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Dakine Drafter Bike Pack
March 17, 2009
Water on a ride is a good thing. It lets you keep hydrated and stay out on the trails longer. The Dakine Drafter holds your liquids and keeps a whole bunch of gear out of the way and on your back. With it's 3 litre water bladder and 12 litres of cargo space you can bring everything you need and still be comfortable.
Made of super tough 630D Nylon the first thing you notice is how rugged it is, while still having great style. Seriously, logger flannel, I love it! The first time I used it was actually as my carry on during a flight to Vancouver. It was great. It held my XC helmet perfectly in it, while still giving me room to store my sunglasses and other stuff.
Once actually on the bike and riding it store a whole lot more than just your keys. The Drafter easily held my wallet, keys, case for my sunglasses, MP3 player, a longsleeve top and had tons of room to spare for tube, pump, etc.. It has lots of pockets, even ones specifically for your MP3 and sunglass, both padded and fleece lined.
The Drafter has a nice breathable and padded back panel, great for comfort and letting fresh air in so I did not overheat. I like that it has both a chest and a waist strap but at times felt like the fit was a little awkward. It sat slightly high on my back, but after adjusting a bunch of the straps I finally got it to where it was almost perfect.
The three litre water bladder is great for epic day trips, it would have to be a pretty hot day of riding for me to need to down 3 litres of water. The bladder is strong and seems built tough, no leaks. The bite valve is good quality and there is a nice long hose from the bladder to the bite valve.
The Drafter is great on and off the bike. Enough style to look great at the coffee shop after a ride, but built tough to last on the trails. A great addition to my trail riding gear.
Price: $74.95 USD
Details: A great bag/hydration system
Pros: Small size still packs a lot, great back padding
Cons: Does not fit as close to the body as I would like
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dakine
Reviewed by: Ryan