About six months ago, I decided that I was finally done with bicycle messenger bags. You know, the kind you wear over one shoulder because they look so cool, but if you load them up with more than a lightweight jacket and your lunch they leave your shoulder aching and your hips knocked out of whack. I wanted something better. I wanted a backpack, but I wanted a really great backpack, the kind that I could wear on my motorcycle as I rode through the rain with impunity. (Truth be told…. my motorcycle isn’t running right now, it’s actually in parts, in my basement and has been for over 12 months which means that I’ve been riding the bus a lot this year) So what I meant to say was… I wanted a commuter backpack that was practical enough to use on the bus, but solid enough that it would still work for me once I got all of my pistons firing again. And, lest we forget vanity, I wanted one that looked cool. A backpack that didn’t remind me of the one I used when I was in the 7th grade. What I wanted, as I came to find out, was a Velo Transit backpack.
Velo Transit is a small company in Seattle, designing and building waterproof (that’s right, I said waterproof) backpacks, messenger bags and panniers which, although engineered specifically for bicycle commuting, will work for just about anything else. The bag I own is the District 30 and in the six months that I’ve been using it for my daily commute, it has performed flawlessly.
First off, the bag is comfortable. Even when it is fully packed, the load stays balanced and doesn’t shift around on my back. The weight distribution feels great because the pack fits so well. It sits just above my hips and clips tight with a comfortable and easily adjusted belt. The shoulder straps are pleasantly padded but not bulky and have adjustments at the top and bottom to help ensure the best fit. There is also an adjustable sternum strap which, when clipped, helps balance the load and keep the bag snug and close to the body. When properly adjusted and with all of the belts clipped in place this bag moves with you. It doesn’t shift or swing with each step and that is a welcome relief.
The District 30 comes with one large main compartment that is completely waterproof (more on that later) and three outside pockets that are protected by a storm-proof flap. Two of the outside pockets are accessible via side zippers, making it super convenient to get at your book, your phone, or your tablet while you’re bumping along on your bus ride or standing in line at the airport. I find myself using those pockets for anything I need to access quickly. The main compartment uses a roll top closure system, which keeps the water out and took me about 30 seconds to get used to using. I find that there is plenty of storage space and the multiple pockets make it easy to stay organized.
On to the big claim… waterproof, yes this bag is waterproof, at least the main compartment is. If you don’t believe me, you can check out this awesome example of local news coverage where they place a laptop in a Velo Transit bag and then take it water skiing. The main compartment uses an RF welded liner*, which is standard on all Velo transit bags, and, unless you plan on hauling knives, nails or other sharp pointy things, is guaranteed to keep the water out for the lifetime of the bag. I guess it is possible for rain to get past the storm-proof flap and get through the zippers on the outside pockets, but so far, this has not been an issue for me.
Velo Transit also sells a full line of accessories that you can add on to your pack making it semi-customizable depending on your needs, a big plus, in my opinion. I opted for the laptop pouch, which will hold up to a 17” laptop and is designed to fit inside the main compartment where it is secured with a little bit of Velcro (a perfectly acceptable use of Velcro in my opinion). I kind of feel that at this point in time, the laptop pouch should be standard and not an accessory but this is a small complaint. In addition to the accessories you can also choose between four color schemes which is always kind of a bonus.
I don’t really have any major complaints about this bag. In fact, I pretty much love it and have to say that it is one of the best backpacks I have ever owned. Sometimes it feels like more bag than I need. On those occasions, I wish there were some additional compression straps that could be used to reduce the overall size. Most of the time this isn’t an issue. I love that this bag can double as my daily commuter pack and also be my only piece of luggage for a weekend getaway. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty and who doesn’t love that.
This is a company that stands behind their products. Check them out. They have a full line of commuter bags that come in men’s large and medium and, a gender specific women’s small. Rumor has it that they also make a bag more suited for trekking, but that is a special order item and you’d have to call and ask them about that yourself, but they are super friendly and always happy to chat. All in all, this is a great company and the bag is rock solid, or as the rock climbers I used to hang out with would say…. totally bomb proof (which, I know, is hyperbole, but you get the idea)
The good :
- Comfortable
- Excellent storage
- Waterproof
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Semi-customizable
- Built for hard use (made from 500 denier cordura and 1000 denier tex nylon)
The bad:
- Expensive: sells for around $180.00 (but it should last you a very long time)
- Sometimes feels like more bag than I need…. Perhaps more compression straps would help in this area.
- Laptop pouch is listed as an accessory and is sold separately
Would I recommend it
Absolutely!
Available at Amazon and direct from Velo Transit
*The more you know: Radio Frequency welding has been around since the 40s. It is a process that uses high frequency waves (usually 27.12 MHz) that cause the molecules in certain materials to move and get hot. The combination of this heat and additional pressure creates a weld that is consistently leak-proof.
all photos courtesy of Velo Transit