Product Review: Kriega R15 backpack

The Kriega R15 is a robust and practical backpack built specially for motorcycling

Hydration packs aren’t just for hardcore trail or adventure riders. They’re handy for any riding discipline – including road riders – and critical during longer journeys.

Think about it, the onset of dehydration means a loss of concentration and mental fatigue, and we don’t want that while riding, do we?

Once you’ve used a hydration pack while riding you’ll be preaching its virtues to all your mates. Why? You’ll be surprised by how parched you are when you actually have a drink, and they’re perfect to sip on when you get stuck behind a snail-pace car or during a dull straight.

Regular hydration packs from outdoor stores are okay, but if you’ve owned one then you’ll know how short-lived and leaky they can be. Some hardly offer great value for money either. That’s where Kriega comes in with its range of innovative and high-quality hydration packs.

The motorcycle luggage and accessories specialist from North Wales has an extensive product range to quench your thirst, from standalone 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre hydration packs to more versatile backpacks that can be upgraded with a host of clever add-ons.

The Kriega R15 ($225) is a nifty 15-litre backpack for road, enduro, adventure and MTB riders that’s hydration-compatible, so add a 3.0-litre bladder ($75), dubbed Hydrapak, and you’re good to go.

The R15 features a light version of Kriega’s proprietary ‘Quadloc’ harness system as found on all its backpacks, which means it takes the weight off your back and shoulders and redistributes it to your chest and torso for all-day riding comfort, even with heavy loads. It works.

Kriega also offers the larger R20, R25, R30 and R35 backpacks (with the model number designating capacity in litres) should you need more storage space.

The Kriega R15 is perfect for riding in rugged terrain and conditions

We’ve been thrashing an R15 with a Hydrapak during gnarly trail rides, dusty adventure rides and for general travel duties. Here’s what we’ve found:

The R15 is robust, reliable and especially comfortable even when fully loaded with fluid and gear thanks to its clever harness system, which involves an initial (and easy) one-time setup for a perfect fit.
It’s so comfortable in fact that we’ve never felt the need to use the waist strap.
Comfort credit also goes to the bag’s stiff backing to help further spread load across your back and prevent any stored items digging into you.
The R15 is water-resistant – not waterproof. If that’s a priority then check out the bigger R30 backpack or Kriega’s recently released Trail 9 or Trail 18 adventure backpacks, which are waterproof and hydration-compatible.
There’s lots of mesh backing for air flow across your back and chest.
It’s an ideal size for carrying some spares, snacks, a tool roll, a spare tube or camera while on the trail or a day trip.
There are three pockets: a main, an outer and a self-contained internal.
The silicone reservoir secures its liquid contents with a heavy duty, folding slide seal – not the silly round plug found on others. It’s stored in a specific pouch along your spine with straps to secure it.
The flexible drink tube can be routed through either shoulder strap. It’s thick for durability and helps insulate fluid in hot weather. During the peak of an Aussie summer, however, there’s no avoiding the fluid caught in the tube from cooking.
The bite valve self-seals after each sip (thus keeping out dust) and features a twist on/off bar to prevent leaks when not in use.
The outer click locks are especially handy to compress the bag and keep the weight of its contents against your back, thus more comfortable.
Old mud, dust or clay, it comes up looking mint fresh again with a quick spray of truck wash and going over with the garden hose.
There’s plenty of reflectivity, front and rear.
If you’re going to carry a laptop often then you’ll be better served with Kriega’s Max 28 expandable backpack, which has a dedicated laptop pouch.
Kriega offers a host of internal and external options to add to the bag at any time. These include drypacks for extra storage, a harness pocket for a phone and, for the enduro guys, a hands-free hydration kit that routes through the front of a dirt-bike helmet.

The Kriega R15 has held up well after extended use in a variety of conditions

At $225 for the R15 and $75 for the Hydrapak bladder, Kriega products ain’t cheap, but they’re not ridiculously expensive either – especially when a weak and leaky hydration pack from an outdoor store can set you back a good $100 or more.

For your hard-earned, you’re buying Kriega’s well-earned reputation for quality and it’s backed by a 10-year warranty. Happy trails.

PRICE: R15: $225, Hydrapak reservoir $75
WEBSITE: www.kriega.com.au

Product Review: Kriega R15 backpack

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