If you are mountain biking on a short cross country trail that will only take you an hour or two, you might get by without a backpack. On the other hand, if you are going on a long trail that will take you a few days to complete, you are going to need a backpack that can carry all of your essentials.
The best three overall backpacks for mountain biking are:
- The Osprey Packs Raptor 14 Hydration Pack
- The CamelBak M.U.L.E. Mountain Biking Hydration Pack
- The Evoc FR Lite Hydration Protector Backpack.
All three of these are great backpacks for almost any occasion and are ones that you should at least look at if you are in need of a mountain biking backpack.
There are a host of other backpacks out there that are specifically made for mountain biking, however, so you may already have one in mind that you are considering. If that is the case, there are some things that you should take into consideration that can really help you to decide if it has everything you need or not.
Osprey Packs Raptor 14 Hydration Pack
The Osprey company has been making mountain biking backpacks for years now and, this being the case, they have learned to get quite a few things right. For starters, this backpack has a removable roll-out tool pouch that is integrated into one of the lower zippered pockets and this provides the perfect place to put the bike tools that you might need while you are out on the trail.
There are a total of three interior slip pockets and 5 external pockets including the tool pocket. There are also special attachments that allow you to attach you helmet or even to attach a light to this backpack.
These backpacks have two side compression straps on each side that help both in keeping the weight balanced and to keep anything inside the backpack from moving around. The compression straps can also let you attach any external gear to them and can hold up to the weight.
The 3 liter hydration reservoir is easy to access and is sure to hold plenty of water. Finally, the frame is made of foam with plenty of mesh to allow it to breathe well. This feature makes this particular mountain biking backpack sit comfortably on your back without making you too hot during a long ride.
CamelBak M.U.L.E. Mountain Biking Hydration Pack
One of the first things that you might notice about this backpack when you are going to buy one is the wide range of colors that it can come in. While it might not be necessary to have nine different colors to choose from, it can be nice to have more options.
Its 3 liter water reservoir is easy to access and refill. To one side it has a place to carry your helmet and a spot where you can put your bike tools. It also has the compression straps on each side which you can use to clip lighter things to.
While the shoulder straps are not as padded as they could be, the foam backing of this backpack even has small channels in it that help direct hot air out and away from your back. These channels are then covered with a mesh that boosts the air circulation even more.
Finally, it also comes equipped with a waterproof cover for mountain biking rides in the rain. The waist strap that it comes with is also a removable feature if you prefer wearing your backpack without this while you are mountain biking.
Evoc FR Lite Protector Hydration Backpack
This heavy duty mountain biking backpack was designed with Enduro racers in mind. While this backpack does not come with a water reservoir included, it does come with a space to put one. There are also plenty of small pockets that are the perfect size for sunglasses, keys, phones, or anything else of that nature.
The key feature of this mountain biking backpack, however, is the protection which it gives to your spine. This spine protector prevents anything from literally stabbing you in the back, but it also protects your back should you fall backwards onto it.
Finally, it also has a helmet holder that can fit full-face helmets. Its waist strap is nicely padded and wider than most, allowing it to help more with the weight and to thereby increase your comfort.
What Things Should You Look For When Choosing A Backpack To Take Mountain Biking?
While there are a lot of options in the area of personal preferences when it comes to choosing your own mountain biking backpack, there are some things that you will want no matter what. Knowing what these things are can help you to narrow down the multitude of options and to make your final decision.
Comfort
Comfort is a very important part of a mountain biking backpack. If the backpack you are wearing is uncomfortable, not only will this prevent you from giving your full attention on the trail in front of you, but it can also make you have to stop for breaks more often than you would otherwise have to. This can result in taking a longer amount of time to get to the end of the trail.
Foam padding can really help prevent anything from digging into your back. It is also necessary that the shoulder straps are well padded and preferably covered with a mesh since you will be using your arms on the handles of the bike and moving them around and you do not want the shoulder straps to dig in anywhere.
To help with this, the shoulder straps should also be fairly wide and adjustable so that they fit just right. Having a belt strap to aid in distributing the weight is also a good thing to add.
Another reason that can cause a mountain biking backpack uncomfortable can be that it traps the heat on your back and makes you hot. This can really wear you out and dehydrate you faster, so it is important to pick a backpack that has air vents or some way of letting the heat escape.
Compartments
One of the most important things for a backpack that is made for any type of biking can be the hydration bladder spot to hold your water. This should be something that does not leak, and as a plus can even be able to open up and allow you to put ice in it. But, whether you put ice in it or not, it should still be able to keep your water cool as long as possible, especially if you are picky about the temperature of your water.
There should be a number of other compartments that can hold everything else you might need for a long ride. These items can include: a spare tube in case you get a flat, the tools that you will need to change it out, a plug kit, a protein bar or snack of some kind, your phone, keys, ID, and a few other things.
Durability
Durability is also a key factor when it comes to backpacks for mountain biking. These backpacks are exposed to the full sun and should be able to stand up to the wear and tear of hours of use. The different compartments should be able to hold things that tend to be weighty like the water. Finally any foam and mesh parts should not tear apart or wear out easily.
Weight
Lastly, while you want your mountain biking backpack to have plenty of durability, you do not want this to come with too much added weight. The items that you will be packing inside you backpack will have enough weight all on their own, even with a feather-light backpack holding them.
You want the weight to be as compacted up against your back as possible so that it does not move around when you are power pedaling. The weight of this kind of backpack should be more on your back than straight down like hiking backpacks tend to be.