Deuter Giga backpack

I like Deuter bags. Their dedicated cycling bags - especially the small ones - do everything I want of them, and are reasonably good-looking too. So I was expecting good things when this parcel arrived. I pulled the pack out and, well, was a bit disappointed. It's understated and unassuming, sure, but looks are not the Deuter Giga's strong point. It looks, to be frank, like the sort of backpack my dad would wear.

Still. Backpacks go on the back, they're not to be looked at. And for everything else, the Deuter is a very useful and accomplished pack.

Firstly, Deuter's straps are really good. The perforated foam is thick and stiff enough to hold its shape, cushioning the chest and shoulders even under load. They're also well shaped, sitting just right around the neck and armpits. And, on the back, the Deuter Airstripes system works as well as it does on their smaller packs. Airstripes are two bands of this same foam, this time cut into sort-of Lego block chunks, which sit either side of the spine, lifting the bulk of the bag off the back and allowing air to circulate. Of all the bags I've commuted with lately - and that's quite a few - this was definitely the least sweat-inducing.

Inside, the bag is divided into three main compartments. The front one is smaller, but still decent in size, and has an array of pen loops, a phone pocket, a zipped pocket for valuables and a key loop. The other two are pretty similar in size - large - and are well padded. Deuter calls one of them a 15.4" laptop pocket, though it's difficult to say which. When I used the bag, I put a mini-D lock, computer leads and valuables in the front, a change of clothes and work shoes in the middle, and a couple of books, an A4 folder and a (small) laptop in the rear. All this fitted with ease, never bulging, and the padding kept it comfy. When riding, it sat well and was super stable. The pack never moved and felt smaller and lighter than it was. Best of all, it achieved this without me having to resort to pulling it too tight - which in my experience draws bags up the bag and too close to the neck for comfortable cycling.

So, what are the downsides? I think it's fair to say that Deuter don't see this as a dedicated bike backpack: it sits in their 'Business and Lifestyle' rather than their 'Biking' range. This means that, while it is a great fair-weather pack, and has bike-friendly features such as a loop for your rear light, it is not for all seasons. It does not have the packable waterproof cover that some Deuter bags have and, while the materials are your average showerproof material, and seem sturdy, it doesn't look as downpour-friendly as Deuter's dedicated bike range - the zips, for example, aren't very heavy duty and are exposed to the elements. Our warm, dry spring meant I didn't take it out once in the rain, but had it turned wet I wouldn't have been confident it would keep my computer dry for long. To be fair Deuter make no great claims for its waterproofness. Given that commuting in the rain can be trying enough, you don't want that worry on your mind, too. A great pack then, but one, I suspect, for the dry.

Verdict

Very capable, large, practical backpack - though thanks to the freaky weather we've had, I have no experience of it in the rain, where it would perform less well. Think of it as a brilliant fair-weather commuter's backpack, only marred in my eyes by its slightly dorky looks.