Backpack vs. Trunk Bag Commute Trial
 

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home-commute by sudoshift, on Flickr

My work commute is about 28-30 miles round trip. The tricky part is that it is basically from a hilly area-to-sea level. Luckily the way to work is the downhill part. Now the way back home there is a 300 feet altitude difference -- according to the sports-tracker.com graph. All I know is that its a huge hill that I have to climb on the way back home, which is fine since the work day is done.

The stretch of hill runs through Montezuma Rd. in San Diego. Its a fairly dangerous stretch of road since cars are going 50+ MPH. Yes there is a bike lane there.

My commuting bike of choice is a 20" steel folding bike that I purchased at a police auction. The bike is fairly heavy since its steel, but it absorbs potholes and what not better than my 16" Dahon Curve SL

So I purchased a Topeak MTX Trunk bag DXP with rigid molded panniers and put it up against my Burton backpack.

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20-Inch Wheel Commuter by sudoshift, on Flickr



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Burton Backpack by sudoshift, on Flickr

After reading countless Pannier vs backpack threads, I experienced all the nuances people described. The trunkbag while keeping sweat and soreness away from my back, feels like I am pulling the extra weight. Not to mention that the balance of the bike is affected slightly. Have to be a bit more aware at light and in traffic. I am not one to filter through traffic and wait my turn in line.

The backpack is extremely light, don't have to worry about it falling off. Has a chest strap for stability and can hold 26L. The big downside is not so much the straps aching after 14 miles but the SWEAT! I change at work so its not a terrible problem, but I get really hot just wearing one of those sweat wicking shirts.

It seems that what many have commented has been confirmed. Trunk bag/panniers for long commutes and backpacks for short.

This week I took the rack off the bike, left heavy items at work, like sweater and other stuff. The bike feels naturally lighter and is easier to pack in the car for my "hybrid commute." Now without the Topeak Trunkbag (which empty and by itself weighs 2.5 lbs) the heavy steel frame bike doesn't feel like I'm tugging along the extra weight. I can feel it on the climbs for sure and since its a 20" folder I can feel that it upsets the bike's balance just a tiny bit. Enough for it to be potentially dangerous in tight traffic.

Two issues with the backpack are it slipping upwards during unexpected sudden stops and of course the super sweaty back. Other than that. Its great.

With a 14-15 mile ride, I think I'd start really weighing my options on racks vs. pack vs. small single track trailer.

However, for my 7 mile commute, I do enjoy a backpack and I thought I should add that I think your choice of pack might have contributed to more discomfort. I had to look it up, but it looks like that's a standard bookbag, meaning not really intended for long distances on bike or foot with moderate loads. Lots of folks do overnight camping trips, or even long tours, on mountain bikes with backpacks putting in lots of miles every day. They usually use frameless type backpacking bags, some of which are directly marketed to the bikepacking (mountain bike campers I mentioned) crowd. I have one such bag, an Osprey Talon 22, and when properly worn, the weight is on the hips and the straps aren't digging into your shoulders and blocking airflow like a normal backpack.

Do I get a sweaty back? Yes. Sweatier than without a backpack? Obviously. But it's not terrible and I do have the luxury of showering at my destination (school). But more importantly, a nicer backpack will help you sweat less than with a standard 2 strap jansport type bag. Like I mentioned, if properly worn, the bag isn't hugging your upper back and shoulders, allowing some airflow that otherwise wouldn't be there.

Anyhow, it looks like you're doing the hybrid commute and have taken the rack off, so it might be worth it to check out some other backpacks and see if you like those any better.

EDIT: Something with a hip belt and sternum strap will also help with the pack sliding up at a stop.

If you like back packs there are models that keep the pack off your back. There is only a mesh layer next to your back, a space for air circulation, and then the bulk of the pack. Hiking outfitters and on line retailers have these. I own several Vaude packs with this feature which also have openings for Camelback tubes, reflective trim, and rainflys, all good for cycling as well as hiking.

Awesome, thanks for the insight!

Actually the only reason why I picked this pack was for the pure "hipster" aesthetics -- it was an impulse buy. Also the yellow color makes it easier for drivers to spot me in traffic. Its some kind of snowboarding/skateboarding bag made to carry a board on those straps. It has a zippered area in the lower part of the pack with insulation to keep a lunch, so that is neat. I'm some kind of a backpack fiend, had a "problem" for a while. The pack actually does have a sternum strap, which helps. I think all backpacks give you a sweaty back.

It only slid up on me once since I wasn't ready for it. This particular day I had been riding, the backpack came in handy since there was tons of traffic and the trunk bag would have not helped out the handling during the many stops. I might try a messenger bag,

I haven’t commuted on my bike since I moved to an area where crossing a particularly dangerous bridge makes bike commuting impossible, but when I was commuting, using a hybrid route of 10 mi. each way or a pure bike route of 20 mi. each way, I carried my clothes, etc, in a fairly large saddle bag. It kept the weight off my back and reasonably low, and eliminated the need for racks and panniers. It worked for me. These days I have a large Carradice saddle bag that I would use if I could commute.

While I have a folding bike with 20” wheels and I like it, I preferred to commute on bikes with 26” or 700c wheels. They rolled over the pot holes and other irregularities I had to contend with better than the 20” wheels. I also found at the time that it was much easier to find fast, fat 700c tires than it was to find fast 26” tires. Many 26” tires felt like tractor tires, making the bike really slow. A few months ago I got clued into Conti Sport Contact tires. I have put 700x37c on my touring bike and 26x1.6” on my all-terrain touring bike, and they feel equally fast on both. That hasn’t been my experience in the past.

I've been kicking around picking up one of those Topeak trunk bags. How big is it without the panniers out?

Its pretty big, although they do have different sizes (with and without the zippable side bags).
I put everything I need in the top portion and then my laptop in the side bag - that is a little too squarry for the top bag. REI has a good selection if one is near you.

After a year, I ended up getting a Timbuk2 bag from REI as it is more water proof, more durable, easier to get on and off the rack, and much easier to carry off the bike.

I use a pannier in the summer, and a backpack in the cooler weather spring and fall.

It is impressive how much easier the bike accelerates with a backpack on me instead of the pannier on the bike - and the pannier does add extra weight and wear and tear on the rear wheel (mostly an issue with bumps, rough roads, and wheel getting out of true).

So I could probably shove a change of clothes and a small lunch in the top(Plus phone/wallet/etc)? I've got a Timbuk2 messenger at the moment, and am pleased with it. Especially in the water resistance area. My problem is that I don't have any additional room for stops at the store which my wife frequently requests.

I've been debating between that one and the Timbuk2 Tandem, which seems like a great design. But I worry about heel strike(Big feet).

Your Fred status is in good shape when you can look at the pile of stuff that goes with you that day and the weather forecast in order to figure out how your going to get your stuff to work, knowing you've got the options covered. And when you start packing, and realize you need one of your other bags that would work then instead of wondering how you're going to use what you've got.

i ride with a back-pack that has hip and sternum straps and i never have shoulder aches from the straps on my 28 miles/day of commuting.

my pack also is also suspended off my back with an internal frame and mesh panel allowing for airflow between my pack and back. my back still gets sweaty on hot summer dies, but my ENTIRE body from head to toe gets sweaty on hot summer days, i can;t really pin that on the pack, i'm just a sweaty person.

I commute primarily with a Topeak trunk bag. Often, the weather is colder in the morning than evening, so the extra layer of clothes goes in a stuff sack bungeed to the top of the trunk bag. The trunk bag is about as aerodynamic as a knapsack, and much better than panniers.

I'll use a knapsack to transport a laptop or preposition clothes or food at work, but this is very infrequent. I don't like the weight on my body and it tends to make me sweat more than usual.

The trunk bag does not have the drop down panniers, so the side pockets are available for storage. Topeak makes a fitted rain cover for a couple dollars that fits over the bag, so with fenders, the bag stays 100% dry.

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I can definitely understand this! I am probably going to like commuting on larger diameter tires as well. I'm just being cheap and waiting until the last Police Auction of the year at the end of next month. If you think commuting on 20" wheels is bad you should try 16"

I've done the same commute on my Curve SL aluminum frame, its quite stiff. But it was actually faster since its so light. I'm thinking of getting a Trek 7.5 or a Trek Montare Gary Fisher.

I was the same way. I literally stared at all three bags the DXP, EXP and EX (without panniers) for about a hour. I decided to go with the DXP since it was the largest but unfortunately also the heaviest coming in at a fat 2.5 LB EMPTY!!! The DXP has the expandable top and panniers. You can check out some pics of it here http://www.flickr.com/photos/sudoshi...7627042262911/

The only reason why it didn't work for me is because of the smaller bike. I have not tried a rack and trunk/panniers on a 26 inch+ bike. It might fare better there since the bike has larger wheels. For my small folder purposes I did not like the added weight or the aesthetics. I like the cleaner look of a bike without a rack.


I sort of tried your setup. Summer is basically over and there were a few days when it was extremely hot where I was glad I had a rack and panniers. Now the weather is getting colder and a backpack/messenger seems more appropriate.


Ditto on being a sweaty person. I'll sweat no matter what and gunning it every commute doesn't help the cause lol!

Yep. The top has a pop up section that you can use for extra room if you need it (as shown up in the picture in post 13). I usually don't need it. It is fine for clothes and lunch, and pocket stuff. Also I use it on a tandem as my wife likes to have plenty of clothes, jackets, food for longer rides.

The model I have also had the side bags you can unzip - I use that for the laptop. Without the laptop, the top has plenty of room. No heal strike and no aerodynamic drag is a big help (full panniers + wind = no fun).

Why not have the best of both worlds? Clip the top handle of your backpack to a seat rail with a carabiner, and then use a bungee cord or even better, a bungee net, to prevent the backpack from side to side? Then when you need the backpack on your back, it unclips in seconds, the bungee (net) goes in a pocket, and you're good to go.

-Warr

Another option to consider is one of the bags that use the KlickFix system.

I use my rack and panniers on all my bikes, I like the fact that the 5-10 lbs are much lower then when on my back. I usually run 1 bag on the right.

I've tried a lot of things. Had the trunk bag with fold out side panniers. The trunk was too small on it's own and the side panniers made it a pain to hook on and off the bike every day. Plus, carrying was a pain with the panniers out even though it had a shoulder strap.

Put folding wire baskets on my rear rack. Through either my lunch cooler and a bag with some clothes in it or a bag with both. Then bungee netting over the top and it was in and out very fast and easy. These I still have on my bike for grocery duty and when I need to haul stuff, but the problem is, when I commute by bike I have to push the bike with one hand (on the stem) while pushing my daughter's stroller with the other hand for the first mile until I get to her day care. Then it's on the bike for the next 5-12 miles in to work (depends on the route I take and the amount of time available). The thing is, having that much weight on the rear of the bike (even that low in the baskets and balanced) raises the bike's center of gravity and once it starts tipping, it's going to go over. This is a problem when I've got to keep one hand on my daughter's stroller (picking it up one-handed isn't going to happen either). After it happened twice on walks to day care (once in a cross walk), said I was done with that.

I got a 27L (roughly 1650 cubic inches - I got excited at first because I got my conversion mixed up and thought I was going to 2700 cubic inches from my 1300 or so in my trunk/panniers) internally framed Ergon backpack that was advertised as sitting off my back a little, has chest and hip straps and a hydration pack and a flexible top attachment so it moves with you. So far it's the best solution for me, but it doesn't sit off my back very far so I get the back sweats bad even in moderate heat (and I don't have a shower at work), so it's not perfect. The fact that it's not huge means I can't overload it. Would like it to be a little bigger, but it is water proof and has water resistant zippers, but also came with a fluorescent rain fly for when it's really bad out. Unfortunately backpacks don't play well with rain capes (at least mine isn't big enough, but then I'm tall and it struggles to cover me anyway).

That's ok, but I would only use the front attachment on my Curve SL. Other than that, no KlickFix for me.

I absolutely HATE that tipping the bike over issue. Some people might not mind it, but you do as well as I. In your case its even worse since you have a baby to take care of.

Already pulled the trigger on a Chrome Citizen in black. Which really was just en excuse to extend my "pack collection." Will report on how that works out.

This thread reminded me of a hilarious situation earlier today. My Osprey Talon 22 just swallows stuff up sometimes.

In it, I had my pencil bag, calculator, phone, wallet, keys, rain cover, U-lock, jeans, Long sleeve button up shirt, socks and underwear, mini deodorant with two 4 oz. bottles (shampoo and soap), macbook air, 5 subject notebook, my front and rear light plus computer (before I put them on the bike), and a set of SKS race blade fenders I needed to pick up from the shop today. :lol: All this and I also had my helmet mounted to the helmet holder. It seems smallish, but can really hold quite a bit.

Oh and on a related note, I happened to smash the buckle on my hip belt one day and had to ride home without it. Really a world of difference. You need that hip belt to put the weight on your hips. But what I really wanted to say was how awesome Osprey was. Luckily, I had another pack to snag a buckle from, but I put in a parts request after 5 p.m. central on Thursday for a single buckle and by Monday, I had a nice bubble envelope in the mail with 3(!) buckles. Really speedy delivery and generous with the spares, all for freesville.

The Osprey looks like a good pack.

I've been considering a GoLite Jam pack. My buddy swears by it.

I just realized that I did not consider my current top-notch backpack for the commute at all. My EDC/baby bag the Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon II.

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Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon II by sudoshift, on Flickr

I tried it out on the commute today and it performed flawlessly! The curved and padded straps made the load feel great. Like it wasn't even there. Today settled it, I much prefer a backpack (and possibly messenger bag) than a rack and panniers. The bike just responds better and I don't have to worry about any attachments on the bike. Making it look cleaner and trimmer.

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Pygmy Falcon II Rear Straps and Padded Mesh Back by sudoshift, on Flickr

Stay tuned for my Chrome Citizen Messenger Bag trial.

Well, if you're carrying a fairly heavy load for medium distances, you may find that you don't really enjoy one strap. I've got a Metropolis I'm trying to trade off due to this issue.

My commute is only 10 miles each way, but when I stuff my Chrome Metro with all of my day's needs, my (apparently weak) shoulder is pretty sore. Actually, it's gotten to the point where the soreness has spread from the left shoulder to my whole back.

Just for kicks, I tried my wife's standard issue 'school bag' backpack on last thursday's commute. Aside from a wicked sweaty back, I could tell of no new soreness aside from the residual pain that the Metropolis had caused. With this in mind, I'm trying to swap for a cycling specific backpack to make my life easier.

I really feel that if I was just doing a short commute of under 5 miles each way, it might work. I even switched to drop bars hoping a more horizontal back position might help. No dice.

Which leads me to wonder - how do professional messengers not get jacked up backs? If they're slinging packages all day, surely they've got to have some pain?

I've thought about this a lot and decided that personally, I wouldn't use anything except a backpack.

I've done up to 20miles with a backpack with no hip or chest straps and experienced no soreness.

I found that my back doesn't get much more sweaty than if I didn't have the pack, but the back padding itself would get soaked.

In the fall/winter when I am wearing layers, this isn't an issue.

I've also thought that a truly high quality waterproof bag would obviously not have this problem as well.

I came very close to ordering a Rickshaw bags backpack, but I couldn't bring myself to drop that much money on a backpack.