Due to experience of a heavy landing on my back. And the result of using a camel pack. Always a back pack. Anyway, I landed on my back wearing a camel pack and the liquid in the bladder cushioned the blow. It forced fluids out of the unlocked mouth piece, so it made me look like I pissed myself when I stood up. But you only have one head, and one spine, and sometimes it is the smallest of accident, that can have the worst of outcome. And no matter what type of riding we, do there's always an element of danger. And anything to lessen the chance, is always a good thing Stay safe people🤘
I looped out practising manuals last spring, unfortunately I had a massive D lock in my backback! Fortunately it had proper back protection (Evoc Protector) and my back was fine. Unfortunately I bruised the sh*t out of my arse instead. I also broke my back paragliding in 2005 (fused vertebrae etc) so I got used to riding with a backpack many years ago.
What an awesome story! It's great that they offer brilliant protection from the elements! Camelback also sell an optional spinal panel to insert into your riding packs. That's well worth checking out to keep you safe on the trails! Safe riding!
No one ever seems to talk about the back protection a pack offers. My new Osprey bag has a a suspended mesh back for breathability, that combined with a bladder, I can't see a back protect that people wear in their tops offering better protection.
Here in our country, The Philippines, we prefer hip pack due to hot weather. We will be drenching in sweat if we use backpack though we see some use it sometimes during wet season.
That's a great point. Sometimes riding with backpacks can make you hotter, but it's well worth being prepared in hot conditions with things such as a big water bladder. 👍
I have gone with a hip pack for now. My rides are about 2-3 hours right now so this works well for me. When I retire in a few years, I will be going on more epic rides, so a back pack will be the go to. Thanks Rich for this great insight into these options.
I have both. The hip pack has all the essentials; multi tool, chain tool, tyre leavers, spare tube, puncture kit, mini pump. It has a 1.5L bladder pack too. Use that for shortish mid week rides. The back pack has room for waterproofs, a 3L bladder, room for a more substantial refuel (sarnie and a 'nana) and the hip pack. Take the 1.5L bladder out, throw the hip pack in the back pack and I'm ready for a bigger ride at a weekend. The hip pack does actually fold up relatively small so doesn't really encroach on the back packs comfort, weight or carry capacity. Saves faffing about swapping between the two and I get the best of both worlds when I need it.
Excellent review and comparison! Depending on how much stuff you are carrying and how long the drive is. For longer rides of several hours to weekend rides, a backpack is probably better, but if it's a ride of three to four hours, then definitely a hip pack is better! The most important difference is that in the hot summer months with a hip pack there is not so much sweating, and especially the unpleasant feeling of a sweaty cold back in autumn and winter days. Since last year, I've completely switched to a hip pack, since I don't drive longer than three to five hours...
Osprey Raptor 14 here, I've lost too many water bottles so like the larger bladder to keep the bottle off the bike. The extra storage capacity of a bag is good as I like to carry a few tools and snacks.
Converted to a bumbag a few years ago now .the difference to your video is I bought a large bumbag for distance or winter and tailored my kit to fit it . Jacket & tools fit in it in sperate dry bags with room for snacks , tube strap on the frame with a water bottle and pump on bottle cage mounts . 2nd bumbag for shorter rides a lot smaller and lower profile for just tools and snacks no jacket but has a fold out bottle holder for 2nd bottle in the summer . I've obsessed to make these work over a full back pack as I hate wearing them not only for the sweaty back but the weight on your body being positioned to high for being agile whilst riding .
Ya, why do backpacks for mountain biking ride so high? I've been using a low rider camelbak pack and it's great. I've also been wanting to check out a wingnut pack but they are hard to find.
The problem I have with hip packs )at least for me) is that I have to cinch it down so tightly to secure that I can't breathe. However, I like wear the weight of a hop pack is - through the legs instead of the shoulders. So for me the solution is the Henty pack - a hip pack with shoulder straps . Love it.
I freeze my 3L deuter bladder overnight for Aussie summer rides and it defrosts pretty quickly on a 30+ degree days. Nice way to keep cool(ish) and have some semi rigid spine protection there too. The hip packs don’t hold enough water for me on a few hours in the bush.
Totally agree re the extra water in the Oz warmer weather. I use a mix of cold water and many handfuls of ice blocks in my back pack bladder. Yep adds spine protection too. I don't like carrying bottles. One because a single bottle doesn't carry enough water and two I have lost count of the number of water bottles I find on the local trails that have ejected off someone's bike or hip pack.
backpack with waist & chest straps but, I also commute to work so a fanny pack wouldn't fit everything. I highly recommend having a waist strap. I currently am using a Trail 40 pack which works well for me there are many good packs out there. Also let's go a little outside the box just for moment there is the packs that carry your spare battery if your from that other channel.
I ride pack-less are much as possible with everything stored on the bike or pockets along with a 700ml bottle and sometimes a 500ml soft flask in my bib pocket. If I need more water I’ll take my hip pack. For really long rides and where I want to carry a jacket, I use a back pack. I do suffer from back pain though and find a hip pack doesn’t aggravate it as much. Hip packs are also better on hot days as it keeps air flowing around your back. I can’t remember the last time I used my back pack. One draw back if a hip pack is it can hit the rear tyre on drops, especially with a 29” with a long dropper.
roadies have been using a version of hip pack for years, road Jerseys have pockets across the back to stash stuff in. so when I ride MTB I have always gone for a hip pack as the location and weight placement feel more familiar for Me than a big sweaty back pack.
I've been using a Camelbak Grandido hip pack since the late 1990s, even managed to find a new old stock one when my original was close to falling apart in 2010! They have a 2ltr bladder and a ton of storage, enough for tools, light shell, gloves, just loaded space. Theres an over the shoulder strap (about an inch wide) to save having to cinch the waist too tight. Brilliant piece of kit, never understood why it didn't catch on. I get really sweaty with backpacks and hip packs are the only answer.
Camelbak podium, edc pump, tube tyre plugs, mulittool and money for post ride pints, bottle on the bike and a shell jacket where the bottle fits in the hip bag
If you are using the backpack you can only use it for trails not with drops or jumps because the backpack will move to the side. But, if you use the waistbag its good for jump trails and etc.
I usually ride a whole day on weekend, mostly just cruise along with xc trail. sunrise untill sunset. Surely love using backpack, but here in Indonesia the weather is too hot, the backpack makes my back wet and uncomfortable. So I choose hippack.
I think you've missed a couple of key points here... Hip packs help tremendously with overheating. I run hot and having a backpack on really adds to the body heat. Also backpacks having additional spine protection in the even of a fall. A lot of the packs these days even have built in spine protectors. Pretty much if it's a big ride backpack otherwise hip pack the majority of the time.
Hip pack as my shoulder is still recovering from joining the clavicle club. Hip pack for trail centres and the like, rucksac for bigger days in the hills
Source ultra 5ltr waist pack is great product .1.5 litres bladder is great ,way better than the camelback bladder i had in my backpack .The hip pack has enough storage for all day rides . Great product.
Hip pack during winter as the bladder of the backpack freezes while riding. Otherwise I use a backpack. But when weather is + 85F (30C) the hip pack is back!
Well, I am a commuter and I take the bus to work this is different but I always have a pouch with me. It is just convenient. If i am using my brief case, I have a sling bag and then if I have a backpack with me I use a waste pouch. I even have chest pouches at as as well. They are totally cool ot wear. It is nice to have things out of my pockets and put them in a pouch and carry them that way. The backpack though need. A pouch to complement it. It is like the junk drawer of your kitchen. The backpack has everything else but the pouch has sanitizer, and masks and other things i want to access on my commutes. Even the sling bags are pretty big they hold a lot of things. I use both and it is good cause it distributes the weight as well.
A backpack is suitable for every ride. The newest ones also provide built in back protection. On-board storage has become quite clever so for shorter rides the hippack (Is that one word?) is a bit superfluous. Still, it’s an option that I’m sure some really like. Choice is good.
Two words -Spine protection! Backpack for every ride (unless I am wearing chest/spine protection I guess). I do get a kick out of hip packers with a bladder where the have to stop and pull out the long straw!!😂
I have been using a backpack for year on my off-road motorcycle, on top of my armor and starting the day with 3 L. I am used to carrying a backpack all day in all sorts of conditions. I am going to use my Kriega R15 for my eMTB rides. It is my first year in eMTB and my first rides lend me to believe that one bottle is definitely not enough, hydration blatter is mandatory for me, so again backpack.
The weather always chooses for me, if I won't need a jumper at any point on the ride then I take the hip pack, so being England I usually take my back pack. I use one designed for freeride skiing so it's hardly noticeable even when stuffed with a big bag of dog food.
One essential question: Which option effects the breathing more? My hunch is that having a strap always around one's core would interfere with breathing more than a well-fitted and lighter backpack. The backpack raises weight and center of gravity, and that's a problem too. However, modern mountain bikes are so much more upright fitting than they were. That, in theory, is a plus for backpacks. The age-old debate continues . . .
I love the light feel of the hip pack, but for me the way is with small bag pack. Yes, in a hot weather is bit uncomfortable, but the water bladder offers you some protection. Also the bag pack it self protect you. In a fall it is much better to look like you have pissed yourself rather to piss yourself of pain.
Backpack for long rides or downhill since it has spine protection, hip pack since a year for regular trail riding a couple of hours or so. Both have bladder, thank you camelback 😁
I think a backpack is more versatile so I´d pick that. But hippacks are great for shorter rides will small amounts of gear, I just dont do these often ^^
Small hip pack for me. Carries pump, spare tube, gauge, tools, snacks, phone & wallet. Feels lighter than the backpack, less sweaty and no need to remove it to get stuff out. Water bottle goes on the bike.
@@anatoleboivin It’s a Fox Hip Pack, it doesn’t have a bag inside with water but you can have two 1,5 l bottles and it’s super comfortable and not so expensive!
i tend to use a combo of frame strap...one up edc and back pack..... bike tools live on the bike and my stuff in the back pack, never liked the thought of crashing with tools attached to my body
I'm currently recovering from an accident - concussion, broken processes on L3 and L4 vertebrae with internal bleeding. I was wearing my hip pack. It sits right were my broken bones are in my back, and I do wonder if the breaks were the result of landing on it badly, as it is full of gear. Now, you might say that's the same for a backpack, but I would argue the gear it more compact in a hip bag, so I will likely revert to full backpack with back protector moving forward, especially if I am doing any park or downhill days. For XC, I'll probably stick with the hip bag.
Backpack just simply too hot in Florida heat / humidity. I get the chance to wear mine maybe 4-5 times a year in our alleged winter. Otherwise, it a hip pack pretty much year round.
Try not to use a pack at all, but when I choose between fanny or traditional, it all depends on the weight of the things I'm carrying. Fannies are good up to a certain weight.
I tried the hip pack thing and found that it restricted my breathing to much (big lungs I guess). Spares and tools mostly go on my bike now in the form of a one up edc and a strap with a tubolito, tyrelever co2 canisters and head, that together with a waterbottle has me sorted for rides to about an hour or so. for medium length rides I do stash an extra soft flask and some gels or so in my bibs. longer epic rides where more things and water are a must, I really liked the chase vest. proper minipump and spares inside.
Great video and a big fan of the channel and learned loads . Concern for me with a hip pack is falling off with hard tools and bottle on your back and doing yourself some serious damage. Back pack good for longer rides and safer. I prefer a saddle bag, although no one makes a bag that keeps out the way of the dropper post to still use the full travel. A gap in the market for a manufacturer ? unless anyone knows of saddle bag that works with dropper post well ? Cheers
i tend to use my hip pack rather than my backpack these days but i find if the hip pack is loaded up a bit it can bounce when riding rough terrain and after a while the strap starts to dig in at the front, so i dont load it up so much now.
Hi I never put any comments on but I have a question. I’m looking at a backpack with room for all stuff I seem to carry so what about the backpacks with a spine board build in would you recommend them ? Thank you great Chanel awesome vids thank you all 🤘🏻
@@gazzas28 hi thank you for your reply I had a look at them but someone said about a backpack with a spine board already in the backpack but not really sure if a spine board in built in is right, ?? But thank you gaz 🤘🏻
Hi Mel! We'd recommend the Camelback M.U.L.E as it's a really practical and comfy riding pack. Using spine panels is all personal preference; however, it really does depend on how technical and rough the terrain you ride is. There are other brands such as Osprey and Evoc available. Thanks so much for the support! 👊
Your back is your body's radiator....a backpack is like putting a sheet of cardboard in front of your car's radiator. Hip pack is your best choice..... all day long.
Gotta follow most of the Comments here , Backpack for spare thermal clothing in case of a breakdown in Winter , and Hippack for summer , so I don´t end up with a soaking wet back from sweating .
I use a hip pack but it causes some really uncomfortable internal pain after a while. I try to ensure it isn't too tight but the weight of the pack pulls back on my abdomen and causes a sort of tourniquet around my guts. I've adjusted it multiple times but I can't figure it out. Maybe a personal body/physical problem for me... I just wanna shred like Blake with a hip pack ;]
Extra feature of backpacks: they protect your back and give you that feeling of extra safety. I feel uncomfortable without it Ps: next level will be the chest bags. Looking forward to wearing them
That's so true! Having a riding pack does give you an extra layer of protection and perhaps more confidence. It'll be interesting to see if chest bags take off at all! 👍
On my hard tail, I have them at the loosest settings. If your foot is straight in the clip, pulling up on the pedal, shoes stay put. But any slight movement either way my foot come out, Incase of accident and getting caught up. My advice would be to try on loosest settings, and build up until you happy with tension Good luck 🤞
