I'll be starting up my commutes again this week, and I'm looking for an alternative to my backpack - I find the sweaty-back syndrom and achey shoulders too much to handle any longer.

As for messenger bags, I find the slipping-off-the-back issues a bit much, although maybe I just haven't tried the right bag.

Anyway, I could easily minimize my stuff to fit in a waistpack, wondering if anyone's tried that? There don't seem to be any bike-specific options, but I could find a hiking version I'm sure.

Thanks in advance.

I've used a 1-2L fanny pack on pretty very long rides (~60 miles). I am totally a rack and panniers person but I find a tiny pack like that quite tolerable.

Fanny packs are soooo late 1980s.

I love mine.

When I am riding a road ride and wish to carry a little more than my wedge pack can carry but don't feel like throwing panniers on, it works great. I've never commuted with one, though.

Absolutely! Fannypack is great bicycle accessory. My big one is used for work commutes because it can carry my minipump and bunch of other stuff. I reserve the panniers for clothes and food. It's another addition to the flexibility of loading up for a particular ride.

Nice, now I know I won't look tooooo strange out there

More importantly, does anybody have any favorites/least-favorites they'd like to share?

Cheers

This is what I use. Mine only has one shoulder strap though, my ex gave it to me a long time ago in singular strap form. Works very well, no back pains or anything. The weight distribution is freaking awesome. I was going to buy a larger backpack or messenger bag but screw that. I'm keeping this for my 'tool bag' and quick trip bag and getting a pannier setup for anything that wont fit in it.

Also the newer models (https://www.mountainsmith.com/product...bCategory2Id=0 check Mountain Smith's website) are *much* cooler than this. A lot more er, ergonomic, I guess you could say. They look a lot more comfy than the version I have (which I believe is about 6 years old or so). Not to say mine isn't comfortable, but when loaded down beyond what I would say is the suggested carry weight it kind of sucks, but it would in any bag really.

Edit: It's called the Mountain Smith Day or Mountain Smith Day Daypack

Yes, but I usually ride with it in my rack-pack and pull it out when I stop for awhile. On a ride when I have to shed layers, the clothes go in the rack-pack and I wear the waist pack.

I ride with a waistpack. You still have to worry about the bag twisting around your waist, trying to get something out of the waist, i.e. keys and it can be too heavy. There are positives and negatives to any method of carrying items. So far I have used a trailer (good for large items) panniers(one of the bags kept slipping off until it damaged my wheel) back packs (I have a bad back) I am still looking for something to use when traveling.

Gas, .69 cents, the price of a can of beans.

+1 for bobcrotch and the mountainsmith lumbar pack.

Brooks and Carridice also make some really nice seatbags!

I have this same bag only in purple rather than red. Had it in college for walking around campus and recently resurrected it as my 'small' commuting bag. The double straps in the photo are an extra that replace the single shoulder strap. They're about $20 and really make it a better commuter option.

The pack is super adjustable to move the load around on your back/waist and make it as comfortable as possible.

This is the best £25 I ever spent on a sack...



The main compartment is totally waterproof, it has a huge storage capacity for its size (7 liters), and will expand (note the roll top). It can hold two water bottles. It is so comfortable I forget I have it on. There is also a good deal on at the moment.

https://www.craghoppers.com/Craghoppe...es/CHT1017.htm

NICE HANDLE THERE SIR!!

I think I have now about 8 different backpacks ranging from rather expensive (LL Bean) to a small freebie from Honda (cool though - small and is insulated). But I really do hate things on my back - which is why I never switched out to a camelbak on long trips on the roadbike. I purchased an older used mtb-ish bike a couple months ago with plans on turning it into my commuter but never got around to it. Should have never purchased it but felt bad after rescheduling the "viewing" event so many times ... it's just not what I prefer to ride but it fits me though. I should follow through - anyway my plans were to put one of my racks on the back of it and use a trunk versus having the pack hanging off my back. Ugh ... ran out of time for this winter cause right now I'm back into rebuilding some parts of the roadbikes so the little future commuter sits idling ... but have no fear - it's day will come - complete with rack and trunk!

Handle.. I get it now hahah

All good messenger bags come with two straps. One over the shoulder to carry the weight and another that goes around your waist to stop the bag from slipping around to the front. If you are using both straps the bag shouldn't come off your shoulder when riding.

I have used a largish fanny pack when riding to work a long time ago. It worked okay, but I prefer to wear a backpack as I don't enjoy having my waist constricted with the the main strap on a fanny pack. Depending on your size requirements there are quite a few packs these days that stay off your back to keep it fairly dry - see pic below.

I used to use a fanny pack as an alternative to a full-sized backpack when I could get away with it. I'm pretty sure my wife would make fun of me now. But that's okay, because now that I've found the joy of a rear rack, I just throw whatever I need in the trunk.

Yeah, I wear one w/pride. It holds 6-7 cassette tapes of Pat Benatar, The Bangles, Spandau Ballet, Cure, etc. w/ease. Also, holds my Walkman and earphones. My Mike Tyson Punchout got ruined when I rode in the rain once, so try to get one that's waterproof.

BTW, Fredlieness is next to Godliness.

Got me a fanny pack doodad that also holds two nalgene water bottles. I think it came with a backpack I purchased at Wal-Mart. I use it on long rides. I obviously don't care what I look like. I'm sure it would be a big hit in the roadie forum

Not to resurrect an old thread, but in the interest of contributing information I used to ride with a couple different Mountainsmith lumbar packs. The problem I found for commuting is that they'd tend to sag down a bit in the back past the seat so when I'd slow down and move myself forward to put a foot on the ground, I'd catch the pack on the seat. Occasionally I'd fall over if I didn't lift myself up fast enough or it was hanging particularly low.

I love their packs, but they didn't work for me in my urban environment. I use a messenger bag now, thinking about a trunk bag.

Would a rack and panniers or racktop bag be out of the question? Taken a look at an Arkel Tailrider? Very handy.

you might be able to overcome those problems by "lengthening" the straps on the backpack... I got that tip reading another commute forum and I found I was carrying the backpack to high on my back...
by opening the straps, the pack sits lower on my back and works great...

My friend that I ride with had a fanny pack, but he was convinced it was meant to go over his shoulder. He bought it thinking it went over his shoulder, but every time we would ride I would tell him it didn't look right as it was sliding off his back and not laying right. i finally started telling him that I was convinced it was a fanny pack, but he did not agree and besides "fanny packs are dorky". I eventually got him to try it around his waist and what do you know! It stopped slipping around, it lay flat and was super comfortable. I ride with a camelback without bladder if I need more storage, but a fanny pack like his would be my second choice.

And I thought I was Fredding it up. Those fanny packs go really well with a nice nylon tracksuit.

I ride with a gray Quicksilver fanny pack I got for $8 at Marshall's. It's practical and I actually like riding with it, but when my friends see me wear it around my shoulder I get my share of jokes. They tell me I'm stuck in the 80's.

An incident of riding to my church's youth meeting:

Gangster kid in my youth group: "Hey, nice man purse."
My reply, "Hey, your parole officer just called: he wants his wasted time back."

"Oh yeah, bring back the pack!"