The Apidura Backcountry Hip Pack is a well-designed, waterproof hip pack for technical gravel and mountain bikers who don’t want to wear a backpack. At 2.5l, it offers just the right amount of storage and includes some neat details.
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Apidura Backcountry Hip Pack – Tech Details
The Apidura Backcountry Hip Pack is built with a mix of lightweight fabrics. The main pouch is made from waterproof ripstop nylon with fully taped seams and a standard zip with a protective flap to keep your gear dry. Hypalon details reinforce high stress points, and there is a light attachment and reflective details at the front of the pack for added visibility.
The hip belt features two storage pockets, a zipped ripstop pouch on the right, and an elastic mesh pouch on the left. The waist belt features a velcro strap with an elastic stretch casing and a Hypalon panel which provides additional support for the security Woojin buckle. The back of the main pouch is padded with quick-drying, light pads.
The pack has 2.5l of internal storage, with an internal zipped pouch and two mesh dividers. The internal pouch has a zipper that doubles as quick link storage, and there is also a hook for keys.
Apidura says this pack is a “lightweight mountain bike hip pack for daily rides and bikepacking on technical terrain.”
Apidura Backcountry Hip Pack – On Test
I tested the Apidura Backcountry Hip Pack on gravel adventures ranging from a couple of hours to half a day. It has exceeded my expectations in comfort, and I have found myself reaching for it far more than I anticipated.
I usually carry my spares, snacks, and other things in my back pockets, a top tube bag or occasionally, a bar bag, and I must say, I was sceptical about having something around my hips. My scepticism proved unnecessary because, from the very first ride with the Hip Pack, I forgot it was there.
Apidura says they’ve designed the bag to fit a whole range of people and as a smaller person I first thought the bag would feel rather bulky and big on me. This was not the case. The waistband offers so much adjustability; the velcro strap has a stretch casing, and the panel underneath offers more comfort from the Woojin buckle, which definitely felt like a quality fastening system. The padding at the rear of the bag adjusts well without making it feel too bulky.
Storage-wise, the bag is in the middle ground. It comfortably stored my normal spares, a rain jacket, snacks, and my phone and keys – more than I can fit in my back pockets without feeling like a camel. The padded internal zip pouch was great for my phone, although if you want photos it’s not ideal for quick access. I wish the pouch was removable because unless you carry many electronics with you it might prove pointless (although, it does fit a 6” Kindle just about perfectly). The zipper of this padded inside compartment is my favourite part of this bag – it features a puller that stores your spare chain links! If that is not a cool detail, I don’t know what is.
The small side pockets – one with a zip and the other an open mesh one, allowed me to store a small snack that was easy to access whilst riding and the stretchy mesh pocket easily stored an empty wrapper or mitts.
In terms of the quality and materials, this bag is pretty much without fault. Apidura claims the bag is fully waterproof and I can confirm that its contents stayed fully dry after many hours in some minging mist, and through a downpour. The bag shows no signs of wear after many rides off-road and cleaning it has been a breeze as any dirt comes off with a simple wipe with a cloth.
Apidura Backcountry Hip Pack – Conclusion
This is a great quality hip pack that is suitable for a range of rides. It allows you to choose your riding clothes without worrying about storage as you can throw everything into one bag, put it on, and forget about it.
This pack is not compatible with a hydration bladder which might be a no for some, but I think for bikepacking it’s great. It provides more storage than your back pockets, but it is small enough to not create any unnecessary bulk.
At £76, the Backcountry Hip Pack is reasonably priced – especially when comparing it to the Dakine Hot Laps Stealth waist pack which is smaller and not waterproof. Similarly, many other waist packs offer more space but are meant to also carry hydration. For example, Source Hipster is 1.5l but offers hydration (£70) whereas Amplifi Hipster4 Glacier & Drinking System Hip pack costs a whopping £108.
Overall, the Apidura Backcountry Hip Pack makes a very durable and comfortable bum bag for bikepacking adventures. It offers a variety of storage options and the waterproof construction is a perk in the UK weather.
You might also like:
- Buyer’s guide to hydration packs for mountain biking
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- Source Hipster 1.5L hydration pack
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The velcro strap has an elastic stretch casing and features a Hypalon panel which provides additional support for the security buckle. The fastening system uses Woojin buckles for their reliability and the side straps feature lightweight mesh and padding for comfort. Low profile, quick drying padding on the rear of the bag further improves comfort without adding bulk.
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