Sea Otter Classic, North America’s premier cycling festival, is happening now at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The four-day event hosts hundreds of world-class riders who are competing in mountain and road races as well as brands big and small that are revealing new products for 2019 and beyond. We have a team on the ground to bring you intel on all of the most exciting product releases. Follow our coverage here.
Key Specs:
Brand: Ortlieb
Model: Atrack BP
Price: $265
Availability: May 2019
Unique Features: Lightweight, durable and waterproof pack with helmet-carrying options for bikepacking and adventure travel.
Upshot: Ortlieb’s original Atrack won awards at Outdoor Retailer’s summer show last year. Now the brand is slimming it down and adding some cycling-specific features to appeal to the bikepacking crowd. It also retained the elements that made the Atrack an award winner in the first place: waterproofing and an innovative back panel opening. Give those a lower weight and durable nylon construction, and you’ve got a winning pack for two-wheeled travel.
Who It’s For: Bikepackers and adventure travelers, especially those in wet climates or those who have to cross rivers during their adventures.
Insight: You wouldn’t think a fully sealed waterproof zipper was that important on a bikepacking bag, but once you drop your bike in a river in Mexico and all your oatmeal forms a giardia-riddled mush inside your bag, your mind begins to change. The 25-liter Atrack BP is a fully waterproof; even its full-sized zipper.
Unlike similarly sized backpacks, it does away with a full-sized hipbelt and sits slim on the back, making it an excellent choice for bikepacking or long trail days where wider packs can chafe as you move around on a bike. It has the capacity for a two-liter hydration bladder, which should be plenty as most riders also carry water lower down on their frames. The bag also features an adjustable back harness and the usual daisy chains, key clips, and mesh pockets that you’d expect on a quality trail pack.
