[Closed] Riding with a rucsac

How much stuff do you actually need to carry? You're right, wearing anything more than the tiniest rucksack can be deeply uncomfortable, which is why I don't bother any more.

Even on long rides, I much prefer at most a smallish bum-bag, with bottles and a top-tube bag on the frame if I really need to carry extra food. That can hold a shell jacket/gilet, phone, pump, tube, tools, small first aid essentials and grub.

i use a frame bag of various sizes, hate having a bag on my back. if you are wilderness riding or bivvying i can understand it but what do all those riders at trail centres carry in their rucsacs from the T5 around the route for 11 miles or so and then back to the cafe?

Modern MTB sacks are so comfortable you won't even notice you're wearing one.

Features I'd look for are:

Bladder, or channel to fit one

Chest and waist straps

"Trampoline" mesh panel to hold the pack away from your body

Examples include Vaude  and Osprey and some Deuter packs (IIRC)

I've got a very large Camelbak one which is not too tall, so it doesn't hit me on the back of the head.  I use it when back-packing as I can get my one man tent, down bag and inflatable mat in it, plus the hydration pack and basic tools, tube, pump etc.

Short and wide is what you want.  But only for back packing.

For trail rides you just need a tube, pump and the smallest of multi tools.  Perhaps a phone, fiver and triangular bandage.  That all goes in a normal sized Camelback or even your pockets.

If its just a shorter ride you don't actually need anything.

Multi-week, long, long mountain bike vacation with 9 kg rucsac, technical trails:

was a fantastic vacation. But would never do it again this way. Took the fun out of biking - was hard, hard work instead. Going a couple hours uphill with this setup: was a bit "over my limit"... In the trails itself the heavy load on your back likes to kill you. Too much mass/inertia in the wrong spot. Used an old NorthFace Summit rucsac (guess the thing is older than 15 years). No failures on this equipment.

Agree with others - some people carry silly amounts of gear.  I bought a Camelback - used it once, hated it - still have it from 2001 somewhere.

So, water bottle on bike, tube strapped under seat, multi tool, mini pump, few coins/c-card, keys, phone, snack bar etc in rear jersey/gilet/jacket pockets.  On the Brompton I sometimes use a small rucksack but the smallest Deuter 10L jobbie - weighs nothing.

well designed lightweight backpacks are very good these days

never notice my Endura Singletrack one once Im wearing , short blast or all day ride its great

I only use one due to needing lots of water and hate stuff in my pockets. I don't use one on the road bike but struggle with just one bottle of water after an hour so end up stopping at cafes to re fill.

what do all those riders at trail centres carry in their rucsacs from the T5 around the route for 11 miles or so and then back to the cafe?

Water, a spare tube, tyre levers, multi-tool, pump and phone and some change. Perhaps a wind proof and some food. But I’m sure you know this.

Why in a pack? Because when I was a beginner I got tired of having a multi-tool rammed into my kidneys as I slid down a track minus the bike. Or losing my keys ‘somewhere up there’. Or stopping to retrieve the bottle that bounced under a friend’s wheels and is now empty and squashed. I have a scar on my back from a mobile phone aerial.

Almost everyone I ride with - and it’s a large riding group - uses a pack on the MTB. It’s only STW that suggests filling your pockets with pointy stuff.

It depends where you ride. I like to carry enough clothes and gear so that if I was injured on the top of a mountain or the weather really turns I would have a safety margin. Plenty of tools and spares to keep me riding. My backpack is also a back protector and holds more water than a bottle  would.

I neither use a rucsac or fill my pockets with pointy stuff.

Bottle on the frame, multitool and puncture stuff in a small seat pack, pump on a frame clip, jelly babies in pockets.  thats all you need for a normal MTB spin of the sort most of us do.  I have had a bottle fall off once in decades of riding

Obviously if out in the real mountains then as Tomaso says you need the kit to survive overnight but for a spin round a trail centre or the woods behind nationwide you really don't need much kit.  You spend thousands on a light bike then add kilos of unneeded kit and electronic devices

IMO a camelback is a part of the "uniform"

My background is more road/recumbent, so I've tended to use saddlebags, or even panniers for bulkier loads.  I prefer to travel light if possible. The reason I'm now wondering about packs is that I came across an article about bikepacking in which the writer said they used an Osprey pack with some sort of external frame.  In addition to carrying stuff (I'm not sure what) in the pack, they also somehow strapped their bike to it when the terrain was too rough for cycling!  I'm not sure what I'd carry, but I'm wondering if a total weight of around 10lbs (5 kilos) was too much.  I suspect I'd still be happier carrying stuff on the bike and in my jersey pockets, but I'm interested to learn about a pack as an alternative.

what do all those riders at trail centres carry in their rucsacs from the T5 around the route for 11 miles or so and then back to the cafe?

On the three or four times a year I make it to a trail centre, about the same I carry the rest of the time. I'm not going to unpack it just to avoid being judged by other people on the trail.

Most of my riding group will only have one pack- that gets the tools, tube, phone and water all the time then add food for long rides, spare layers for bad weather etc as necessary. Probably half empty half the time but is that really worth owning two different packs you then have to swap between?

I really like riding without a pack but often it's just easier to grab it and go rather than figuring out how to pack things.

I am a fan of riding with<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> rucksack/camelbak. The tools are always there and I like the idea of drinking water without the grinding mud paste in my mouth... Plus the </span>convenience<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> of having everything I need for a ride always ready despite what bike I fancy shredding! *</span>

* it doesn't matter I only have one bike and my "shredding" is most people bimble-pace

Get a rucksack that fits and it’ll be fine. I’ve got a 3litre for local rides (mainly bladder with room for pump, tube, tools and keys) and then a 12l and 18l for bigger days out.

On the CX bike I’ll use frame bags but on the roadie I stick to jersey pockets as in the head down position a rucksack isn’t comfy (and I’d imagine isn’t aero!). Being more upright on the MTB suits a rucksack more.

Big days biking up a munro, I'll take one, as need some layers, spares and food etc. All other days I try and avoid using it.

<div class="bbp-reply-author">Esme
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Modern MTB sacks are so comfortable you won’t even notice you’re wearing one.

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Rubbish.

I have a modern, well reviewed bag, still feels like a sweaty midget is trying to strangle me.

Never ride with a bag, it's 3 years old & I've used it maybe 5 times. Hate it.

It requires a bit of foresight and planning but I've raced up to 80km at an EWS and carried everything I need without having to resort to a pack.

I hate it that much I probably wouldn't even ride if it was the only option.

So, its personal choice then.

So, its personal choice then

Of course it is. Doesn’t mean that we can’t argue about it though. 😁

I'm waiting for someone to post the article from years ago that stated that "stuff was lighter" when strapped to your body rather than the bike and sprung / unsprung weight. I make every attempt to carry everything on the bike, particularly in summer - a 2 litre bladder in a framebag is far more comfortable than anything strapped to your back, particularly after 6 hours with the sun beating down.

After 6 hours with the sun beating down, if you have 2 litres left, yer a bit of a fool anyway... 🙂

I use a Camelbak all the time. Tried putting water and gear on the frame but I don't like how it deadens the bike's handling, especially on the rigid bike.  I really dont mind having it on my back.  It contains a couple of tubes, a pump, sometimes a shock pump, a multi tool, phone, wallet, sometimes a spot tracker.  Sometimes I also put a spare layer in it if I think I'll need it.

For me, I prefer that to strapping it all on the bike, even though I've tried (and spent money on) various combinations.

Also, last time I tried going without it was dry so I didn't have a waterproof on but there was still lots of water on the ground.  Back got very unpleasantly wet - I need a mudguard far less if I have a Camelbak.

Always ridden with one, so just used to it now. Easier to drink from a camelbak, and less likely to find the bitey sucky bit covered in muck or various animals shit.

rarely have more than water, a multitool if I remember, maybe a jacket if the weather looks iffy, maybe something sweet to eat in it.

Have we mentioned the enduro fanny pack yet?  I'm so over rucksacks...

Oh and of course there's rucksacks and rucksacks. A dedicated biking one can be much better than a cheap or even expensive climbing or walking one.

Had a couple of Camelbaks over the years which were both really uncomfortable.

i then bought an Osprey Escapist 25 for doing a 3 day ride, and it’s bloody amazing in comparison. Much bigger pack but don’t even feel like I’m wearing it.

Only use it on long rides but certainly does feel like your carrying a 25l sack

I’ve almost always ridden wih some kind of bag on my back with bike stuff in - even round he trail centres referenced above. Just because it isn’t the epic cross country cycle across the peaks or some knarly Enduro race doesn’t mean you don’t need stuff with you.

I used to have a camelback bladder in mine, plus a spare tube, puncture repair kit, multi tool, phone, wallet, snacks, spare chain joining link, pump.

This year I’ve swapped to a bum bag type thing and cut down what I carry and so far so good. I’m tubeless now so have ditched the inner tube, and I’ve found a water bottle has enough liquid in it for a ride of a couple of hours as long as it isn’t baking hot. All fit in the bum bag and you have a nice airy back. I cba with trying to strap stuff to the frame to save taking the bum bag as it’s not that noticeable when out riding. For bigger / longer / more remote rides I’ll still take the bag though so I can carry more water / food and extra layers of clothes.

Don’t forget that a rucksack with a water bladder also offers a bit of back protection if you are a bit of a gnarlist.

I just tape a banana to my top tube.

Water, a spare tube, tyre levers, multi-tool, pump and phone and some change. Perhaps a wind proof and some food. But I’m sure you know this.

I know it because I can easily get all that on the bike leaving my body free from burden. It'd leave you room on some of your shoulders for a bigger chip too 😉

I know it because I can easily get all that on the bike leaving my body free from burden.

And I can get all that on my body leaving my bike unburdened.  Isn't life great in all its diversity? 🙂

but what do all those riders at trail centres carry in their rucsacs from the T5 around the route for 11 miles or so and then back to the cafe?

I’m accused of having a chip on my shoulder when it was you that posted the crap above? 🤔

And what you basically said was that you carry your stuff in a frame-bag, not a backpack. So on trend but surely the worst option that anyone could suggest.

As ever, the evangelists sound as ridiculous as the haters.... 🤣

@fergal:

that's it.

The solution!

A banana! You are a genius!

Cheers.

I ride with an 8l big sur usually, I must have eaten my greens as I really don't notice it at all, it carries everything I need for a day out including my camera. I sometimes use an evoc fr trail if I need to carry more layers/camera which I also don't really notice except in the alps when it gets a bit sweaty, perhaps I don't notice it because I use it every day commuting the rest of the year. I do like having the back protector though. Very well designed bags.

I believe the fanny pack/long walk home is more fashionable though.

A banana! You are a genius!

Hmm...which reminds me of the time me & my mate Steve were doing a summer Polaris on the NYM. It was in the olden days when we used bum bags & he had a Karrimor one. He crammed about 5 bananas into the various net pockets & people at the start were oohhing & ahhing about how he was carrying these bananas. At the bottom of the first descent we went down (over the road from The Fox & Rabbit) he realised he no nana's left, they were strewn all down the b/way.

Anyway, I digress again.

I always use a Dakine Nomad, even on the road bike sometimes.

I always stuff my banana inside a clean pair of pants on my commute to work so it doesn't get crushed.

it was a pretty uncomfortable experience

It's like wearing a tie for the first time. You get used to it and stop noticing it pretty quickly.

It’s like wearing a tie for the first time. You get used to it and stop noticing it pretty quickly.

No, It's nothing like that at all. I was 'supposed' to wear a tie for work (prison service) but never did, much rather have worn a backpack.

No, It’s nothing like that at all. I was ‘supposed’ to wear a tie for work (prison service) but never did

How would you know if you never wore it?

For me:

Day riding on my own, or with my son, in expected constant conditions (i.e. unlikely to need a coat, or unlikely to take the coat off) then I'll ride with just my minimal back pocket toolkit (co2, tools, etc.) and the tube strapped to the bike.

Road riding: always the above, with an optional back pocket jacket

When leading others (especially if with kids), then will add a backpack with more spares, extra gloves and layers, chemical heater packs, first aid etc and the tools and clutter go in the bag. Will also take the bag if I think conditions are likely to change so I can strip off / add on a layer or two.

Trail centres: normally the minimal kit listed at the top.

Rode from Glentrool over to Clatteringshaw in the pissing rain with the boy yesterday. Coats never came off and took only back pocket kit (plus some sneaky heater packs in my top pocket - a real morale booster when it got bloody cold on the top!)

Each to their own, of course. No judgement made or intended of others.

It's easier to grab the rucksack when you have many bikes

Gosh I never realised that riding around a trail centre with my pack on was annoying somebody. Every day is a school day.

I prefer the water on my back to having it in a bottle that can get covered in crap and potentially bounce out. I've got a pack with my biking stuff in which I just grab whenever I go for a ride (all day, short blast, natural, trail centre, whatever). It contains the basics (tools, pump, first aid kit, basic survival stuff). I'll top up the water, add food/clothes and maybe change the tube to suit the bike (if I remember), but it sits in the cupboard next to my helmet, gloves and glasses, so I can just grab it and go.

I open the hatch on the frame and put the pump, tube etc in there, the tool attached to the bottle cage chain splitter and quick links under the stem top cap. Almost like specialized have thought about it.

Just another consideration/angle.

Personally, I wouldn't want to add any more weight to the bike itself (eg in a frameback) if I was planning on any hike-a-bike. I'd much rather have the weight in a comfy backpack than sat on the frame pushing the downtube into the back of my neck.

And in those sort of circumstances, you'll probably have extra clothing and 3 litres of water, so a backpack is going to be the default option.

Horses for courses

IMO a camelback is a part of the “uniform”

That old chestnut.

Personally, I'd rather ride without one but find that they're the easiest way to carry water and a few bits and bobs. My pack has enough water for the ride - short ride = less water, longer rider and the 3l bladder is full. Other than that there's a pump, multitool, chain tool, spare tube and a couple of chain links and food if needed. Plus I can stash my phone and car ket safely. I try ro carry the bare minimum rather than the kitchen sink.

I had riding with stuff in my pockets (even those on the back of jersey's) more than I dislike riding with a pack.

One of my mates decided to switch to water bottles but still carries them in his pack! Instead of having a handily placed tube to drink from, he has to stop and open his pack to get his bottles out - which I think is silly. He says this is because he's lost loads of the fabric cageless bottles and still loses normal ones (which I've seen following him).

Just saw this:

IMO a camelback is a part of the “uniform”

Bugger off.  I can't legitimately prefer something different to you without being a sheep or a fool?

I bought the very first Camelbak when it came out, in the mid 90s, when it was a padded rectangle with thin webbing straps, no pockets and a bladder that lasted about 3 months without leaking.  I used it because I liked it, and I continue to use them because I like them.  Is that not allowed?  Is it not possible to legitimately prefer something different to you, without being led by marketing?

FFS!

I use one of these

http://www.sailandski.co.uk/acatalog/Dakine-Heli-Pack-12L-17-18-36259.html

Small and also has routing for water bladder. Don't even notice it's there

Bugger off.  I can’t legitimately prefer something different to you without being a sheep or a fool?

It's ok, someone has mentioned a T5 too. Personally, I'm disappointed that no-one has criticised the rucksack choices made by Santa Cruz riders yet.

Is there a Singletrack version of Godwin's Law that states how long a thread has to go on before someone will start bashing T5 owning, Santa Cruz riders who use rucksacks at trail centres?

I bought the very first Camelbak when it came out, in the mid 90s,

I’ve still got two of those. Probably still covered in mud from the last time they were used twenty years ago.

I much prefer modern trail running packs over anything mtb-trend. A lot lighter and more stable, and some thought and design has gone into endurance and mobility comfort, rather than 'take generic rucksack design, add some internal pockets' which accounts for the majority of bike packs.

For years I have used a backpack just for convenience - time is always limited and if you know you have some essentials in the bag, you can just grab it and go. I'm a bumbling forgetful fool, especially first thing in the morning, so this saves me at least 15 mins of walking back and forth to the shed before a ride.

I sometimes carry too much stuff, but i'd rather that than having to walk home, even on a local ride. Once realised i'd unknowingly been carrying a D-Lock for a week or two. Felt sprightly on the next ride.

Currently experimenting with not using a backpack for longer rides, as it does get sweaty. My bike now looks like a packhorse.

Currently experimenting with not using a backpack for longer rides, as it does get sweaty. My bike now looks like a packhorse.

Over the years, I've greatly reduced what I carry when out on the trails from a full rucksack of clutter, down to a few bits in my back pockets and a tube strapped to the frame. Like others here, I don't like fastening stuff to the bike and prefer to carry it on my person, but my road riding has taught me to me much more frugal with what I take and, so far at least, it's not been a problem. Clothing tends to be the biggest pain as if you start a ride cold and need to strip off, it's a pain not having anywhere to stick a coat. Or, likewise, when you want to add layers, only having a back-pocket-coat is equally irritating (and freezing when in the hills!).

Is there a Singletrack version of Godwin’s Law that states how long a thread has to go on before someone will start bashing T5 owning, Santa Cruz riders who use rucksacks at trail centres?

Maybe but that period of time is vanishingly small.  In many cases it's the OP 🙂

Slight thread hijack. This subject is one I have been debating for a while with friends...

I have decided that I need a largish rucsac for long days out and commuting. Anybody who can vouch for the Osprey Radial 26?

Most importantly, will it hit me in the back of the head if I am on the drop bar bike?

Hmm.. having said all that about rucksacks, I hate them with drops. If go for something low and cycling specific if I had to.

This kind of thing keeps the weight a bit lower. The Osprey looks like it's top heavy.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/deuter-race-rucksack/

on convenience - my seatpack is almost always packed with what I need and can fit on all my bikes easily.  I have two bikes with pump clips and pumps always attached so its simply pick it up and go like you rucksac guys.

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">This kind of thing keeps the weight a bit lower. The Osprey looks like it’s top heavy.</span>

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/deuter-race-rucksack//a >

FWIW, this is my exact pack and yes, the weight is very low on it. It also has a back suspension thingy thing that keeps the bag off your back thus reducing (but not completely eliminating) sweaty back syndrome. It's rugged and has lasted me a fair few years, but as mentioned above it gets less use these days than once it did. I can recommend it.

I try to manage without a rucksack. I can put a 550ml bottle, pump, spare tube, chain tool, quick link all on the bike, and put some energy bars in my back pocket.

MTB rides up to the low 30's (of kilometres) this is okay.

Up from the high 30's and into the 40's (of km's) it's really hard without a camelbag unless there is a mid ride shop or pub stop.

Figure of 8's (with the car in the middle of the 8) are quite easy to manage without a camelbag.

Trail centres are not too bad as they aren't very long e.g. Gisburn forest "the eight" and Cannock Chase "Monkey Trail" can refill at the car between doing a lap of the main trail before heading out again.

The Peak District and South Pennines usually have plenty of places to stop at to refill on drinks and food. I've done long rides, easily exceeding 50k, in these national parks, without a camelbag, but a few shop/pub calls have been necessary.

But on Lake District / Wales epics then a camelbag is essential I think

Without a camelbag it is also hard to manage layers. On some days it is hard to just get it right, so it's always good to have a camelbag so I can put that extra layer I didn't need into it, or carry a spare layer in case it gets too cold. Some days are really hard to "get right".

I don't find wearing a camelbag comfortable the straps irritates my neck on the right-hand side. I already have some sort of injury/problem with my right-hand side neck and the straps irritate it more than it would otherwise be irritated. So if I can go without the camelbag I will try my best to.

I always go out with my Mule, I overfill with water and probably take too many items to eat and fix my bike with but I know when i'm out I've got what i'll need to get me back. I've always found things on the frame get in the way and would not put another bottle there after seeing the state of my bike when I get back some times, who wants that in their mouth?!

For me it varies mostly according to the area I'm riding in as well as the predicted weather. I'll usually try not to have a rucksack but some places like the limestone areas of the Dales can be lacking in water supplies in summer so a Camelbak is then the better option. In places like the Lakes, North Wales or Scotland then water isn't usually a problem and I'll get away with just a single water bottle on the bike (muckynutz downtube mudguard keeps this clean). If I think I'm going to be in an area with dubious water then I'll take an MSR Trailshot water filter as well - this fits easily in an Alpkit top tube bag.

If the weather's going to be variable then things get a bit more awkward clothing wise as you need to adapt. The worst case is if something breaks and the weather has turned and you are in an exposed location.

Tools/spares: everything's on the bike. Pump is strapped to the bottle cage; multi-tool, tyre levers, puncture kit and spares are in the top tube bag.