The Drafter is a pack designed for riders who prefer long days getting lost in the woods to race day palpitations. There’s a fleeced outer phone pocket and one main hangar, which unzips fully to reveal pockets and pouches for tools and the like so you don’t end up groping around blindly to find the kit you need.
Twenty quid more gets you a 3l Hydrapak bladder. The rear panel has an
Air Mesh system to raise the pack off your back slightly and allow air to circulate.
This works well and doesn’t result in any extra movement on the trails. There’s
also a permanent (and slightly meaty) helmet storage bay – great if you travel
a lot with your bike, though some straps would do the job just as well (there
are already some for carrying pads). It comes in some zany patterns too, if
that’s your bag.
BLADDER? No
SPINE PROTECTION? No
Price 120$ (150$ with 3l bladder)