Bags

The Ortlieb Office Bag QL3 is the latest incarnation of Ortlieb's waterproof briefcase pannier. What's changed from the QL2 bag is the attachment system: it's still quick-release but the hooks are recessed, so the briefcase looks more businesslike when you're off the bike. Or as Ortlieb put it: 'Flat mounting elements ensure smooth back side.' Yep.

Named for the winner of the Tour de France and an Olympic gold medal prior to his staggering 2012 achievements, this British designed and made (by Carradice of Nelson) rucksack is a bag our Brad could be proud to use.

EVOC are specialists in the field of bicycle transport, and the voc 280L Bike Travel Bag is a case in point, with many great features only gained through experience.

A collaboration between fashionable British accessories designer Ally Capellino and Carradice of Nelson, the Cavo Pannier is a smart, stylish shoulder-bag-cum-pannier designed specifically for cyclists.

Bike bags are getting more and more sophisticated, often combining pannier performance with the ease of use and versatility of the messenger bag. The Messenger bag from the d'Azur range by Dutch bike luggage specialists Basil is designed to be a combination of casual styling, rugged materials, handy features and on and off bike useability.

In an aged, sandy sort of colour canvas fabric, the d'Azur isn't a bag that screams out 'laptop inside' and is styled very much true to its name, as a messenger bag.

This classy bag from German luggage masters Deuter is almost the perfect companion for well-heeled commuters. Not so great if you want to stick a laptop in with your sandwiches though.

I was initially sceptical - the bag looked too small to be properly useful to me, but the main compartment extends once unzipped and has loads of space. It certainly passes the 'pair of shoes and assorted gubbins' test.

This is the smallest of Avenir's range of waterproof handlebar bags. Trimmed down to the basics, it's ideal for audax rides, club-runs, commuting or other occasions when the stuff you need to carry is too much for jersey pockets, but not enough to warrant full saddlebag. We found it lives up to its waterproof claims and is actually slightly bigger than its nominal capacity, but it's marked down by a couple of quirks.

Big brother to the 25 we reviewed some time ago, the dhb Slice 30-litre rucksack is for those who need a bit more space without compromising comfort or a bike's responsiveness. Kitchen sink commuters will be delighted to know it takes a 15inch laptop, change of clothes, shoes, stout lock(s), A4 folder and pretty much any bike/rider essentials you'd need for the concrete jungle or a weekend's trail blazing.

The lightest backpack we've ever used, the Outlier Minimal is surprisingly effective as a barebones commuting gear carrier, but for a pack with almost no features, it's a bit pricy.

Like Polaris's similar courier bag, the Aquanought Backpack is a tough, welded-seam PVC bag that's 100% waterproof. It's even bigger, with a capacity of 30 litres and a couple of external shock cords that you could use to strap on a soggy commuter jacket or camper's sleeping mat.