How to choose a cycling backpack

Surely we are all tempted by the romantic idea of a cyclist who is just riding lightly, in a T-shirt or jersey, on a road or forest path. But whether you want to or not, you always need a few things with you on your bike and they need to be stored somewhere. And if you can't afford the luxury of an escort car, a cycling backpack will have to solve that logistical problem.

How do you choose one properly so that it restricts you as little as possible from cycling while still serving its intended purpose?

For a basic orientation in the issue of choosing a cycling backpack this text will help you, if you want to ask for further details or consult your choice, we will be happy to help you directly in our brick-and-mortar shop Ski and Bike Centrum Radotín.

Sufficient volume for a cycling backpack

First of all, you need to think about the volume of the backpack you need. This of course depends on the length of your rides. For an intensive two-hour training session, where you need mainly water and basic tools, a smaller backpack will suffice than for a full day ride in the woods, where you won't be without snacks, a spare inner tube, clothes, etc.

Bike backpacks and their size

In addition to the volume of the pack, also look at the height of the pack, which determines whether the pack fits well on your back. If you are shorter in figure, be sure to choose a shorter pack than a two-meter habaner. Ladies and children will also appreciate options designed specifically for them. Women's backpacks are lower backpacks and narrower in the shoulders, while children's models are of course smaller overall.

Bike backpacks help with water intake

One of the most important things no cyclist can do without is a supply of fluid to keep the body sufficiently hydrated. If you intend to carry fluid in your backpack, make sure you take into account the space it will take up beforehand. Special drinking bags with a capacity of up to 3 litres are produced for backpacks. Also decide whether you prefer a backpack with a built-in water reservoir (more information about these backpacks you can find in the article how to choose a camelbak), or whether you will buy the reservoir separately or put a classic cycling bottle in the backpack. When using a water reservoir, it is definitely better if the backpack has a special opening for the hose to come out, otherwise you have to ride with the zipper open.

Cycling backpacks are shaped for cycling

Remember that cycling backpacks are designed and shaped for comfortable use in the saddle. The back of the backpack is designed to be curved to fit the position of a rider with a bent back. Therefore, it is a good idea to use a special cycling backpack on the bike and not, for example, an outdoor backpack.

To keep your back from sweating

How the back of the pack is designed to keep your back ventilated is also very important. This is because a back covered by a backpack sweats heavily during physical activity. That's why backpack manufacturers have come up with different back design systems to ensure that air reaches your back and reduces sweating as much as possible.

Excellent ventilation is offered by the renowned German backpack manufacturer Vaude under the name Aeroflex. Backpacks with this system only fit over the back with a breathable mesh stretched over a lightweight steel frame. Thanks to the frame, there is always a space between the mesh and the body of the pack through which air can flow freely, which is probably the best solution to the problem of back sweating.

Company Camelbak solves the ventilation problem with the N.V.I.S. and Air Director systems. Other manufacturers such as Dakine and Fox take similar routes.

Adjustable shoulder straps

A very important attribute of a quality cycling backpack is the adjustable shoulder straps, which allow you to fix it on your back in the right position. Also note whether the straps are padded and ventilated, and whether they have a chest (and in the case of a larger pack, a hip) belt that allows you to fine-tune the position of the pack to relieve your back. The chest belt will also make sure that the pack doesn't slide around and move around on your back when riding off-road.

The backpack doesn't move when the back straps are properly adjusted and doesn't change your center of gravity, allowing you to maintain your balance even in challenging passages.

Cycling backpacks and their equipment

A cycling backpack can be equipped with a number of small items that significantly increase the comfort of use. These include a special padded pocket for cycling glasses, which protects your optics not only from mechanical damage but also - if you use it consistently only for glasses - from getting dirty. Some backpacks also come with an organiser for storing cycling tools and other small items. This is a system of pockets and pouches, with which you won't have to spend long minutes in the guts of the luggage unable to find the mounting pins or glue and have to spill the entire contents of the backpack on the ground because of it. A special hook or string for attaching keys will do you a similar service. In case of bad weather, you can also use a raincoat, which is rolled up and attached inside a special pocket on the outside of the pack and can be unrolled at any time to protect the pack and its contents from the downpour. Another nice feature is the possibility of attaching a cycling helmet on the outside of the pack, either with straps or a special semi-open pocket.

Cycle backpacks and safety

A big plus is that the backpack is equipped with reflective elements or handles for hanging a blinker. The backpack is on your back when riding and the reflective elements or the flasher are very visible on the backpack even from a long distance.