All Arround MTB

SO GOOD... There’s impressive attention to detail here. The harness is adjustable to fit your back, there are tabs for goggles and straps for leg armour. The fit is superb and a clever alloy hook makes it easy to get the pack on and off quickly. We liked the inclusion of a detachable waist strap but never needed it. The 2l Hydrapak bladder is easy to clean.

SO GOOD... This is the most compact pack here, and the most race focused. Each of the four chunky, stretchy straps is adjustable, giving plenty of opportunities to get comfy. The secondary tool pocket is detachable should you opt for the full-pro ‘under jersey’ look. It’s the most secure pack on test so you can forget you’re wearing it on the descents and focus on going fast.

SO GOOD... The little EVOC has some great features, including a neatly tucked away helmet net and a phone-friendly fleecy upper pocket.We also liked the ‘Air Circulation’ system, which raises the pack off your back to avoid heat build-up. The Brace Link straps were among the comfiest on test and great on all-dayers.

SO GOOD... The Rogue represents a brilliant middle ground between trail and race packs. Built around one of CamelBak’s brilliant (2l) bladders, it’s minimal in size but still offers two external pockets and a larger stowage space, which can be tightened down. The result is a pack that can handle all but the longest excursions.

SO GOOD... The 2.5l bladder supplied with the Viper is Osprey’s own and its added capacity opens the pack up to longer stints in the saddle. The exterior pocket is fairly deep, with enough room for a mini floor pump.As with all Osprey packs we’ve tried, the straps are comfy and well ventilated.We love the clever bungee helmet hook.

SO GOOD... Leatt have been fastidious when it comes to attention to detail. Large straps hold this pack in place really comfortably and won't interfere with chest-mounted action cams.

THIS ALL SINGING, all dancing hydration pack from neck brace gurus Leatt looks like it’s been engineered to the max!

The Acre pack oozes style and will appeal if you look for a bit more craftsmanship in your riding gear. Handmade in the USA, it’s fully waterproof and features an unusual roll-down top for the main compartment.

When you’re as big a brand as Mavic, it would be all too easy to simply stamp your name on any old bag, but the French wheelsmiths have applied their typical attention to detail to this 8.5l enduro-style pack.

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.

Vaude’s greatest trick is making a large, spacious pack sit neatly in place without any drama, even when fully laden. That’s mainly due to the (removable) solid backplate and the cavernous main pocket. Tools have their own easy-access pocket and there’s plenty of support thanks to the chunky waist straps.

This is the smallest offering in the colourful EVOC range, which has long offered great build quality and fit. It’s a good option if you don’t want one of the new-generation ‘harnesses’ but still want a pack that’s as small as possible.

The stratos is notably heavier than any other pack here at just over 1.5kg but that’s due largely to its motorbike-grade Armourgel back protector.

The new cargo 3.0 is roomy for a harness-style pack – it has a 10l volume and, unlike most enduro packs, comes with a big 3l bladder. We aren’t fans of the cap on the mouthpiece though – it makes drinking on the move needlessly tricky.

Rather than placing the weight of all your kit along your spine, Wingnut’s Lowrider system puts it around the small of your back. It’s an odd feeling for the first couple of rides, but it is comfortable.

SOURCE'S MID-SIZED PACK uses a classic layout and has a distinctive hose with a braided outer that can make its state of cleanliness a bit of an unknown.