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I did a quick search, but didn't find anything related. I am trying looking into various ways of carying my normal items to/from the office, on trips, etc. Generally exploring the various ways to store everything.

One thing that comes to mind, and the answer isn't readily available, are the safety concerns about wearing a backpack while riding? On the surface, it doesn't appear that it would cause any problems that aren't similar to other aspects of riding (ie, catching on something in an accident, and so on).

I wear a backpack when going to/from work since I need to carry a change of clothes. Unfortunately I don't have any saddlebags so that isn't an option. It isn't heavy so I don't mind using it for work, but I wouldn't want to carry anything heavy or for an extended period of time. I just received a backrest for the passenger seat so I'm going to strap my backpack on that now for extended trips.

My backpack is on tight so it doesn't move around while riding and also the extra slack in the straps have been tied down so they don't flap around in the wind. I would think the backpack would give you some extra padding in case you fell.

I wear a backpack all the time in case I need to head to the store. I don't even notice it's there. Just use common sense and don't put anything heavy in it that may break one of the straps while you're riding.

I find it tends to create a lot of drag on long highway trips and tires me out. So I don't use it then, but I have a single shoulder strap bag for going to and from work.

I guess I'm looking for safety concerns most of all. Ie, any issue with increased back injury in an accident. Any reason it might cause an accident. Things of that nature. I really don't see any, but then again, I haven't been in tune with the riding community for some time.

I see them as a good posibility for use, and apprecaite the comments on usability. That will also come in handy. Nice to see others use it with success, and it works well.

Thanks

I use a backpack to carry my lunch in when commuting to work or if I need to pick up something and only have the bike.

I would not want to do an extended highway ride with one on. I only use mine in town.

One of my riding buddies has a special backpack designed for use on a bike, it has a hole in the top for chatterbox/mp3 player wires and a hard back to reduce drag, plus a really good strap system to hold it on. He used to wear a regular backpack and he says the regular backpack had a LOT more drag at highway speeds.

Reflex439 wrote:I guess I'm looking for safety concerns most of all. Ie, any issue with increased back injury in an accident.

I have had two decent crashes wearing the same backpack and my back was perfectly fine on both occasions. Funnily enough it is about the only item I have been wearing that the medics didn't try to cut off me.
I have heard worse reports about bag racks on the tail of the bike cleaning up the rider as they come off.

if it's not packed correctly, or contains heavy objects, a backpack can add pendulum like force to the slightest motions that would put you off balance easier.

depending on the bag, in a fall you might get some extra protection, but more than likely it will just add a little extra weight to the tumble

also it adds to the "sail" that you create on your bike so wind gusts will be more likely to push you.

i personally would rather bungie net my bag down to my seat than carry it on me

a super minor reason for me, is that it's a pain in the butt to get a backpack on over my jacket while i'm wearing it

Sevulturus wrote:I have a single shoulder strap bag for going to and from work.

Same here. Works well.

Just don't keep your knife, or jagged shards of metal collection in your backpack while you're riding... you know, just because.

There was a post a while back about someone's backpack tearing off an arm, but I have a hard time believing that, as the tensile strength of thread (stitching) is substantially less then that of the human arm.

Pick a backpack that is close fitting, and without dangling straps, make sure you balance the load, and keep that "jagged shards of metal collection out of it."