HYDRAPAK BIG SUR

From one of the established and leading brands comes the Big Sur bag. The lightest on test at 580g, with well padded back and shoulder straps it had a stable fit when moving around on the trail. There are plenty of pockets but more importantly they are quickly accessed from outside the pack. A large main compartment for bulky items is there with a separate insulated and zipped pocket for the Hydrapack bladder. A bag for those travelling light and fast.

Price: £69.99
Weight: 580g
Capacity: 7.3L
Bladder: Hydrapak 3L
www.madison.co.uk
www.hydrapak.com
Tel: 0870 0347226

CAMELBAK MULE

‘Medium to ultra–long endeavours’ is what the name originally stood for; and I guess it sums the bag up perfectly. This mid sized pack of 12.5 litres is from the originators of the hydration system (an idea developed in the late 1980’s) and has evolved year on year with not a detail missed. It has become the benchmark bag and in action sits lower on the back and is as well mannered as any bag I have tried. Layout of the pockets is spot on and it has well placed straps that cinch the whole pack in to a compact size, yet free up space when required. You will rarely need a bigger day bag than this and of course it is now updated with the improved ‘Antidote’ bladder. The ‘Charge 450’ is the lighter version of the Mule for those who want to shed more weight. A faultless bag!

Price: £69.99
Weight: 670g
Capacity: 12.5L
Bladder: Camelbak Antidote 3L
www.camelbak.com
www.zyro.co.uk
Tel: 01845 521 765

OSPREY RAPTOR 10

Moving into the mountain biking market over the last few years, Colorado based Osprey have an enviable reputation for producing premium outdoor packs. Pick up the Raptor 10 and the quality of construction and design detail hits you straight away, and the lifetime warranty on the pack backs this up. Ten litres of well organized cargo space and a three litre Nalgene bladder will let you ride all day and Osprey’s BioStretch harness and hip belt keeps the bag where you want it. Their ridged foam ‘Airscape’ backpanel with grip mesh covering provides great comfort and dries out quickly, while Osprey’s LidLock helmet holder toggle is another ingenious touch! Not the lightest of the smaller bags on test, but for those who need a tough well thought out bag that will still be holding up year after year, this comes highly recommended.

Price: £79.99
Weight: 760g
Capacity: 10L
Bladder: Nalgene 3L
www.ospreyeurope.com
Tel: 01202 413 920

FOX OASIS

With a launch date of March next spring we have been lucky enough to get our hands on a sample of this new mid sized trail pack from Fox. Looks like the wait will be worth it, as they have done their homework with this one. With Fox clothing becoming more technical as well as stylish, this Oasis pack mirrors that move and they have definitely had a good look at the needs of the modern ‘trail rider’. First up is an easy access main compartment, with a two–way zip entry and a brightly coloured lining making it very easy to find items inside. On the exterior of the pack is a large expandable helmet sleeve and two tough webbing straps at the base for carrying knee or elbow pads. Ideal for winching your way back to the top of the hill on those long fireroad climbs. A broad, well shaped hip belt provides a stable fit and has a small zipped pocket on the left for keys or wallet, a useful addition that is missing from most packs. A 3 litre bladder from Hydrapak is included in what must be the best value pack of the feature.

Price: £62.99
Weight: 700g
Capacity: TBC
Bladder: Hydrapak 3L
www.foxeurope.com
Tel: 01914 876 100

VAUDE AQUARIUS 8+3

With a test lab in Tettnang in Germany, you would expect nothing except great design and faultless construction from a Vaude biking pack. With decades of experience in the outdoor world, and especially with luggage, that is exactly what we have found here. The main feature that sets this pack aside is the Aeroflex back system which suspends the main body of the bag away from the rider’s back, letting air escape and giving great support at the same time. In addition we have Vaude’s ‘FLASH’ harness adjustment system catering for different back lengths. This all adds up to eliminating many riders complaints of a hot sweaty back. The pack has a capacity of 8 litres but will expand at the slide of a zip to hold an additional 3 litres; a useful touch. Sure enough the back system does add a bit to the weight, but this, along with the expandability, makes for a great four–season trail pack. An innovative yet well established design that really does impress.

Price: £75
Weight: 890g
Capacity: 8L–11L
Bladder: Hydrapak 2L
www.raleigh.co.uk
www.vaude.co.uk
Tel: 01773 532 600