[dchaney389 offline]

He probably uses the backpack for things besides mountain biking. I use mine for snowboarding. I have the same problem with the duffel-type bag I use to carry bike gear. I also use it for short trips or the non-biking variety and its a pain to repack all the bike stuff afterwards. A separate bike bag would be ideal, but the money for that hasn't appeared yet...

[maddslacker offline]

heh, my bike stuff stays in my camelbak, even if I take it hiking, and I have some old duffel bag I got at a trade show years ago that is for biking stuff only. Regular use stuff just stays in there.

[GoldenGoose]

Former saddle bag user here. Former due to the large number of times I would look down and see that it had opened up and slowly dumped my stuff along the trail. Tried two separate saddle bags with the same results. Never had that issue with either of my camelbaks.

[maddslacker offline]

I also have a saddle bag (for CO2 and 2nd tube on longer rides) and its zipper ends in the 'down' position. It has never come open on me.

[Dorado offline]

I'd like to be able to leave everything in a backpack but LIke dchaney389 said I use it for other things. It's the only small backpack I own and I use it for class. I'm looking at getting one of those really big Camelbaks, the one with a lot of extra room, but until I can afford it and I get the rest of my safety gear it's on the back burners. As far as my saddle bag opening on me, I've never had it open on its own, and I keep it fairly well packed. And when you consider how much I fall, its been doing a pretty good job of it.

[maddslacker offline]

I hear ya there.

Take a hard look at the Lobo when you get ready. It's not huge but it's super well laid out, holds 100oz of water and you can fill it without removing the bladder.

[tarvisg offline]

This is what I carry in my Fox hydration pack. 70 oz resevior, crank brox 17 multi tool, Co2 cartridge, Small first aid, TP, patches, tube, knife, shot blox, clif bars, arm warmers, keys, cell phone, and ID. Occasionally a camera and a extra layer depending on the conditions.

Never tried a saddlebag but might not be a good idea with my drop seat post. I sometimes carry a water bottle on the frame.

I do not find this to be all that heavy or even bothersome. I typically carry it on all my rides, unless its around the block by my house. I feel that if I didn't something might go wrong and I prefer not to deal with that.

[Dorado offline]

Hey Thanks for the tip. I'll be looking into that one. Most that I see around here are hydration only, without much if any storage.

[dozzerboy offline]

Former saddle bag user here. Former due to the large number of times I would look down and see that it had opened up and slowly dumped my stuff along the trail. Tried two separate saddle bags with the same results. Never had that issue with either of my camelbaks.

Same happened to me...

I have a Camelback Blowfish with bladder, bontrager 17 multitool, tube, extra tire levers, mech. bike pump, knife, gels, lighter, headlamp, camera, phone, and ID.

[kcrushz offline]

Its a dilemma when deciding how to carry stuff when out riding!

Hydration Bag - carries all the stuff you need & don't interfere with your riding if you got a good bag & packed it well. But just for a short rumble through the neighborhood, the backpack doesn't make any sense.

Saddle Bag - Keeps your back cool & stores your essential. But there is always the nagging fear that it unzips itself or loop itself off the seat rail!

Fanny pack - Always on you, no fear of dislodging without your notice. But can get hot & bothersome.

Storage Bottle - Keeps essential stuff & is water-proof but monopolize one bottle cage.

So you see, I have yet to find the ONE that stores them all!

[tdbgwl offline]

Thanks for the heads up on the signatures at the bottom. I guess that shows off how tech savvy I am.

[dgaddis offline]

No worries tdbqwl! My signature is just a reminder that we should all spend some time on the trails with a tool instead of a bike every now and then

If you really do want to get involved with your local advocacy group, I can help you find out who that is. You'll learn a lot from those folks, meet new people to ride with, and earn some positive trail karma - all good things! What town/state do you live in?

EDIT: Back on topic...I've been lucky w/my saddlebags. Haven't had one come open on me. I'm using one made my Serfas right now I think. Sometime's it's hard to get it open, but at least it stays closed! I use the saddle bag because I have 3 different hydration packs, and I use them all regularly, so I don't want to worry about moving the essentials every time I switch bags.

The little 50oz bag is great for when I need more water than I can carry on the frame, but it doesn't have any extra storage space for tools, jacket, etc. It's light and doesn't cover much of my back, so it's a little cooler. I use it for local rides not too far from the car and at some races.

The 70oz North Face bag carries a little more water, and has some storage space, I use it most often. And the 100oz HAWG will carry a ton of extra gear/clothes/food/etc. So for big epic rides with no pit stops, this is my go to bag. I've also used to bikepacking and loaded it down with 13lbs of gear!

[BUDDAH offline]

FIRST OFF, GREAT TOPIC!
I PRETTY MUCH CARRY THE SAME STUFF IN MY PACK AS EVERYONE ELSE,
PATCH KIT, TIRE LEVER, SPARE TUBE, CO2 PUMP WITH CARTRIDGE, MULIT-TOOL,SRAM QUICK LINK, MINI FIRST AID, EXTRA GLOVES, A COUPLE DOLLAR BILLS, CHANGE, CELL PHONE, ID AND OFCOURSE SNACKS AND H2O 70oz BUT I CAN FIT 100oz.
NOW DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM RIDING, THAT DETERMINES THE PACK I USE CUS I HAVE 3 DIFFRENT PACKS THAT VARY IN SIZE. I HAVE ONE FOR BIKEPACKING, ONE FOR LONG 6+ HOUR RIDES AND MY LOCAL PACK FOR ANYTHING UNDER 6 WHICH IS A HIGH SIERRA FROM COSTCO WHICH IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE CAMELBACK MULE EXCEPT FOR THE PRICE.
OFCOURSE IF I WILL BE RIDING FAR FROM HOME AND THE CAR I CARRY A SPARE TIRE, SHOCK PUMP, 2 TUBES, RAIN JACKET( I LIVE IN CO..LOL), CHAIN LUBE, SPARE DERAILLEUR CABLE AND I THINK THATS IT.
I ALSO NOTICED THE TALK ABOUT SADDLE BAGS, I DONT CARRY ONE BUT I HAVE ONE ON MY WIFES' BIKE SO THAT SHE DOESNT HAVE TO CARRY SO MUCH IN HER PACK CAUSE HER CAMELBACK IS SMALL WITH ONLY ONE POCKET. IT HAS NEVER OPENED UP ON ANY RIDE...
I HAVE TO AGREE THAT THE PACK HAS CUSHOINED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOME HARD HITS TO THE BACK ON SEVERAL OCCASION. OH YEAH, I ALSO CARRY MY KNEE PADS DEPENDING ON WHERE I GO RIDE...

[mlorenz242 offline]

A first aid kit is a good idea. I have one with me all the time now after having to walk out of the trail with my shirt wrapped around my leg to hold a 4 inch (bone deep) cut on my shin closed. My cell phone came in handy too, as I was no where near my car.

[Dorado offline]

Yeah a good first aid kit is a must. Mine doesn't have much but I do have some essentials. Band aids, medic tape, gauze, aspirin, electrolyte tabs, antibiotic creme. They all fit in a plastic bag, in my saddlebag along side my tools and other equipment. I've made splints out of sticks and whatever else I could find. I also keep a bigger, more intensive medic bag in my car that can handle almost anything except surgeries and spine injuries.