MCN's guide to the best motorcycle backpacks with our tried and tested favourites

From time to time, you will need to carry things with you when you head out on your bike, there are a number of motorcycle luggage options including tail packs, top boxes, tank bags, saddle bags or panniers and one of the most convenient is in a motorcycle rucksack.

It works on any motorcycle as it is fitted to the rider and not the bike, so even on a sportsbike with a seat cowl fitted for that extra clean streamlined look, you can easily carry the essentials with you. It’s easy to get on and off, easy to take with you when you get off the bike and you can tailor the fit to get it just right for you. There is a huge range of motorcycle rucksacks available, from cheap to expensive and everything in between.

The most common type is soft fabric backpacks where the fabric they are made from is flexible allowing some flex in the shape when stuffing all of your things in, they often have external stretch pockets for water bottles and zip pockets for easy access to items like wallets or keys. The second type is a hardshell rucksack, which is made to have a rigid outer shape to help protect the items internally, increase durability and help with aerodynamics.

Things to consider when buying a motorcycle rucksack

Comfort

Consider the design of the section that sits against your back; some motorcycle rucksacks may have engineered sections with padded air cooling mesh. This helps to cushion your back and allow airflow so that you don’t get a sweaty back. Similarly, look at the straps and consider how they will fit you and your jacket. A strap that links the shoulder straps together across the chest will help spread the weight across your chest and not just your shoulders, making the rucksack weight more comfortable to carry over distance but also ensuring they don’t slip down while you are riding, creating an unwanted distraction.

Size

Think about the size that you require, if you’re heading off for a long weekend, you may want 25-litres or more to be used in conjunction with some panniers or a tailpack, whereas if you only intend to carry a few bits to work, a smaller capacity may be sufficient. Also think about the layout of pockets and compartments, you may want a specific compartment for say, a laptop computer or other bits and pieces to keep them organised and if so, there are plenty of options for you.

Construction

Consider weatherproofing; you probably want a waterproof bag, as no one wants to pull their change of clothes out to find that they are soggy from a wet ride or worse, their laptop. So check to see if it is made of a waterproof material or at least comes with a rain cover. Consider whether you might want to mount the rucksack to your motorbike at some point as some have mounting straps available to be used as a tail bag. You might want to carry a helmet on your back instead of lugging it around, some have expandable sections to allow this, though they can get a bit ungainly.

Some of the best motorcycle rucksacks we’ve tested

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Frequently asked questions

Can I use a regular rucksack when riding a motorcycle?

There’s nothing stopping you from using a regular rucksack when riding a motorcycle, but it’s important to keep in mind they’re not designed for motorcycle use. Motorcycle backpacks often have rated impact absorption or abrasion resistance, waterproofing, mounting straps, or an aerodynamic shape, and having any of these features make them much more suitable for motorcycling.

What is a good size of rucksack for motorcycling?

Motorcycle rucksacks can range anywhere from 10 to 40+ litres in volume, and which size you go for really depends how much stuff you want to carry with you. 25 litres is a good average size, and can work well for day-to-day commuting, small trips to the shops, and short weekend trips away, but your mileage may vary.

If you’re unsure what size will suit you, it’s best to pop in to your local kit shop and try them on for size. If you need to carry more than just one backpack with you, it’s best to take a look at some panniers and top boxes to expand the storage on your bike.

How MCN tests rucksacks

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles in order to provide you with opinions and evaluations you can trust, alongside news of the most significant developments in motorcycling safety gear. We want you to stay safe, enjoy your riding and hopefully look great while doing so! 

We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions.

That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on. To make it onto this list, motorcycle rucksacks must have been worn for thousands of miles by our team of experienced testers, show no major flaws as well as offering decent value for money. 

Each of our expert reviewers tests their backpacks for a variety of things, both subjective and objective. Factors assessed include the rucksacks adjustability and fit, how comfortable they are with weight in, what pockets and compartments they have, how heavy duty they are and if they include details such as a waterproofing, bike mounting straps or expandable capacity.

We cover thousands of miles with these rucksacks and regularly compare them with one another in the office, so collectively we’ve built the sort of knowledge base you can trust.

If you can’t see a review against a rucksack on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These rucksacks will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

Here’s a brief run-down of the star rating system we use, and what each score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A helmet with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A helmet with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement. It might be lacking safety features, be poorly built or far too expensive to recommend.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A helmet with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A helmet with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A helmet has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more about our kit testing, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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