One🤪 of the best cycling backpacks is often an easier way to carry things when cycling than panniers, as you're carrying your load already once you stop.
While you can chuck your things in any old bag and it'll proba♏bly be adequate, if you're regularly going to be using it then there are features on the best cycling backpacks that make life easier, more comfortable, and safer; think special pockets, waterproof liners, and reflective details.
As always, if yౠou're unsure what you need and would like a bit꧙ of a steer then we've got all of the key questions answered at the bottom.
Quick list
Best backpack overall
Chrome Barrage
Best cycling backpack overall
For practical, everyday, grab ‘n’ go use, the Chrome Barrage is the best on test. The main compartment is big enough for everyday usage, it’s completely wate🃏rproof and size-wise meets the dimensions for cabin luggage on most airlines. The additional cargo nets are an impressive touch and allow you to carry even more items, should you need them. It is, however, a slightly sweaty backpack if you’re ri♛ding hard.
For a durable drybag, the Ortlieb Commuter Daypack is probably going to be your best bet. It&rsquo🐬;s well-sized for everyday use, with a large main compartment and removable inserts for organisation, and while it has no reflectivity detail, it does have ext🐓ernal loops for mounting your own lighting system.
The Brooks Pickwick is designed primarily for looks and looks alone, and it does the job very well indeed. An attractive bag that promises to look good on and off well, and is likely to age well, the Pickwick still offers the occasional commuter a high-quality, water-resistant option. It is simple in design, 𝔉though with unpadded straps, no reflective detail, 💝and a tendency to be a little sweaty in use, might not be for everyone.
The Patagonia Black Hole works well for both general use and travelling, with a 32l capacity that makes carrying a lot of stuff easy. It’s not waterproof but will shrug off rain, though the main appeal is the laptop compartment which is🅺 accessed from the rear panel. For security, this is a minor but brilliant detail. Overall, the Black Hole is a comfortable backpack that looks great and happily slots into most airlines’ cabin bag allowance.
For an easy-access commuting option, it is hard to beat the Chrome Citizen. The build quality and comfort are impeccable, and the tarp liner offers exceptional waterproofing capabil🦄ities. A messenger bag might not be for everyone though; due to the cons🎃truction the Citizen works best with softer cargo – laptops are a bit uncomfortable - but when empty it is less obtrusive than a backpack. A great choice for commuters or for everyday use.
The Chrome Kadet is the perfect bag for quick trips into town, for stashing a camera, an extra layer or other bike necesꩲsities you might need. With a sling style, it is lightweight enough for one shoulder and is perfect for grabbing as you leave the house. The star of the show on this bag though is the D-lock holster, which is a well-designed and thought-out addition and makes carrying a lock fairly comfortable.
Here's our pick of the best backpacks for cycling that we've tested at Cyclingnews🌄🐠, using each extensively for commuting, shopping and other duties.
Recent updates
This guide was originally written in summer 2023, and then review🗹ed and updated ꦬin April 2024.
Best for everyday
(Image credit: Will Jones)
1. Chrome Barrage
Best cycling backpack for everyday use
☆☆☆☆☆
Specifications
Waterproof: Yes
Chest Strap: Yes
Waist Strap: No
Laptop Compartment: Yes
Capacity: 18-22l
Colour Options: Multiple
Reflective Details: Yes
Reasons to buy
+
Cargo net is incredibly handy
+
Heavy duty construction
+
Goldilocks size for general use
Reasons to avoid
-
Back a little sweaty
-
Side pockets hard to use when full
If you need a cycling backpack for general use this is my pick of the bunch. The main compartment is just the right size for ever🌞yday uses, and it's lined with thick tarpaulin, so in conjunction with the rolltop closure it's absolutely impervious to rain. It's a๊lso just within the size limits for every airline I've ever flown with, and so is my go to option for every press trip. The real star of the show is the outer cargo net though, within which you can stow all manner off items, from shoes and helmets through to massive bulk bags of pasta and 9-packs of loo roll.
It's not p꧋erfect though (nothing ever is). the back can be a little sweaty if you're riding hard, and the side pockets, though they can hold a bottle of a D-lock, are very tight and hard to use if the bag is stuffed absolutely full. Despite these minor drawbacks, it's still the one I'd choose if I had to pick a single bag from this list.
For a deeper dive into why this bag is such a winner we've got a 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:full review after using it for a year.
Best general purpose option
(Image credit: Will Jones)
2. Rapha Backpack
Another great general purpose option
Reasons to buy
+
Pink liner makes finding things easier
+
Great roomy rolltop
+
Very comfy straps
Reasons to avoid
-
No easy access pockets
-
Only main compartment is waterproof
The Rapha Backpack is a genuine contender for best overall. A similar capacity to the Chrome Barrage, and a little more comfy to use a💫s well, unless you've got anything hard in the bag; the softer back padding isn't so resistant against pointy things. The rolltop is excellent, and the bright pink interior of the main compartment makes finding things a lot easier than in a black bag.
If you're opting for a drybag style cycling backpack then you don't expect ea𝐆sy access side pockets, but to not have one on a standard sty🅷le bag is a bit of a let down. That, and the fact the very well organised external pockets aren't waterproof is a bit of an omission to, as it means the pocket most ideal for storing things like a phone shouldn't be used to store a phone in the wet. All told though it's a great backpack, stylish too, and with a very reflective strip for fans of being seen. It's cheaper than the Barrage too, but still not what you'd call a budget option.
Best small bag
(Image credit: Will Jones)
3. Chrome Kadet
Best small bag for cycling
Reasons to buy
+
D-lock holster
+
Very comfy
Reasons to avoid
-
Not waterproof
-
Expensive for the size
Along with the Barrage, this is the bag that comes with me on every press trip to hold my camera gear and electronics. Dඣay to day though it's perfect for quick trips into town, on or off the bike. It's big enough to fit a camera, an extra layer, a few snacks, tools and tubes and the other basic necessities of modern life.
The sling style is perfect for a bag this 𝔍size; one shoulder can easily handle any load at this scale, and it cinches down when not full to bursting, It's not waterproof though, despite the main zip, so go steady in a downpour if you are carrying electronics. It'll shrug off a shower no problem though.
The star of the show for me is the D-lock holster on the rear of the bag. You'd think it'd be uncomfortable there, but it's sufficiently padded so asꦐ to never be an issue, and it means you don't need to have a ღlock holster on your bike, or slip it into your belt loops for quick transport.
Best for visibility
(Image credit: Will Jones)
4. Provis Reflect360
Best cycling backpack for visibility
Reasons to buy
+
Very visible
+
Big zip aperture
Reasons to avoid
-
Not waterproof
-
Feels a little flimsy
If you cycle in low light, or at night, you've probably been concerned with how visible you are. The best bike lights help, but reflective gear uses the often bedazzling power of car headlights to make sure you'▨re seen.&🙈nbsp;
The Provis Reflect360 is absolutely the bag to go for if you want to be seen at night. It doesn't have the build quality of a lot of the bags on this list, and nor is it waterproof, but supplement it with a reflective waterproof cover from the same brand and you'll be sorted for all weathers.&n✤bsp;
The straps are comfy, and while the zip isn't waterproof it is at least long, meaning you can open the bag almost like a clam to fish out whateve🌺r may be lurking inside. It feels the most like a normal, non cycling backpack of any on the list, but despite it's drawbacks in terms of construction it'd be the one I'd be taking if I had to undertake a commute somewhere with heavy traffic. Reflective jackets exist from the same brand, and you can use them with any bag of course, but slapping a non-reflective bag on your back over a reflective jacket does slightly reduce its effectiveness.
Best drybag
(Image credit: Will Jones)
5. Ortlieb Commuter Daypack
Best drybag style cycling backpack
Reasons to buy
+
Removable Laptop organiser
+
Loops for lights
+
Hooked closure more durable than Velcro or buckles
Reasons to avoid
-
Thin straps
-
Lack of real reflectivity
If you're after a drybag style cycling backpack then this is your best bet. The roll top closes with a hook and loop system, which will last longer than Velcro or plastic buckles, the size i෴s ample for daily use and beyond, there are three external loops for mounting a whole lighting array so you can be seen, and the base is reinforced in its entirety. Like all drybag style bags it's a little formless, essentially a flexible waterproof bucket with some straps, but unlike many you do get a laptop sleeve and some organisational pockets that come on a removable insert, so if you do need to use it to chuck wet gear in on the regular you can take it out.
The straps essentially lack any padding, so as to not absorb water, so they're not the most comfy but they are wide enough to distribute the load. For safety fans too there is a lack of any real r๊eflectivity beyond a reflective logo, so to be seen you've got to take advantage of the aforementioned lighting loops.
If the price is too much then Ortlieb do make a cheaper but extremely similar 'City' version; the one here is the 'Urban'. Bonus points if you can spot the differences.&nbs𝓰p;
Best budget drybag
(Image credit: Will Jones)
6. Altura Thunderstorm
A less premium alternative to the Ortlieb Daypack
Reasons to buy
+
Plenty of reflectivity
+
Side loops for lights
Reasons to avoid
-
Rolltop sewn shut on corners
-
No external pockets
If you like the look of the Ortlieb Commuter Daypack but don't want to splash out quite so mಞuch then the Altura Thunderstorm is a more affordable, more basic alternative. It shares many of the same features, and is a near identical capacity, but is a little more pared back in its features; the laptop compartment, for example, isn't removable in this case meaning it'll get soggy if you are perpetually using it to store wet gear.
It does shine, quite literally in fact, in the visibility stakes though, in that the lower portion is covered in reflective dashes on the sides and the rear. To supplement tღhis there are light loops on the sides and rear too, so you can be seen from all angles.
While the straps were comfortable, the rolltop closure was a little lacking in that you can't cinch it tight, only hook it to one of three loops.🌠 Its not a dealbreaker, but it's an omission nonetheless. Also, the fact the opening aperture is already partially sewn together at the corners to allow it to fold over more neatly, but ultimately reducing the size of thing you can put in the bag, is annoying.
Best for volume
(Image credit: Will Jones)
7. Chrome Warsaw 2.0
Best cycling backpack for massive loads
Reasons to buy
+
Enormous
+
Extra pockets everywhere
+
Amazing build quality
Reasons to avoid
-
Expensive
-
Too big for general use
If you need to carry a lot then the Warsaw 2.0 from Chrome should be on your radar. Its 55 litre capacity is almost entirely handled by one cavernous, unorganised central compartment, tarp lined as per the majority of the Chrome bag൲ range. It's not as tall as you'd expect, but it is wider than any bag I've ever used, a𝓰nd does impact your peripheral vision while looking behind you for incoming traffic.
Despite its whopping size there are compression straps everywhere, so you can reduce it down, and the straps have super quick cam lock buckles normally seen on lashing straps to easily adapt on the fly. Also, there are myriad of extra pockets all about the bag to stash secrets and🤡 trinkets in.
In all honesty it's ov♌erkill for most use cases, but if you need a high volume bag that's designed with cycling i👍n mind then this is the one to go for. It's not cheap, it only comes in black, but it won't let you down. If you need to go bigger (think carefully here!), Chrome also has a Pro version of the winning Barrage model that offers a gargantuan 80 litres of haulage capacity.
Best for travelling
(Image credit: Will Jones)
8. Patagonia Black Hole
Best cycling backpack for travelling
Reasons to buy
+
Many useful pockets
+
Protected valuables slot
+
Doesn't look cycling specific
Reasons to avoid
-
Not waterproof
-
Potentially a little large for some airline hand luggage regs
For some of you, you may be coming at this after a gဣeneral backpack that's good for cycling, rather than a cycling backpack that's also good for general use. If I'm describing you then the Patagonia Black Hole is an ideal choice, especially for using while travelling (just watch out for those airport hand luggage allowances).
While not waterproof the main fabric is plasticised to it'll shrug off a heavy shower. The main benefits here are the comfort factor - It's perfect for all day useꦚ, more akin to a hiking bag than one designed for commuting - and the internal organisation. The s🍸eparate compartments are well thought out, with a large main compartment, an upper cubby for things like glasses or your liquids, and further slots and pouches within each. The real star though is the laptop compartment, which unzips from the rear panel rather than being accessed from the outer face. It's a minor detail, but if you're anywhere with an increased risk of theft it's a bonus for sure.
Aesthetics are important too, lets not kid ourselves. Many of the cycling backpack💜s look just as described; like they are for cycling, The Black Hole looks the most normal of the bunch which will definitely appeal to some.
Best for style
(Image credit: Will Jones)
9. Brooks Pickwick
Best cycling backpack for classic fashion
☆☆☆☆☆
Specifications
Waterproof: No
Chest Strap: Yes
Waist Strap: No
Laptop Compartment: Yes
Capacity: 26l
Colour Options: Multiple
Reflective Details: No
Reasons to buy
+
Patina potential
+
Quality construction
+
Natural materials
Reasons to avoid
-
Expensive
-
Simple for the price
There's no getting around it, this is an expensive bag. Given that it is only water resistant, has no reflective details, and is an incredibly simple design it does seem a slightly mad purchase. However, if you're commuting short distances on a posh bike in good🐭 weather and you 😼want a suitably posh bag to match then it's got to be the style pick of the bunch.
The lightly waxed canvas will wear in and patina, giving you even more style points the longer you use it. Though the design is simple, and the straps are unpadded, the construction is extremely high quality and provided you don't totally abuse it, it's a bag that'll last you for years and years. It's also the only bag on this list t🙈hat doesn't look 'technical', which will certainly appeal to some of you for both on and off the bike.
The lack of back pads too makes it a little sweaty (faster patina, right?), so short journeys only with this one too🐓. 𓆏;
Best messenger bag
(Image credit: Will Jones)
10. Chrome Citizen
Best cycling messenger bag
☆☆☆☆☆
Specifications
Waterproof: Yes
Chest Strap: Yes
Waist Strap: No
Laptop Compartment: No
Capacity: 24l
Colour Options: Multiple
Reflective Details: Yes
Reasons to buy
+
Easy access
+
Bombproof
+
Plenty of colour options
Reasons to avoid
-
Can be hard on one shoulder with heavy loads
-
Unstructured construction means it doesn't handle hard, angular things well
A messenger bag offers a different p😼roposition to a backpack. Designed with bike messengers in mind these bags offer easy access without actually taking the bag off: Simply unclip the stabilising second strap, spin it round to your front, and reach in to grab whatever is inside.
Maybe you're not a bike messenger though, maybe you've just watched Premium Rush too many times. Either way a messenger bag is still an excellent option, and in my opinion it's hard to beat the Chrome Citizen. I used one myself every day for years to commute to work. The build quality was impeccable and the wide s𓃲houlder strap only became uncomfy with really heavy loads. The tarp liner also was so waterproof that I used it as a drinks cooler full of ice on one hot evening.
The lack of structure means that they best handle softer cargo rather than anything hard and angular (my tip is to put your clothes at the back of your bag so they act as a cushion), but the flip side 🌠to this is that when the bag is more empty it easily conforms to your body and is less obtrusivᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚe than a backpack.
Best for heavy loads
(Image credit: Will Jones)
11. Ortlieb Messenger
Best for volume
☆☆☆☆☆
Specifications
Waterproof: Yes
Chest Strap: Yes
Waist Strap: Yes
Laptop Compartment: No
Capacity: 39l
Colour Options: Black, Red, Yellow
Reflective Details: No
Reasons to buy
+
Big and simple
+
Carries big loads in comfort
+
Build quality
Reasons to avoid
-
Velcro closure strap could be longer
-
No frills at all
Though not quite so large as the Chrome Warsaw 2.0, the Ortlieb Messenger is still definitely a large option. It's about as large as you'd want🔥 to go for general use I'd suggest, but like the Warsaw it carries larger loads in surprising comfort, thanks mostly to good straps and excellent back padding.
While also being a large option, and one nominally with messengers in mind, the Ortlieb Messenger is the polar opposite in terms of design. It's about as simple as it gets; just one main cavity. No internal organisation, no laptop sleeve, no light loops, no reflective d🐭etails. Just a well built, large, waterproof hold all with a roll top closure. It's big enough to fit all the shopping in too, provided you're sticking to a basket not a trolley.
While I rate it in terms of construction and its simplicity, my main bu🀅gbear with the Messenger is the closure. It's a rolltop, secured with a Velcro strap, but the strap itself isn't very long, so when the bag is full to the brim it doesn't feel so secure. Also Velcro wears out eventually; I'd rather see a hooked closure as on the Ortlieb Commuter Daypack.
How to choose the right cycling backpack for you
Not everyone's needs are the same, and so not everyone should buy the same thing. In my opinion the Chro🍸me Barrage will tick most boxes for most people in mosꦚt situations, but it may not be right for you, so below I've tried my best to answer all the key questions you may have so that you can ultimately make the best purchase possible.
What should I look for in a cycling backpack?
Like any backpack, a cycling backpack should be comfortable to wear, and have enough capacity to carry what you need to carry. The primary use for cycling backpacks is commuting, so with the exception of the Chrome Kadet, every bag on this list can easily hold a laptop, a packed lunch, a change of clothes and one of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best bike locks.
Beyond that you'll want to look for waterproofing if you ride in the rain,♏ reflective details or light mounts if you're going to use it at night, or a higher capacity if you intend on throwing more stuff into it on a regular basis. Wide, comfortable straps are a minimum requirement for both comfort and stability too; nobody wants a bag that flops from side to side as they ride. This is primarily why you don't see many cycling backpacks with a suspended, vented back as you do with hiking bags: That would put the load further away from your body on a bouncy spring, which is 🌃an effective recipe for a wobbly time.
One final big decision is whether you go for an organised 𝔉or unorganised compartment. Unorganised bags, i.e. just a void with no extra slots or pockets, mean that none of the capacity is wasted on pockets you may never use; you can simply chuck anything of any shape in at any time until it's full. On the flip side, particularly for commuting, it can be handy to at least have a dedicated laptop sleeve for protection as much as organisation.
Is it harder to ride with a backpack?
Adding any load to your overall setup is go𝐆ing to make life harder, that's just physics, so if it's for commuting the best thing you can do is leave as much at work as you can get away with.
For smaller loads a cycling backpack, provided it's well-designed, isn't going to make life all that much harder. For bigger loads though, or for longer commutes, you'll probably be more comfortable with a single or pair of panniers.
The main thing to consider is saddle comfort; having the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best saddle for you is key, and why many people opt for a 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:leather saddle for commuting, as once broken in you can do away with the cycling shorts. Adding extra kilograms to your upper body adds a corresponding load to your sit bones, so making sure you have an appropriate and comfortable saddle is paramount, plus probably a set of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best cycling shorts too.
Can I cycle with a hiking backpack?
Of course you can, and there are a tonne of absolutely capable hiking bags out there. If you're a regular hiker and an infrequent commuter then this may well be a great use of your money, but they're🌌 per൲haps less suited to cycling than you'd think.
Waterproofing for hiking bags often takes the form of a waterproof cover, which is perfect when walking at 5km/h, but can get very flappy when you're cruising to work at six times that speed. Waterproof cycl🏅ing backpacks are waterproof as part of their construction, so no flapping.
As mentioned earlier too, hiking backpacks with suspended, vented backs are great for hiking in hot weather, but they have a tende🔯ncy to create a very wobbly load when you add in the left/right swap of pedalli♛ng.
How big should a cycling backpack be?
The simple answer is "big enough to fit all you need to carry", but I'll admit that's not overly helpful when checking a stats list. In my experience, something between 20 and 3🍷0 litres is the sweet spot. Below that it starts to get tricky to get a commuting load in, and above that they get cumbersome.
If you do need bigger loads then stability becomes more key. The Ortlieb messenger is giant but still very stable, and while the Chrome Warsaw is gargantuan, it has enough compression straps to shrink its effecꦕtive size when not full to the brim.🐼
Are cycling backpacks waterproof?
Most are, yes, bu💯t not all. If you commute in the rain, or think you might in the future then this should be top of your spec list. Arriving at th♒e office with soggy clothes and a dead computer isn't going to make for a happy day.
Some cycling backpacks are said to be waterproof, but this may only extend to the main compartment. For a setup absolutely impervious to water ingress a drybag style cycling backpack like the Ortlieb Commuter Daypack is your best bet, as it lacks any real external pockets to allow stuff to get soggy b🦋y accident, and a roll top closure is the best option to keep out water.
Are cycling backpacks comfortable?
Some ar𒊎e more than others, but I've tested each and every one on this list to confirm they are. If com🍰fort is your number one priority then look for something with wide, padded straps and a padded, but ventilated back.
The bigger the load the more com🐽fort becomes a factor too; notice how the Ortlieb Messenger has thicker padding than the Commuter Daypack from the same brand to deal with thꦡe added payload.
Do I need a waist strap?
I'd say a chest strap is vital for stability, but the jury is out on waist straps. Persꦉonally, I find them restrictive. I never use them, and remove them if 🍌possible, but I have friends who treat them as a requirement. They're certainly more useful for stabilising bags with a round profile; I'm talking the drybag style options primarily.
In short, they can be handy for some people, but I personally wouldn't let them be a dealbr⭕eaker if the rest of the spec list floats your boat.
How do we test the best cycling backpacks?
I don't own a car, so all of my trips around town, to and from work, and for all of my shopping I do by bike. That means I've been using these bags to carry all sorts of stuff from place to place, and in all weathers too as I don't have the option to just hop 🌼in the car if it's raining and I've run ꦿout of milk again.
The big weekly grocery shop, trips to the pub, and commu𝄹ting to the office all form part of my testing. I've even used the larger ones to transport the smaller ones to the office in a cycling backpack Rus𒅌sian Doll arrangement.
My commute is also an hour each wܫay, which is about the limit of what I think a cycling backpack⛦ should be able to handle, so it forms an ideal test in that regard. Beyond that, I'd want to look at panniers.
Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the stand🍌ard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s 🏅become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.
