Osprey Radial II Cycling Backpack

Product Information

We proudly stand behind this guarantee, so much so that it bears the signature of company founder and head designer, Mike Pfotenhauer. By our testing, those with bigger builds among the Pack Hacker crew felt comfortable with the second topmost slot, while those with smaller builds felt more comfortable with the bottom two slots.

How do you make a bag that can meet the ever-changing day-to-day needs of someone who can’t just “toss things in the back of the car” when their needs change at a moment’s notice? The bag’s ‘weather-resistant’ outer has a clip for your helmet, comfortable raised pads to keep your back from overheating and three elasticated open pockets.It’s a thoughtful detail, and it’s really handy because you can walk around with both of your hands free when you arrive at your destination. But it’s still committed to its core purpose and that core purpose limits its flexibility in a very specific way. Also, note that if your helmet doesn’t have a ventilation slot that the keeper fits through, this won’t really work. Bags can change size as you pack them out, and every airline's interpretation of compliance is different.

A common design mantra is that form follows function and that if an object performs superbly then it becomes visually appealing.The third main noticeable difference is that the Radial has a built-in kickstand, which is completely missing on the Metron. A dedicated pocket inside the pack separates your cycling kit from the rest of your daily supplies, a concealed LidLock attachment point secures your helmet on the front of the pack when not in use and an integrated kickstand below keeps your gear from spilling when you set the pack down. However, since this pocket has a ton of volume, even for large aviator sunglasses, we threw in other everyday carry items like a Zippo, wireless earphones, and our Anker PowerCore Lite 10000mAh Portable Charger.

Between an expanded Radial that carries slightly sloppily and a Tropos whose compression straps lack strap keepers, there are definitely pros and cons to both sides worth considering. I did dump some water on it and it did not seep through, so it seems to hold up to both of those claims.Inside, the laptop sleeve doesn’t fully close, but a large mesh pocket and a couple of smaller ones zip shut. Chrome bags have a reputation for lasting a very long time, and the seriously constructed Barrage looks to continue that tradition. Provided the rest of the bag is well-designed, it is the only major drawback to an otherwise invaluable tool.