Review: Rynox Navigator Hydration Backpack
One thing you should know is that I love bags, and I have quite a few of them, in different kinds. In my head, there are purposes behind it. But I am always looking for general-purpose bags. I have a couple of them, which are jack-of-all-trades kind of bags, which I love. Unfortunately, they are all getting old (5 to 10 years old) and are no longer available to buy again. For a long time, I didn’t have a motorcycling backpack; I have a small 10L Decathlon bag that’s probably a decade old. This works for short rides but is not comfortable on long rides. Also, it’s getting old, and I couldn’t buy it again :( So I started.
Requirements
- Comfortable to wear the whole day
- Good quality build
- Big enough to hold enough water, phone, wallet, power bank, snacks, and maybe a multitool or additional pair of gloves based on need.
- Ability to use it outside riding, say, while on a day hike or city walk.
- Affordable
Solution
After quite a bit of research, I had the Navigator Hydration Backpack from Rynox, the Marine Neo Hydration Pack from ViaTerra, the Kreiga Trail 9, and the Wildcat 12L by Moskto Moto on the list. Both Kreiga and Wildcat are great on paper. But I think it’s too expensive ( > INR 20K) to buy without trying first. I will have to find a friend to try them out first. Marine Moto comes at a great price (INR 3399) and includes a hydration bladder. I found its minimal approach to being just a hydration backpack appealing. I wanted something more. So finally, I settled on the Navigator Hydration Backpack by Rynox.
Things I like
- Total bag capacity is 4 Ltr. It’s not big, but it’s not very small either. I did buy a separate 2L hydration bladder (it can hold up to 3L). Depending on the situation, I fill 1L or 1.5L.
- The water stays in the main compartment near the back; it’s quite stable. This compartment also has drainage holes. There are holes for the sipper; you can make it come out on the right or left side, as you prefer. This compartment can be fully opened for easy access, thanks to an all-around zipper. If you just add 1 L of water, you can easily fit a pair of additional gloves and some snacks. This also gives full access to adjust the shoulder harness so you can fit it nicely on your back. The main compartment also has a semi-transparent (plastic) pouch on the closing flap. Works well for a wallet or snacks, etc.
- On the outside, there are two zipped pockets. One is deep. It can fit a power bank, phone, or camera. It is quite deep. There is a second zipped pocket; it’s not very deep, but it can still hold my phone and wallet together.
- On the outside, there is an elastic cord-based compression storage. It has molle-like webbings for accessories as well. You can put your gloves, wet socks, etc., here. You can also attach accessories to webbings, though I don’t like it. I do have an LED blinker and a reflector clip that I attach here. However, I can use the Vioo Clip at the bottom for it.
- The bag is sturdy and holds its shape. I also like how the back is designed for comfort and air circulation with enough sturdy foam. The backpack straps range from small to large, using the G-hooks from the main compartment. You can also make smaller adjustments outside using the straps. They have a Sternum Chest lock for effective load distribution, which I love. They have a standard waist strap. It is very comfortable to wear.
- The build quality is good. It has YKK zippers, and I don’t think they have made any major compromises there.
Things to think about
- Maybe a tidy bit bigger, 7 ot 9 Liters would have made it a bit more than the hydration backpack.
- It doesn’t come with a hydration bladder. I think it’s always a good idea to sell them together.
- At Rs. 5050 (3550 + 1500), it’s not cheap. I know it’s not as expensive as some foreign brands, but it is still expensive for many. But for the quality, I am okay to pay, I think. Only time will tell.
Conclusion
I have used it on the Big Loop, a 700 km single-day ride. I carried about 1L of water, Insta Go2, a Wallet, spare gloves, and a multitool. It was very comfortable. I didn’t feel much throughout the ride. Though I didn’t drink as much on the go (I would often forget), I think it’s a matter of practice. It was also easy to remove it and wear it. No fuss. It also fits well over my riding jacket. Zips were also accessible while wearing gloves—all in all, positive.
