But cyclists are people who are often clad in tight spandex and somehow still turn it into a fashion statement.

Not only the contents of the backpack stayed dry, but after taking off the raincover, there wasn’t a drop of water on the bag itself either. Metropolis International Group Limited, 10th Floor, Southern House, Wellesley Grove, Croydon, CR0 1XG. Up at the top is a folded nylon handle for carrying the Radial over short distances like across or between rooms. After having used a number of backpacks the Osprey Radial and Metron are both on my top recommended list.You will appreciate the fact that you don’t need to dive into the bottom of a large bag and try to find a small item deep down in the darkness. The toggles are a bit tough to thread through, but thankfully it’s one of those “set-it-and-forget-it” types of systems. But if your primary intent is to use the Osprey Radial for something other than carrying gear while on a bike there are probably better options.

There’s also a small islet for drainage and ventilation, so you won’t have to worry too much about odor or water buildup. There are a huge number of other useful features into this high quality pack, it's like the bag equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife. Since the integrated kickstand doesn’t collapse like fabric, you can be sure that the chances of your devices getting a hard shock from the bottom is nearly zero. Thanks to comfortable straps and a breathable, supportive mesh back area, the Paramount is fine for short/mid-range commutes. We also took note of this with the METRON and the Tropos, which, in our opinion, is a missed opportunity since all three bags are bike-focused.

The Osprey Radial is a backpack that’s been designed and perfected with every detail with the bike commuter in mind, but it can be used for hiking and everyday carry just as well.

With that said, Osprey has done a great job of giving you as much ventilation as possible while also protecting your back from any odd-sized loads you may have in the pack. In fact, I find it so comfy that I use it even when I’m out hiking with the family and as my backpack for daily carry. I started cycling to work with a backpack a few years ago, and quite quickly progressed to a pannier.On regular commutes of 20-30 minutes – while my back did get sweatier than if I were not wearing a backpack at all – I noticed a significant improvement in ventilation to my back. The AirSpeed™ ventilated trampoline suspended mesh backsystem will keep you cool while on the move and the integrated Kickstand will keep your pack upright and easy to access. That said, his heart often rules his head – he'll take a lightweight and lively bike over an efficient aero machine any day of the week, whatever the numbers say. I keep finding myself using this pocket for my bike lights and bike computer when I get off the bike. Other than these few scrapes, would you have guessed that I slid nearly 15 feet with this as my sled?