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Morning all, looking at purchasing a new rucksack for riding, needs to be 25/30l. Looking at the evoc range but then looked at Go Outdoors and seen the montane/Lowe alpine rucksacks for half the price, the montane is climbing specific but surely it will do the job on the bike too? Any advice welcome…cheers
Edit - forgot to say it will be used for bike packing/XC rides, nothing gnarly
Both make very good bags, the only issue I've ever had with hiking bags when riding is that they tend to sit higher on your back, so can foul your helmet descending. Worth trying one if you can actually get to a go outdoors etc locally.
The Osprey range look very good and are well thought out but quite pricey.
25/30l is pretty big on a bike.
Do you really need that size?
I would rather smaller pack, lager bags on bike.
Tried a 30l on this afternoon and it’s huge! Definitely going to look at a smaller bag and loading the frame instead - cheers all
Try Alpkit Gourden, nice and fairly cheap too.
I have recently started using an Osprey Raptor 14 having previously carrying a Camelback Hawg. The Hawgs build quality is lower (torn away shoulder straps, jammed zips, rapidly deteriorated fabric) than the Raptor and whilst it has a nominally larger capacity it is not particularly easy to use it in a sens<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">ible way. The Raptor has lots of storage compartments, perhaps too many and seems to be able to swallow kit and keep it secure and stable.</span>
I'd buy another but will swerve the Hawg.
Osprey does some larger capacity biking packs called Escapist. Maybe worth a look.
Osprey Escapist is a lovely bag. Got the 32l one which is huge but I’ve used for overnight bikepacking trips and it carries a load really well. For more general duties though I’d definitely go smaller.
Cheers all, it’s for bike packing so will check out the escapist and other Osprey bags - thanks!
DHB Slice on Wiggle is a cracker and currently well reduced, I have 2 of them !
It gets really good independent reviews too. I use one for coaching with the youngsters and the other one bike packing and general use
Meant to add, I've had an Escapist 25 for years - not sure whether it's been updated - but about as big a pack as I'd want to carry on the bike, nicely thought out with bike specific features and comfortable though wider and a little more intrusive in use compared to the Raptor. The Osprey Talons are nice packs too and would also do the job.
If you're looking at non-biking packs, some of the fast and light running / adventure race packs are a better bet than climbing / hiking ones ime.
When researching recently I decided the most obvious difference between hiking and biking bags is that the hiking bags tend to have one or two huge pockets and the riding ones will have more dividers and sections. So it depends upon whether you're happy digging through a bag for the one tiny chain link tool that you threw in there. I found a lot of the hiking bags had pole etc mounts as well rather than some sort of strap system for pads etc. which I wanted to have.
A wee tool roll solves that issue, much better moving from bag to bag too.
Worth having a look on the Osprey website as they have an outlet store online selling returns and refurbs at decent prices.
I was looking recently too as my 11 year old Escapist 32 was done. Montane looks good but the hip belt was too thin for my liking.
Ended up getting a Deuter Trans Alp which is great. 24 litre and all sorts of features, would recommend.
Bought a Montane bag 12 years ago because it was “the right colour”. Use it for cycling and walking. Well built. Only thing that’s broken is one plastic buckle. Well placed compression straps. Zips have lasted. Really good. Also have Osprey and Alpkit bags for the kids. Again good, well made bags.
Ended up getting a Deuter Trans Alp
Should be a good bag, we've a couple of Deuter's and they are great.