Choosing the winners for this one was pretty simple, unlike some of the other awards I've been working on. I don't have a car, I get around by bike everywhere, or by train, and so I am using the best cycling backpacks on a daily basis. I've had a stack of twelve options to choose from after completing our buyer's guide, and of these, there are a few that I gravitate towards and one that has cemented itself firmly as my go-to daily driver.
In my eyes, the recipe for a good cycling backpack is simple: Comfortable straps, waterproof construction, some extra pockets for organising, and not too big that it's ungainly. While it isn't perfect, nothing hits the Goldilocks zone of all of these as well as the Chrome Barrage, though the Rapha backpack is a close second for me. Add into the mix a quality build and solid hardware and it's the bag I reach for when commuting, and for every press trip I've been on while working here at Cyclingnews too.
