Dakine Hotlaps and Low Rider hip packs
Given the fact that most modern bikes are much more trouble free, carrying loads of spares and tubes isn’t as necessary as it once was. Many new bikes are also designed to be able to run bottle cages on the downtube (New Santa Cruz Nomad features enough space to run a full size bottle cage). This means that most riders are now looking to drop as much weight as possible off their back, and add a little to the bike if necessary. This is where we have found the superb smaller pack offerings from Dakine to be useful.
When you are heading out for a shorter playful ride, sessioning sections and just generally messing around or going out for a trail ride for an hour or two after work, most of us don’t want to carry a standard backpack with unnecessary weight and bulk, which undeniably affects the way you ride.
We have been riding with the Dakine Hot Laps and the Low Rider packs on for a number of months now and have found they offer a compact design, still with enough storage room for your essentials (i.e c02 Cannister, Tyre Lever, Phone etc) whilst also mounting low down in the Lumbar area keeping weight low and controllable to keep riding obstruction to a minimum.
A look inside our packs…
Here’s a quick outline of what we would carry in either of the packs for a regular trail ride:
Hot Laps 1.5L Bag
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Bottle can be held in the bag but is better in a cage on the bike
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Tube
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c02 inflator + cartridge x2
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Instant Puncture repair
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Tyre levers
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Multi-tool
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Chain Quick link
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Spare valve/valve + Removal Tool
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Keys
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Phone
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Card
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£5 Note
Low Rider 5L
- Everything from the Hot Laps 1.5L plus...
- Clif bar
- Sweet Air jacket
Both hip packs offer the option of carrying tools and essentials to those people who feel the need for a pack that restricts their riding less than a normal over the shoulder Hydration Pack. Offering great value for money they can both act as a great main pack to riders who wouldn’t normally wear one, or for people who normally wear a large over the shoulder pack it this could prove to be second lightweight option for short trips out.