Bike Backpacks?

hippy said:

The zips on another backpack are dying...

I'll need a replacement asap.

I've seen a Deuter backpack that is designed especially for cycling
with. It had an external frame that pushed the backpack away from the
rider - aiming to reduce the huge sweat patch that typically forms there
🙂 I don't remember if it had other cycling-related features but I'm
checking out their website now so I'll find out soon enough...

Does anyone else here use a backpack for commuting?

Any suggestions on a good one?

I've used ~$40 Caribee backpacks for the last 5+ years and they do the
job, but get quite stinky/wet on the straps and back and the zips die
eventually.

Thanks! hippy

P.S. I've tried the pannier option and it's not for me.

--

I bought a Berghaus backpack from Paddy Pallin with the mesh frame that
keeps it off your back for commuting because I'm always overheating. But
even that wasn't enough so I went back to using panniers. The biggest
problem I found with panniers is the sress of carrying a laptop and a
couple of tech manuals has left me a couple of times on the verge of
losing the lot. Now I use an elaborate series of home made straps which
takes a good 5-10 minutes to get setup, but at least I won't be leaving
a laptop lying on Studley Rd or Hoddle St. I'd still rather do that than
go back to the backpack. But if you are determined to go the backpack,
the Berghaus has been pretty good value for hiking daytrips at least.

DaveB.

hippy said:

The zips on another backpack are dying...

hippy,
if you know anyone with a sewing machine, its really easy to replace a
zip. Well worth it if you like the old pack.

Quoted message said:

I've seen a Deuter backpack that is designed especially for cycling
with. It had an external frame that pushed the backpack away from the

These are good, but not nearly as comfortable for your back as a
pannier. Or a racktop bag, to avoid wind drag.
I think Kathmandu have a cycling backpack too.

Quoted message said:

Does anyone else here use a backpack for commuting?

Only if I need to carry something fragile.

Quoted message said:

Any suggestions on a good one?

One with a waist belt can be a good idea to secure it, especially when
using the drop bars.

Quoted message said:

P.S. I've tried the pannier option and it's not for me.

Eh? How could that be?

I have one of the Deuter backpacks you speak of.. awesome pack, use it for
walking/riding everyday...

only issue i have is that its a little small in the storage area.. got it
about a year ago, still rock solid.. it was marked as $159 at Cecil, but I
was only charged $99 for it, I paid and quickly departed the store 🙂

hope this helps,
gpl

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The zips on another backpack are dying...

I'll need a replacement asap.

I've seen a Deuter backpack that is designed especially for cycling
with. It had an external frame that pushed the backpack away from the
rider - aiming to reduce the huge sweat patch that typically forms there
🙂 I don't remember if it had other cycling-related features but I'm
checking out their website now so I'll find out soon enough...

Does anyone else here use a backpack for commuting?

Any suggestions on a good one?

I've used ~$40 Caribee backpacks for the last 5+ years and they do the
job, but get quite stinky/wet on the straps and back and the zips die
eventually.

Thanks! hippy

P.S. I've tried the pannier option and it's not for me.

--

"Mike" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

hippy wrote:

Quoted message said:

These are good, but not nearly as comfortable for your back as a
pannier. Or a racktop bag, to avoid wind drag.
I think Kathmandu have a cycling backpack too.

I have a Kathmandu backpack which is not designed for cycling but is the
best backpack I have ever owned. The whole thing is made of Scotchlite and
is reflective as buggery. It has 2 big compartments and a small front one
and is padded so my laptop is nice and secure in it. I have used it for
commuting on the bike and taking to ju-jitsu for around 18 months and the
thing is still like brand new. I have done around 1000ks on the bike with
it with no problems. I generally carry about 12 kilos in it when commuting.

Fraser

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Mike hippy, if you know anyone with a sewin
machine, its really easy to replace a zip. Well worth it if you lik
the old pack

It's not worth my time. I don't like the pack much and It'll take m
ages to find the bits I need to replace and then work out how to sew 'e
on, then realise I've stuffed it up and have to unpick them, then se
them on again, etc. ;

Quoted message said:

These are good, but not nearly as comfortable for your back as
pannier. Or a racktop bag, to avoid wind drag. I think Kathmandu have
cycling backpack too

I dunno, I've used a backpack on a bike for the last 10+ years and foun
using panniers a PITA. Sure you get a sweaty back, but you don't have t
worry attaching/detaching panniers all the time, don't have to empt
them into a backpack to go to the gym after the ride for a shower, don'
have to worry about having them stolen if you leave the bike somewhere
The bike looks better and handles better without panniers too. ..and al
those reasons pale in comparison to the fact that I'm a stubborn pric
and have used a backpack for 80% of my life :-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

P.S. I've tried the pannier option and it's not for me

Eh? How could that be

See above. ;

hipp

-

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Fraser Johnston I have a Kathmandu backpack whic
is not designed for cycling but is the best backpack I have ever owned

Don't suppose you know the model name

Their website is spitting out errors left and right..

hipp

-

DaveB <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

The biggest problem I found with panniers is the sress
of carrying a laptop and a couple of tech manuals has left me a
couple of times on the verge of losing the lot.

DaveB.

MEC used to sell aftermarket pannier attachment brackets
which I have found very good. Chech their web site, they
may still carry them.

Peter Gordon

Nike Epic... this one is not cheap. But it has a net for your helmet, reinforced laptop sleeve (G4 Powerbook fits perfectly), fibreglass chassis, padded straps and back, heaps of pockets (even a special one for your iPod) ... the works and only weighs 1.4kg. You can even design your own http://www.nike.com click on Nike iD.

I got mine fro
http://www.ebags.com/nike/epic_1/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=1570

I saw them on sale in Sydney... can't remember where

-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "DaveB" == DaveB <[email hidden]> writes:

DaveB> The biggest problem I found with panniers is the sress of
DaveB> carrying a laptop and a couple of tech manuals has left me a
DaveB> couple of times on the verge of losing the lot. Now I use an
DaveB> elaborate series of home made straps which takes a good 5-10
DaveB> minutes to get setup, but at least I won't be leaving a
DaveB> laptop lying on Studley Rd or Hoddle St.

I've been using a set of Ortlieb panniers with a Topeak rack to carry my
gear. They're absolutely rock solid.

One pannier is capacious enough to accommodate my Dell Latitude laptop,
complete with bag etc. That leaves the other one free for clothes, food
etc. Putting them on the rack couldn't be simpler, slot in the lateral
hook to the side of the rack and two clips snap on to the top of the
rack. Removal is by means of pulling the pannier handle up which
releases the spring loaded clips.

I (rather embarrassingly) got caught out by wet tram tracks on Swanston
street and went skating down the road, a little scuffing was the only
evidence of my adventure. Both panniers stayed securely attached to the
rack.

$265 might sound like a bit of money but when you're using them five
days a week it's well worth it IMO.

http://www.cecilwalker.com.au/category17_1.htm
--
Regards
Euan

I'm a big fan of my Adventure Designs courier bag. Waterproof laptop
pocket, loads of pencil pockets and being a courier bag, it's lower down
the back, more comfortable on a bike and easier to get on and off.

hippy said:

The zips on another backpack are dying...

Quoted message said:

I'll need a replacement asap.

Quoted message said:

I've seen a Deuter backpack that is designed especially for cycling
with. It had an external frame that pushed the backpack away from the
rider - aiming to reduce the huge sweat patch that typically forms there
🙂 I don't remember if it had other cycling-related features but I'm
checking out their website now so I'll find out soon enough...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone else here use a backpack for commuting?

Quoted message said:

Any suggestions on a good one?

Quoted message said:

I've used ~$40 Caribee backpacks for the last 5+ years and they do the
job, but get quite stinky/wet on the straps and back and the zips die
eventually.

Quoted message said:

Thanks! hippy

Quoted message said:

P.S. I've tried the pannier option and it's not for me.

Quoted message said:

--

hippy said:

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Fraser Johnston I have a Kathmandu backpack which
is not designed for cycling but is the best backpack I have ever owned.

Don't suppose you know the model name?

Their website is spitting out errors left and right...

hippy

--

I've got a Kathmandu backpack I've been using for about
3 years now with no problems at all. Sounds like it's
similar to Fraser's.

Checkout www.kathmandu.com.au - I'd post the direct URLs but they seem
to have the longest, ugliest URLs known to man.

My backpack is called the Mirage. I think Fraser's might be the Vision.
The quality is great and they all seem to have provision for water
bladders - I've also got the Apparition backpack just for that purpose.

Look under Active Packs on the website.

Shame you just missed out on the 50% off sale 🙂 If you can wait, it
won't be too long before the next 50% off sale is on.

Cheers.
-Nick

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Fraser Johnston I have a Kathmandu backpack which
is not designed for cycling but is the best backpack I have ever owned.

Don't suppose you know the model name?

Their website is spitting out errors left and right...

hippy

Sorry mate. Just checked and no name. I will look at their site and see if
I can find an url for it. I remember I bought it for about $50 reduced from
about $150.

Fraser

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Fraser Johnston I have a Kathmandu backpack which
is not designed for cycling but is the best backpack I have ever owned.

Don't suppose you know the model name?

Their website is spitting out errors left and right...

hippy

I am pretty sure it is the underground pack. Try this url for size
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/kat/fmpfiles/FMPro?-db=kat%5fdata.fp5&-format=products%5faus.htm&-lay=www&-sortfield=parent%3a%3arec%5forder&-sortfield=rec%5forder&-op=neq&Prod%5fStatus=Not%20Active&-op=eq&Parent%5fParent%5fID=7&IsParentFirst=True&-op=neq&Prod%5fPriceAUS=%3d%3d&-max=1&-find=&-Skip=0

Hopefully that will work. On their site it is the 1st backpack in their
daypack and camera bag section. I got the one in ILLUMINITE which is their
reflective material. $149.90 on their site.

Fraser

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The zips on another backpack are dying...

I'll need a replacement asap.

I've seen a Deuter backpack that is designed especially for cycling
with. It had an external frame that pushed the backpack away from the
rider - aiming to reduce the huge sweat patch that typically forms there
🙂 I don't remember if it had other cycling-related features but I'm
checking out their website now so I'll find out soon enough...

Does anyone else here use a backpack for commuting?

Any suggestions on a good one?

I've used ~$40 Caribee backpacks for the last 5+ years and they do the
job, but get quite stinky/wet on the straps and back and the zips die
eventually.

Thanks! hippy

P.S. I've tried the pannier option and it's not for me.

Hippy,

I bought a Bobblebee hardshell backpack about 3 years ago and have been
using it for daily commuting with a laptop ever since. I bought it from a
distributer in Sydney but I can't remember their name. It was $300 but as I
had just spent $3000 on a laptop I figured that it was a bit of an insurance
policy. I went to a place that makes the reflective roadsigns and bought
some offcuts for a couple of bucks and attached them to the pack......click
on the picture on my website below.......

http://www.users.tpg.com.au/adsl4xun/index.htm

It has been a great pack and has protected the laptop on two occasions when
I have spudded in (it has a few deep gouges to prove it). It also provides
pretty good protection for my back in a bingle as once I ended up sliding
along the asphalt on it.

For the record, the two stacks were:

1. T-boned by Subaru WRX when on the road bike (his fault)

2. Rear derailleur snapped and locked back wheel of mountain bike halfway
through a corner.

Cheers,

Gags

"Dominic Sansom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Nike Epic... this one is not cheap. But it has a net for your helmet,
reinforced laptop sleeve (G4 Powerbook fits perfectly), fibreglass
chassis, padded straps and back, heaps of pockets (even a special one
for your iPod) ... the works and only weighs 1.4kg. You can even
design your own http://www.nike.com click on Nike iD.

I got mine from
http://www.ebags.com/nike/epic_1/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15703

I saw them on sale in Sydney... can't remember where.

That is an awesome looking backpack, but USD150! I don't think so.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

"Gags" <tba@tba> wrote in message news:[email hidden]

[...]

Quoted message said:

I bought a Bobblebee hardshell backpack about 3 years ago and have
been using it for daily commuting with a laptop ever since. I bought
it from a distributer in Sydney but I can't remember their name. It
was $300 but as I had just spent $3000 on a laptop I figured that it
was a bit of an insurance policy. I went to a place that makes the
reflective roadsigns and bought some offcuts for a couple of bucks
and attached them to the pack......click on the picture on my website
below.......

http://www.users.tpg.com.au/adsl4xun/index.htm

Bugger the backpacks, "...when I was riding to uni with a cast on my leg..."

Now that's hardcore. I wanna see Hippy trackstanding at the lights with a
cast on his leg.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The zips on another backpack are dying...

Have you tried crimping the zipper thingo?
I took my bag to have the zip replaced at a shoe repairer, the guy took it
and played for about a minute, gave it back and said he'd fixed it for free.
He'd done what I'd tried to do myself a couple of times which is squish the
edges of the slider thing back together so the zip teeth don't misalign.
The bag has been functioning fine ever since although it is a little
stiffer.
Be very careful though, the sliders break easily.

Quoted message said:

Does anyone else here use a backpack for commuting?

I use a camelback blowfish, had it for almost five years and use it nearly
every day.

Quoted message said:

Any suggestions on a good one?

Mainly happy with mine but a little more storage would be nice. I think the
newer blowfishes are a fair bit bigger.

Quoted message said:

P.S. I've tried the pannier option and it's not for me.

Couldn't agree more. Panniers are not for anyone who likes the nimble
handling of a pushie.

Drs said:

That is an awesome looking backpack, but USD150! I don't think so.

I know... I did say it wasn't cheap.... the one I saw in Sydney wa
AU$225 ([censored] me off when I saw it for that price) which was a bi
better... it was hanging on a wall in a sporting goods store in th
CBD... I must have visited 10 different stores that day so I can'
recall which one

-

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Drs Bugger the backpacks, "...when I was riding to
uni with a cast on my leg..."

Quoted message said:

Now that's hardcore. I wanna see Hippy trackstanding at the lights with
a cast on his leg.

For (hopefully) obvious reasons, that's something I DON'T want to see!
😉

hippy

--