mark48310

i figure touring with a backpack is certainly not the most comfortable way to go and probably creates some problems with balance (having all that weight ABOVE the bike, rather than closer to the ground)...but i'm curious if anyone has ever tried it and what they thought of it?

Rambo

while riding the C&O towpath from cumberland, MD to washington D.C. I was suprised at how many people were using back packs.

never did it myself however.

Schumius

i did it once, it was the test ride, about 65 km. i bungeed it to the rack, didnītīhave much problem with balance, but the long straps of the backpack was a pain, tend to interfere with the spokes so had to stick them somewhere.

supcom

I think a backpack would get pretty hot and uncomfortable in the summer. You'll be limited to a daypack sized pack so will not be able to carry a lot. A better solution for small volumes of gear (~20 lbs) is to use a Carradice Camper or Rivendell Hoss saddlebag. The Carradice model allows you to add a quick release bracket so you quickly remove it from the bike when you stop.

Guest

I don't, but last summer, I was touring and ran across a couple with huge backpacks on their backs. They certainly had the bikes for touring, but they were going really slow because of the bags. And we were travelling on gravel, so things were pretty slippery already, and it was beginning to drizzle. They were having some balance issues. I passed them up and kept rolling, and when I looked back a few minutes later, they were dots in the background. Add that to the problems they were having with trying to look over their shoulder at the traffic behind them, which is partially obstructed from having backpacks on. It didn't look like fun.

Any chance you could make a homemade rack to fit on your bike?

Koffee

gpsblake

Rambo,
Just curious did you see any of those with backpacks only carrying a sleeping bag?

skookum

I carried an overnight pack once on a two day bike'n hike trip. I took some gear out of the pack and lashed the gear to the rear rack. It was uncomfortable and hot but it worked over the 10 or so km of hiking trail that we rode. We hid the bikes in the forest and did our hiking trip. On the way back it was a pure delight to roll down those 10 dusty kilometres in less than an hour, the pack didn't seem heavy at all.
I wouldn't recommend it for regular touring.

Years ago in New Zealand I saw a guy, "Randy California", who had attached a frame backpack to his bike. There were two struts that went from the ends of the pack frame to the rear dropout. The other end of the pack frame attached somehow behind the seat. The whole pack was suspended at an oblique angle above the rear wheel. There was no rear rack. I have a photo of it somewhere, I should look for it. It wasn't home made it was a commercial device, he said he bought it in California (where else?), but I can't remeber what it was called or who made it. I've never seen another one.

blacktom

When I was 14 (early in the last century)a friend and I went camping using two backpacks. One had the camping gear, the other was full of canned food. We rode a hundred miles and every one was agony. On the way back we only had the camping gear. Never, ever carry on your back what should be carried on your bike. It is supposed to be fun!

eurotrash666

i ride with a backpack all the time, but i keep it light- like a u lock and jacket. sounds like you are talking about going distance with a frame pack... not what i have in mind, for sure! for touring, i got some nice racks and panniers... i think i'll keep it that way!

escii_32

Yep.

On my ghetto low distance per day, European adventure of 70 days. I spent 48 days in the UK on the bike geared as follows:

2 rear bags upon which on full sized internal framed back sat where normally you would see stuff sacks. The quick access items rested in a small daypack usually attached to my shoulders.

The other 22 days were spent backpacking/Eurailing around the mainland w/o the bike where the backpack came in really handy.

It worked, but the weight distribution was all on rear wheel making for icky bike handeling.

Rambo

I only saw tents strapped to racks, no one with a tent on their back.

MsMittens

Hrmmm... This past summer I rode for my tour (840KM) with my Camelbak TransAlp along with my Ortleib Panniers (full with everything including kitchen sink and library), tent, sleeping bag, mat and plastic floor tarp for the tent. The backpack had what I call critical things in it: money, digital camera and lenses, iPod, travel journal, maps, 3 litres of water and food as purchased along the route. Sometimes I'd stuff my jacket in there if I thought it'd rain or get cold.

Interestingly enough, I didn't get as hot as I'd thought with it on my back. Part of this is due to the fact it was downright cool-mild weather this summer (I was touring parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia).

mustardfj40

I've been riding moutain bike for the last 10 years or so with the Camel backs, I've just bought a larger one for my touring. I beleive the key is to pack it light. I always store keys, money, 1st aids, mini-bike tools, compact pump, and wind shell which are pretty light. I will also plan to use the pack to hike around when I off the bike...The other day I saw a guy with a _huge_ backpack on a touring bike, I don't beleive this is right way to it because, he would loose that quickness in the traffic and put unneeded pressure on on his prostate area which could lead to impotent especially with long hours on the saddle...

/td

CL39

Last summer when I was doing trans-Pyrenees, coast to coast, I met
a couple of guys from Austria who were doing the same route. Both had
racing bike w/ no rack, but with a sizable backpack on their back.
I asked them if that wasn't too uncomfortable, they said they actually
find it easier than having panniers......

stokell

There is something to be said for touring with a backpack. You are a heavy rider on a light bike. I know from cycle commuting with a backpack, your bike is faster because it is lighter.

That said, I tour with panniers because I'm lazy and have a distaste for discomfort. My bike is heavy and I go slower.

DavidfromAlaska

Riding with a heavily loaded backpack is a bad idea because it is dangerous. I recently was called to evaluate a patient who had gone over the handlebars while riding with a large backpack. The pack rode upwards and drove his face and head into the pavement, crushing his facial bones and causing severe brain damage. Admittedly, he could have incurred severe injury even without the pack, but the momentum of the pack seemed to be a factor in his particular case.

Dahon.Steve

I crashed not long ago with a small backpack. It had my U-lock, air pump and other accessories. I believe the U-Lock jammed right into my rib cage causing an incredible amount of pain!! I had to get an Xray because I thought there might have been a broken rib. It's been 3 weeks and I'm still in pain. Back packs are a bad idea. If you must carry one, make sure it's a Camel back filled with water only!

becnal

I have a Deuter backpack which has the special air ventilation system on the back side. You could go hiking in the sahara and your back stays nice and cool. I used it to carry all non breakable light items on my tour of Scandinavia this summer. Carrying the tent and sleeping bag on the back rack and my clothes in my backpack worked really well. I never had to worry about someone stealing my bags as it was strapped to my back.

If one wants to bike with a back pack, I highly recommend the Deuter. It ventialtes great, and straps on tight so it won't flop around.

balto charlie

I also commute with a Deuter BP. Great pack for commuting. Well built, streamline, great air vent. That said; I don't think I would do overnight with a full pack. Panniers for sure. Charlie

Anthony King

I'm just posting to bump the thread, I'm curious to see more responses. Some friends and I will be touring soon and some of them don't have racks so they are planning to carry their gear in a backpack.

eastbaybob

I did it for a bit with a small backpack, I was maybe carrying 15 lbs. It sucked. I lasted for 35 km before I strapped it onto the back rack for the next 715 km.

Could it not have sucked? Yes, if the waiste stap would have worked and I would have been able to get all the weight off my back. But this I imagine would have only postponed the inevitable.

Carrying the backpack strapped to the rack worked good, it was a nice combination but for 40 bucks or whatever a rack costs, I spring for it as your back will thank you for the kindness you have shown it.

Machka 

NO!! Absolutely NOT!!

I have commuted a fairly long distance (70 kms) with a backpack and HATED it. It was uncomfortable and I ended up with back spasms.

I don't know if I could even do that two days in a row.

becnal

If they keep they bag light enough, or if they just keep the weight on their hips instead of back by using a backpack with a waist-strap, they will be fine. But will they need to carry a tent and a sleeping bag in their backpack, like hikers do? That would make them pretty top-heavy.

I use a 32 litre backpack, by Deuter. (Deuter Futura 32 ) It is absolutely
fabulous. It has the "Air-Comfort System", which keeps the entire pack off
of your back. I would estimate about 90% of the weight of the pack rests on
my hips, so there is virtually no stress at all on my shoulders or back. I
cannot recommend this bag highly enough! Here is a link to see it:

https://www.tahoemountainsports.com/s...ackpacks.shtml

My clothes, hammock, towel, toiletries and papers go in the backpack. My
sleeping bag, the heaviest object I bring, sits on the back rack. I have a handle bar bag to hold food
and bike tools.

becnal

This is the best pack for biking:

https://www.tahoemountainsports.com/s...er-fut32.shtml

skookum

Load your bike not your back!

At least thats what "they" used to say.

I have done both and much prefer to carry the load on my bike. Carrying the weight on your hips is fine, but when you lean forward to fight a headwind or take a downhill, you get that extra weight on to your arms,

However to each his own and it can be done- I agree with becnal that Deuter make good cycling packs. I have one of the smaller ones for commuting and errands and it is a great little pack.