If you’re a frequent motorcycle rider, you know how limited your capacity is for “take-along” items. Saddlebags and sidecars can often alleviate much of this problem, but only if your bike has them. Plus, they can be a pain to take on and off if you don’t want a bike with permanent bags for traveling cross-country.
Backpacks, on the other hand, are easy to use, carry, and transport. You can put personal items a backpack, knowing they will remain in your possession, even when you are away from your motorcycle.
Contents
- 1 Best Motorcycle Riding Backpacks List For March 2021
- 2 Top 5 Motorcycle Riding Backpacks
- 3 OGIO No Drag Mach 5 Backpack Review
- 4 Kriega R20 Motorcycle Riding Backpack Review
- 5 American Kargo Trooper Rucksack Review
- 6 Firstgear Torrent Backpack Review
- 7 Nelson Rigg 40L Hurricane Waterproof Backpack Review
- 8 My Vote For the Best Motorcycle Backpack
Best Motorcycle Riding Backpacks List For March 2021
A good backpack should fit your specific purposes, especially with regard to comfort, size, and wearability. We’re going to take a look at five of the most popular motorcycle backpacks, along with some of their most important features. This will allow you to make a well-educated decision as to which is best for you. By the time you’re finished reading, you should have a good idea which one is best for you.
Top 5 Motorcycle Riding Backpacks
- OGIO Motorcycle Backpack
- Kriega R20 Motorcycle Riding Backpack
- American Kargo Trooper Rucksack
- Firstgear Torrent Backpack
- Nelson Rigg 40L Hurricane Waterproof Motorcycle Backpack
OGIO No Drag Mach 5 Backpack Review
The OGIO No Drag Mach 5 Backpack is a sleek bag that looks a little bit like a small turtle shell once it’s in place. That’s where the aerodynamics come into play, creating the truly “no-drag” characteristic. Even when you’re moving along at a high rate of speed, it continues to resist buffeting and expands by way of a “U” shaped zipper on the gusset.
Weather resistance is a very important factor for a motorcycle backpack and this one has plenty of it. Protective compartments for laptops, iPads, smartphones, and other personal electronics means you don’t have to worry about the elements damaging your goods, making it an excellent motorcycle laptop backpack. For protection against scratching your gas tank, the OGIO features a hip belt, which is removable and has an off-center attachment.
Pros Include:
- Excellent storage and organization
- Ergonomic, padded, body conforming and comfortable
- Hydration ready
Cons Include:
- Zippers can come off track or break
- Troublesome helmet clearance
- Small size and belt line
Kriega R20 Motorcycle Riding Backpack Review
The Kriega R20 Backpack is classified as an “active” motorcycle rider’s pack with a QUADLOC-tite system for harnessing. That harness offers complete freedom to move, as it isn’t pressed against your underarm area, but instead, hugs the curvature of your back for excellent weight distribution. Made of comfortable materials, it’s perfect for longer trips where a range of motion is necessary. It’s roomy enough for large items or extra gear but remains uncumbersome, thanks to its unique build. Given its unique design and comfort, this is probably the best motorcycle backpack for school out of our list.
Main and side compartments feature a water-resistant zip with an additional mesh pocket inside that closes with a zipper. With abrasion resistance built in, it also features 3M Scotchlite as well. A Kriega 3 liter Hydrapak with tube can be purchased as an add on, and the backpack comes with a 10-year guarantee.
Pros Include:
- Excellent harness system
- Form-fitting
- Roomy
Cons Include:
- Not waterproof
- Lack of internal compartments
- Chest strap uncomfortable for women
American Kargo Trooper Rucksack Review
Some bags are ready for anything you or your environment can dish out, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in the American Kargo Trooper Backpack. It’s large enough to handle a hefty amount of gear, tough enough to withstand rough handling, and perfect for an array of uses. In addition to the expected specs such as pockets, ties, fittings, and hydration ability, it also has special spaces for first aid equipment, goggles, and helmet securing.
A butterfly harness offers a comfortable and stable fit, with an array of adjustments, contoured to move with you, and not against. Double seams offer extra peace of mind and oversized zipper pulls make sure you can get to what you need quickly and efficiently. You even have routing loops for audio wires on each shoulder strap and reflective panels for night travel.
Pros Include:
- Comfort
- Plenty of pockets and storage
- Not bulky
Cons Include:
- Zippers not completely reliable
- No extra shield space
- Threading often rips or comes undone
Firstgear Torrent Backpack Review
The Firstgear Torrent Backpack is a no-frills bag that is completely waterproof so you can keep all your electronics and personal items safe from water damage. The main compartment features a roll-down seal, making sure no water gets inside, and side compartments and a mesh pocket on the back offer extra storage for smaller items. Side straps attach to the main closure, providing extra security, along with the ability to adjust it.
Comfort and breathability were well thought out and you get the added bonus of a chest strap that offers added stability when you’re in the riding position. It’s also constructed so that it works well with a riding jacket, which makes it more comfortable on longer trips.
Pros include:
- Focus on functionality, not extra frills
- Completely waterproof dry bag with roll-top closure
- Large enough for a full-size laptop
Cons include:
- Size pockets painfully small
- Front mesh bag not waterproof
Nelson Rigg 40L Hurricane Waterproof Backpack Review
The multipurpose Nelson Rigg 40L Hurricane Waterproof Backpack is perfect for both quick trips and overnighters. Waterproof, rugged, and ready for the road, it gives you everything you need. Seams are welded electronically and feature two different closure methods: rolltop and sides. A waterproof purge valve makes compression simpler, while the MOLLE panel is both removable and reversible.
With reflective webbing, you’ll easily be seen while moving along the roadways, yet you are free to carry a full-size laptop, documents, and notebooks inside for safe keeping. Straps are adjustable at three points for complete comfort and the airflow system offers no drag.
Pros Include:
- 100% waterproof and UV coated
- Electronically heat welded seams
- Excellent storage capacity and extra pockets
Cons Include:
- D-ring is plastic
- Side straps could tear bag
- Can be complicated as a tail bag
My Vote For the Best Motorcycle Backpack
What is the best waterproof motorcycle backpack? Taking all these factors into consideration, my favorite no-frills bag of the list is the Firstgear Torrent Backpack.
Those looking for some extra features might disagree, but with that lack of frills comes a cheaper price tag. The cheapest on our list, in fact. At the same time, it offers all the features needed to work well for the serious motorcycle rider: completely waterproof, this rolltop dry bag offers plenty of room inside for laptops, notebooks, extra clothes, and snacks.
Even though the outside pockets are lacking, there’s ample space for belongings. Add in the comfort straps and the fact that this bag works well over a riding jacket, and you have the perfect all-weather, year-round motorcycle backpack.
If you are looking for additional features or possibly a longer-lasting motorcycle bag, I would recommend the Ogio bag for those on sport bikes, and the Nelson Rigg for those on sport-touring, touring, or adventure bikes.
