wouldn't take the weight.

On occasion I've cycled back with 5L of snowfoam before now, for example.

That's easily doable in a rucksack, but combined with clothes, and the weight of the Camelbak bladder, might be a bit much for one of those.

Also - I take my rucksack when I ski too. So it needs to be back mounted rather than rack mounted.

I think the maximum weight is 9kg.

[okgo]

I just use the cheapest Jansport one that is big enough for my stuff, they have long guarantee, look ok and that is all you need!

[oyster]

okgo said:

I just use the cheapest Jansport one that is big enough for my stuff, they have long guarantee, look ok and that is all you need!

This and a bit more.
I use a cheap Karrimor sports direct jobbie.

I know the phrase buy cheap buy twice, and it's probably true. But it costs around £15 and I could buy it SIX times before I get to the cost of a Deuter one.

But then I guess some people can't face their 15 minute blast from Clapham without being decked out in Rapha and Deuter.

[Fotic]

Have a look at the montane cobra for summer riding - spacious, comfy and with a massive handy pocket onthe waist support for phone, wallet etc.

Ortleib for the winter. Tough and impervious.

[Kell]

oyster said:

okgo said:

I just use the cheapest Jansport one that is big enough for my stuff, they have long guarantee, look ok and that is all you need!

This and a bit more.
I use a cheap Karrimor sports direct jobbie.

I know the phrase buy cheap buy twice, and it's probably true. But it costs around £15 and I could buy it SIX times before I get to the cost of a Deuter one.

But then I guess some people can't face their 15 minute blast from Clapham without being decked out in Rapha and Deuter.

In fairness to me, I've tried loads of rucksacks over the years and have found this one to be the best of the lot.

After dropping a water bottle on a busy roundabout, then running it over and coming off my bike, I wanted a rucksack that was bladder compatible.

Had a Camelbak and it literally fell apart.

The Deuter one was bought when I bought my last bike on the Ride to Work scheme. So didn't cost me anything like that amount. In fact when I started looking, I was shocked at how much it was. Also, there are surprisingly few rucksacks that are 30 litres or more.

I have to carry clothes and a towel so trying to get them in anything smaller is pointless.

I know I don't actally have to justify any of my choices to you, but I'd never heard of Deuter before I bought it, it just happened to meet my criteria.

And I don't own any item of Rapha clothing. Most of mine is dhb or non-cycling specific.

Edited by Kell on Wednesday 20th November 22:25

[Floor Tom]

If you don't mind spending a bit of money I really don't think you can go past an Osprey pack. I have an older escapist 25 (I think they now make a 20 or 30l version) and it is great. Designed as a back country hut to hut mtb pack I have used it for this purpose as well as my daily commute to work, the warranty on any Osprey pack is second to none as well. Not sure how available it will be in the UK, I know they don't actually bring it in to NZ but I managed to score mine from the Osprey rep. If you can find one to try, have a look at I dint think you will be disappointed.

Edited by Floor Tom on Thursday 21st November 19:04

[Rolls]

Camelbak for me - had it 6 years, and it's still going strong! (Used 4 days a week on average)

[louiebaby]

I just got one of these:

http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/high-visibility-...

Apart from not having any external pockets, it seems pretty useful.

[donfisher]

louiebaby said:

I just got one of these:

http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/high-visibility-...

Apart from not having any external pockets, it seems pretty useful.

That looks really good. How heavy is it, as in does it have a heavy frame inside it? My 20L Gourdon is really good, but I found I often need to carry more than it would hold so I now use the climbing one I had kicking around. It's great but is quite heavy on it's own.

Edited by donfisher on Friday 22 November 09:36

[vvill]

Huge fan of the Alpkit Goudon: http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product...

£22.50 delivered, fully waterproof, easy to put stuff in, light, fluorescent. What more do you want?

[louiebaby]

donfisher said:

That looks really good. How heavy is it, as in does it have a heavy frame inside it? My 20L Gourdon is really good, but I found I often need to carry more than it would hold so I now use the climbing one I had kicking around. It's great but is quite heavy on it's own.

No frame, and not really heavy as such. Smells a little funny, but that will go, probably.

[mjcneat]

oyster said:

This and a bit more.
I use a cheap Karrimor sports direct jobbie.

I know the phrase buy cheap buy twice, and it's probably true. But it costs around £15 and I could buy it SIX times before I get to the cost of a Deuter one.

But then I guess some people can't face their 15 minute blast from Clapham without being decked out in Rapha and Deuter.

My Karrimor bag from Sports Direct is still going strong since 2007!

[Kell]

That Lomo one lokks really good (I've always wondered why they don't make all rucksacks out of waterproof material) - but no bladder.

And the Alpkit version is too small. Mine is the 30L Transalp and this morning, bringing a towel in with all my clothes meant it was full to bursting.

I still haven't seen anything better but cheaper that meets all my needs.

[donfisher]

Rather than spending £90 on a rucksack that takes a bladder and fits ALL your stuff in it I’d be spending £20 to £30 on one of those smaller ones and using the change for a better bottle & cage and a spare pair of work shoes in the sales. I’m quite lucky in that I get towels provided here but without the shoes taking up space, I can bring in 3 or 4 days worth of socks, pants and shirts in a 25L with room to spare.

FWIW my commute is only 5.5 miles each way but unless I’ve had a lot of beer the night before I rarely need to drink any water on the way in or back.

[Kell]

donfisher said:

Rather than spending £90 on a rucksack that takes a bladder and fits ALL your stuff in it I’d be spending £20 to £30 on one of those smaller ones and using the change for a better bottle & cage and a spare pair of work shoes in the sales. I’m quite lucky in that I get towels provided here but without the shoes taking up space, I can bring in 3 or 4 days worth of socks, pants and shirts in a 25L with room to spare.

FWIW my commute is only 5.5 miles each way but unless I’ve had a lot of beer the night before I rarely need to drink any water on the way in or back.

I don't htink I will spend that amount on a new bag. As I mentioned above, I spent half that originally as I got it as part of the ride to work scheme. In my head, that's how much I thought I was going to have to spend.

I have seen a couple of Karrimors that look like they might be fit for purpose, but they're not £15, they're £35.


(Clicky pics)

[SoliD]

louiebaby said:

I just got one of these:

http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/high-visibility-...

Apart from not having any external pockets, it seems pretty useful.

Work friend of mine has the non high vis one and its fantastic for the price, I will be grabbing one soon!