GROUPTEST HIP PACKS

It’s become increasingly popular to stash everything from spare tubes, pumps and multi-tools to food and drink on your bike, thanks to storage solutions such as ‘enduro’ straps, hidden frame compartments and tools that slot into steerer tubes or pumps. While there’s only so much stuff you can realistically strap to your frame or store inside it, this does free up space in your pack, or reduce the size of the bag you need, which is why hip packs (bumbags, in ’80s speak) have become increasingly popular.

They promise enough space to store the essentials, without the bulk and subsequent sweaty back of a full-on backpack. But not all hip packs are created equal. We get excited when we find a nicely made, comfortable and stable design that doesn’t dig in, bounce around on rough trails or try to overtake us on steep descents and then spin around like a hula hoop while we’re attempting to flick it back into place.

Here, we’ve tested a wide selection of packs, from lighter-weight options to high-volume bags complete with hydration bladders, so they should have you covered, whether you want one for short sprints or long-distance epics. We filled them with our usual all-day-ride stuff, including tubes, pumps, snacks, tools and emergency supplies, and wore them while riding a wide variety of terrain in Scotland’s Tweed Valley.

This included trails with high-speed sections and super-tech features, to see whether they stayed put or bounced around/became uncomfortable, and also daily rides and commutes, to see how user-friendly they are. We went into this test with high