RIDING BAGS RATED

Carry that load with these courier bags and cycling backpacks. Something for every type of rider...

From courier bags to backpacks, we’ve packed up 16 bags to find out which will suit your commute.

There are numerous ways to carry your kit when you’re riding, on the bike itself – from panniers, beam bags and bar bags to the new breed of bike-mounted bikepacking kit – but a lot of us still choose to carry our bits and bobs in backpacks and courier bags.

We’ve brought together four courier bags and a dozen cycling-specific backpacks ranging in price from 50 quid to well over a £100, so something for every pocket. They range in size from Ortlieb’s 10-litre pannier-cum-shoulder bag City Biker to USWE’s high-technology 26-litre backpack and the two-litre larger Giga Bike bag from Deuter.

We’ve chosen products from the biggest names in the world of cycling luggage, from Germany’s Deuter, Evoc, Vaude and Ortlieb (what is it with German companies and cycling bags?) to longestablished bag specialists such as Osprey and Carradice from Nelson, Lancashire, still proudly making bags by hand well into the 21st century (Sue did a good job with ours).

Materials and the placing and number of straps vary hugely. Modern waterproof materials such as polyurethane vie with the likes of leather and proofed cotton duck, a fabric that dates back to the 19th century but still has its place today. And while most backpacks use a narrow chest strap and wider hip/waist belt, some do away with one or both of these, relying more on the shoulder straps and how the bag moulds itself to your body.

For this reason, and as with cycling clothing, we’d strongly recommend trying before you buy. The shape, material and padding on the back and straps of each bag is different, and as each of us is built differently and even though most bags are highly adjustable, ultimately there is an element of subjectivity. If you’re buying online and can’t try beforehand, check out the supplier’s returns policy.

When choosing a bag it’s also worth working out exactly what you need from it. Some bags consist of just a single section – open it up, throw your stuff in, and close. Others have different sections for everything, padded or unpadded laptop sleeves, separate pockets for smartphone, keys, hydration pouches, helmet meshes or helmet loops, straps for a D-lock and rear light, external pockets for bottles. The list goes on…

1 USE THE STRAPS All of the backpacks have shoulder straps. Most have chest and waist straps – make sure that you use them and clip them up. The waist strap can support a lot of the bag’s weight – up to 90 per cent – which is better than bearing it on your upper spine. 2 HOW HEAVY? While many of us use bags when cycling, we’d still recommend carrying as much weight as possible on the bike. Heavy bags can have an impact on your muscles, and youngsters in particular should keep weight to the very minimum. 3 PACK CAREFULLY If you have to carry heavy kit around – locks, tools and so on – make sure they’re placed centrally at the bottom of the bag and that they can’t move around. The last thing you want when riding is weight shifting at random. Always keep zips done up.