Waterproof commuter backpack?
05-13-19 | 02:29 PM
#26
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 88
Likes: 1
05-13-19 | 02:47 PM
#27
Intrepid Bicycle Commuter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 819
Likes: 95
From: Upstate New York
Bikes: 1976 Motobecane Grand Jubile, Austro Daimler 'Ultima', 2012 Salsa Vaya, 2009 Trek 4300, Fyxation Eastside, State Matte Black 6, '97 Trek 930 SHX, '93 Specialized Rockhopper, 1990 Trek 950
I got 5 years of use out of my first Barrage Cargo. The only reason I stopped using it was because I bought a new version Barrage Cargo with some design improvements. It’s a solid pack.
05-14-19 | 01:29 PM
#28
Commuter
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 3
From: California
Bikes: Domane 2.0, CrossRip LTD
JanSport makes an inexpensive mesh backpack, which I use daily for commuting. When it rains, I pack everything into a drybag that I toss inside of it.
https://www.jansport.com/shop/en/jan...kpack-js0a2sdg
It's also great for the beach... doesn't collect any sand.
https://www.jansport.com/shop/en/jan...kpack-js0a2sdg
It's also great for the beach... doesn't collect any sand.
05-14-19 | 03:38 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,169
Likes: 1,797
From: Madison, WI USA
I really appreciate the quality of the Osprey line of rucksucks. I'm just struck by how garish they tend to be. Great if I'm in the Alps and need to get found by air after an avalanche but not so good for a daily commute. Also, the colour-retention of the brightly coloured packs seems to fade after a few years.
We've also noticed how much anything high-vis fades. For my pannier/backpack, I found a high-vis rain cover online. Handy that I can remove it, so the bag looks "normal" for carrying a laptop, etc. to meetings. About a year old, just starting to fade.
The vests fade at aprx. 3-4 years; we also keep them under the seats of each truck, so we rotate those in to daily use and replace them when the old ones fade.
05-14-19 | 05:13 PM
#30
on your lawn
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 175
Likes: 19
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: 1995 Trek 370, 1997 Trek 800 Sport, 2013 Specialized Crossroads Elite, 2016 Trek Emonda ALR5, 1991 Fuji Roubaix
I have a Mountain Hardwear Scrambler backpack that I use on rainy days. It's a bit large, but works well and is quite waterproof.
05-15-19 | 12:47 AM
#31
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
Commuting in the US, that garish high visibility is a major plus, not a minus. Drivers here are so distracted (mostly self-induced), my wife and I have taken to wearing construction-type high-vis vests even when walking. We've found high-vis definitely effective in both situations.
We've also noticed how much anything high-vis fades. For my pannier/backpack, I found a high-vis rain cover online. Handy that I can remove it, so the bag looks "normal" for carrying a laptop, etc. to meetings. About a year old, just starting to fade.
The vests fade at aprx. 3-4 years; we also keep them under the seats of each truck, so we rotate those in to daily use and replace them when the old ones fade.
We've also noticed how much anything high-vis fades. For my pannier/backpack, I found a high-vis rain cover online. Handy that I can remove it, so the bag looks "normal" for carrying a laptop, etc. to meetings. About a year old, just starting to fade.
The vests fade at aprx. 3-4 years; we also keep them under the seats of each truck, so we rotate those in to daily use and replace them when the old ones fade.
We don't get much sun
Respro HUMP seems to be most common that I see.
https://respro.com/hi-viz/hump
Where I am speeds are low (usually under 20, if that, as it's all beachside bumper-to-bumper), I'd just more casual collisions and the HiViz just gets drowned out by the headlights and streetlamps.
05-15-19 | 09:14 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 152
From: midwest
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
I really appreciate the quality of the Osprey line of rucksucks. I'm just struck by how garish they tend to be. Great if I'm in the Alps and need to get found by air after an avalanche but not so good for a daily commute. Also, the colour-retention of the brightly coloured packs seems to fade after a few years. Thus, I went with an all-black Arc'terx which still looks good 9 years later.
What are you studying that requires scrubs? I spent some time teaching medical professionals at university.
What are you studying that requires scrubs? I spent some time teaching medical professionals at university.
Last edited by GeneO; 05-15-19 at 09:18 PM.
05-18-19 | 05:26 PM
#34
Avid commuter
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Missouri
Bikes: A fast one, a fun one, a utilitarian one.
I'm currently an in-hospital medic - pretty sweet job, very unique with a broad scope of practice. I just signed a contract, however, for an accelerated BSN program at a local university. I was on track to get into another clinical profession a few years ago but came to the realization that I fit much better into the nursing side of clinical medicine.
05-21-19 | 11:33 AM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 183
From: Frankfurt, Germany
Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
Get a cheap rucksack.
Get a cheap waterproof hi-viz rucksack cover.
Use an inner bag if it’s pouring down.
Job done!
Get a cheap waterproof hi-viz rucksack cover.
Use an inner bag if it’s pouring down.
Job done!
06-05-19 | 08:47 PM
#36
Full Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 340
Likes: 72
From: Denver Colorado
Bikes: 2020 Pivot Vault, 1983 Rossin Record, Garneau R1, Mesamods home built gravel/rain commuter bike, 1995 Barracuda A2V modified with Surley single speed dropouts, 1969 Bottecchia junkyard special fixed gear, Cervelo P4, Mesamods 650b klunker
I've been using Osprey backpacks for the last 8 or 9 years. Best commuter backpack I've used and way more durable than I expected. I made a long term review video about a year ago of what features I like about them and how they've held up and such.
06-07-19 | 07:02 AM
#37
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,135
Likes: 6,360
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Maybe an Osprey is in my future. My Timbuk2 has a rip after two years of use.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
06-09-19 | 05:00 PM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 152
From: midwest
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
06-11-19 | 11:36 AM
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 183
From: Queens, NY for now...
Bikes: 82 Lotus Unique, 86 Lotus Legend, 88 Basso Loto, 88 Basso PR, 89 Basso PR, 96 Bianchi CDI, 2013 Deda Aegis, 2019 Basso Diamante SV
Try a tennis backpack. They are reasonably priced, hold a ton of stuff, and usually have a lot of useful sub compartments. They won't be completely waterproof in a downpour, but as others have stated you should be using secondary bags for valuables anyway.
Also, whenever it's raining if you ride fast enough, the rain will never even hit your backpack. Yes, I'm kidding, but it's good motivation.
Also, whenever it's raining if you ride fast enough, the rain will never even hit your backpack. Yes, I'm kidding, but it's good motivation.
09-14-21 | 09:28 AM
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 957
Likes: 205
From: Austin TX USA
Bikes: Bob Jackson 853 Arrowhead; Felt VR30; Kinesis UK RTD; Hujsak tandem
I've got the Osprey Radial. It's a little bigger than I need on most days, but does have capacity for those rare occasions when I need to carry something extra. It has a tucked-away rain cover, but that mostly seems to be to keep the rest of the pack clean—water hasn't intruded even when I don't use it. Seems to be good quality and has held up well. It's pretty well thought out for commuting, although I did add some velcro loops to the "tails" on the shoulder straps to keep them from flapping around.
I've got a locker at my workplace, and I hang the cycling gear I commute in there (also a towel, toiletries, and the shoes I wear at the office). So my packing tactics are probably different than yours.
I've got a locker at my workplace, and I hang the cycling gear I commute in there (also a towel, toiletries, and the shoes I wear at the office). So my packing tactics are probably different than yours.
10-05-22 | 01:29 AM
#43
10-09-22 | 09:20 AM
#44
Full Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 289
Likes: 89
I doubt the price is anywhere near $100, but the Ortleib backpacks, if made as well as their panniers, will be a completely waterproof bag for decades of hard use. I have their front paniers. Got them in 1999. 10 years of commuting several days/week year 'round and shopping, I "retired" them and bought new ones. (Actually just bought new replacement hardware and set them up to be rear panniers, not fronts. Became my farmer's market and touring pannier should I do another.
Only repair the bags themselves have ever needed was for a 1" slice made by a very sharp knife. Standard rafting repair and it is like new. I can fill those now 20 year old bags with water at the well and carry the water home. (Haven't but simply because I've never needed to.)
Ben
Only repair the bags themselves have ever needed was for a 1" slice made by a very sharp knife. Standard rafting repair and it is like new. I can fill those now 20 year old bags with water at the well and carry the water home. (Haven't but simply because I've never needed to.)
Ben
