New cycling friendly bags are always popping up in our inbox. These latest cover a wide range. There is Mission Workshop who wants you to custom assemble the ultimate backpack-style messenger bag to haul each and every item you can thing you will need across the city. Then there is Brooks who want you to carry a bit of stylish luggage to get you out of the city for the weekend, or just a backpack for zipping around town on the bike. And then there is Restrap who wants to outfit your next adventure tour on the bike…
The new R6 Modular Arkiv Field Backpack from Mission Workshop combines their new nylon HT500 fabric with their modular Arkiv buckles to put together a pack that can haul pretty much whatever you can think up. The Archiv system lets you securely pair together any of their weatherproof, modular pouches and pockets onto the base R6 backpack.
Starting off with either the 20l or 40l roll-top packs for $235, it’s pretty much up to your imagination (and budget) what you want to haul. The base weatherproof, urethane-coated backpack is relatively simple with one external and one interior zippered pocket, but then with six major strap rails you can attach all of the accessories to customize your hauling capacity.
With the small, patented aluminum clips you can add on an extra laptop case, folio, tool pouch, or one of several other small modular pockets that can easily tack on a couple hundred bucks more as you tailor the modular pack to your needs.
Brooks will get your gear across town too, albeit with a simpler more classic aesthetic. We had a quick look at the two biggest bags of their new Metropolitan collection back at Eurobike when we were ogling their new carbon-railed Cambium saddle, but now we have a bit more detail. The new bags designed for the “urban commuter and cycling sophisticate” are a bit of a luxury take on gear bags.
The Brooks Rivington Rucksack is a roll-top backpack, similar to the Mission Workshop one above, but made from a water-resistant organic cotton fabric, available in classic muted colors. It gets two outer front pockets, and a third pocket integrated into its padded back. This hidden pocket uses a long vertical zip to slide a 15″ laptop into its yellow quilted lining. The Italian-made Rivington with its 27l storage capacity will set you back 300€.
The Mott is a fashionable adaptation of a duffel made to haul your gear for weekend trips. It uses that same treated cotton fabric, and comes in two sizes either 40l for 370€ or the smaller 32l for 350€. Both bags are also made in Italy and get vulcanized cotton/rubber Cambium-style carry straps. They feature quilted yellow linings too, and get a single external zip pocket and a removable shoulder strap.
From Restrap, the people who got their start with pedal straps, comes the new #CarryEverything touring range. Restrap has put together a completely rack-free bikepacking and touring system, including a saddle bag, an assortment of frame bags, and a bar bag to carry any load a touring cyclist can think up.
The CarryEverything range attaches to any bike, without mounts or screws. Each of the bags is handmade in Leeds, UK from military-grade waterproof materials and is adaptable to changing loads.
The Restrap saddle bag is actually a semi-rigid holster that supports a 8-13L drybag. It can be bought either on its own for £90, or for an extra £10 with a drybag. The £40 frame bags come in three sizes to suit your tastes and needs. Each 1000D cordura bag gets waterproof zips to stay dry and rubberized straps for a secure hold on the bike. The bar bag like the saddle bag is again a holster for a drybag. Again it uses an 8-13l drybag, and is held in place with the same patented one-hand magnetic buckle. It sells for £55 on its own, or £65 with the drybag.
