5 Best Motorcycle Backpacks For Riders

Disclosure: RIDE Adventures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program as well as other affiliate programs, designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites at no extra cost to you. Please see our Disclosure for more details.

Don't buy into the hype: the best motorcycle backpacks all share these specific features. 

You’ll find plenty of bags out there nowadays being sold as motorcycle backpacks, but only a select few have any business going for a ride.

Truth be told, most of the moto packs on the market are more or less just casual backpacks with moto-specific brand names printed on them, and where there are brand names, outrageous price gouging is sure to follow.

As far as we’re concerned, a proper motorcycle backpack needs some very specific moto-centric features. Packs worthy of riding require an even more specific feature set, and if you’re buying anything else, you’re probably falling victim to marketing.

Below you’ll find the key features we look for in any motorcycle backpack worth buying, as well as a few of the packs that have served us well in our tours over the years.

Quick List: Best Motorcycle Backpacks

What To Look For in the Best Motorcycle Backpacks

The first (and arguably most important) feature is fit. Motorcycle riding is an active activity, which means you want a bag that’s form-fitting and secure without being overly restrictive.

For that reason, we prefer motorcycle backpacks with sternum harness-style straps (USWE NDM, Kriega Quadlock, etc.) rather than traditional shoulder straps. Ideally, the harness buckle will have a pivot, allowing more natural movement as you ride. 

"If you can work your essential tools into your backpack loadout, they'll always be close at hand for trailside repairs."

After fit, our top priority is durability. A good motorcycle backpack is typically a pretty serious investment, so if it isn’t built to last for years of abuse, the other features won’t matter much.

Look for bags made from tough materials like Cordura or heavy-denier nylon/polyester, and if possible, verify that the zippers come from reputable manufacturers like YKK. 

"With how hot it is on our Thailand Tour, having a fitted backpack with a water bladder is essential"

From there, the best bags distinguish themselves with moto-friendly features. Hydration bladder compatibility is a big one for us, as we often ride off-road, and if a hydration bladder is included in the price, even better.

Other important features to consider include protective goggle pockets, storage on the shoulders/hips for quick access items (cell phone, GPS systems, snacks, etc), and integrated tool storage for roadside essentials like wrenches, screwdrivers, and tire irons.

Waterproofing of some kind is also a major plus as many of us ride rain or shine. We're also keen on well padded "floating" laptop pockets to protect sensitive electronics, especially in bags we'll use for commuter duty. 

The Best Motorcycle Backpacks of 2025

Bearing the above features in mind, here are our current favorite motorcycle backpacks you can snag this year. These run a wide variety of prices and purposes from frugal commuter bags to feature rich adventure touring rigs. 

1. Klim Nac Pak Hydropack: Best Adventure Motorcycle Backpack

We’ve spent more time with the Klim Nac Pak than any other on this list, and both past and current iterations are favorites of our crew. Some of us are still rocking OG Nac Paks from 5+ years ago (if it ain’t broke…), but the latest version is the best yet.

As far as features go, the Nac Pak is a ton of bag for the money. It’s got a fleece-lined hardshell goggle pocket, a removable water-resistant tool holder, and super stable sternum-lock shoulder straps. 

"Eric guiding our Patagonia Tour with an older version of Klim Nak Pak"

The Nac Pak walks a fine line between storage capacity and compactness: its 13 liter main compartment is nothing to write home about, but there's enough room there for your tools, a hydration bladder, some snacks, and your rain gear. 

The bag really earns its keep via external storage: multiple exterior pockets boost its carrying capacity, while the space behind the large front compartment is left open to be used as a "dump pouch" secured by nylon compression straps. 

"We prefer motorcycle backpacks with room for a full 3L bladder."

Klim sells two versions of this bag: one with an included 3L water bladder and one without. The Hydrapak bladder is nice, but if you've already got a bladder at home (as most of us do), save your money and use what you've already got handy. 

As far as drawbacks go, our main gripe is that the Nac Pak isn't the best for general purpose use. Storage and weather protection are both limiting factors, and there's no dedicated protection/padding for sensitive electronics like a laptop. 

Pros:

• Great price point
• Secure sternum harness
• Loaded with moto-friendly features 
•  

Cons:

• Water bladder costs extra
• Good-not-great storage
• Minimal weather protection

CHECK PRICE:
Klim Nak Pak 

SHOP RIDE ADVENTURES
REVZILLA | AMAZON

2. RSD X Kriega ROAM 34: Best Commuter Bag

You've gotta give the folks at Roland Sands Design credit: they know how to build some of the coolest and most functional street gear on the planet. Their collaboration with Kriega, the ROAM 34, is no exception on either count. 

We've come to think of the ROAM 34 as the ultimate motorcycle backpack for commuters and daily riders. With 34 liters of expandable storage, this bad boy is big enough to swallow a helmet, but that's just the tip of the iceberg feature-wise. 

"That waxed cotton (Cordura) fabric only looks better with time." photo: Kriega

We also love that the ROAM is built from super-tough 1000D Cordura fabric, which is then waxed for added weather protection. It also uses a chest harness design, includes a separate goggle pocket, and is hydration bladder compatible as well. 

We're barely scratching the surface of the ROAM's features here, so make sure you check out the full description. As for downsides, it's expensive and it isn't exactly 100% waterproof, but it's a damn good all-rounder backed with a 10 year warranty. 

Pros:

• Looks great
• Expands big enough to hold a helmet
• Loaded down with low-profile, moto-specific features

Cons:

• Expensive
• Waxed cotton is water resistant, but not 100% protective

CHECK PRICE:
RSD X Kriega ROAM 34 Backpack

REVZILLA

3. Klim Tek Pak: Best Motorcycle Backpack Overall

Klim's latest Tek Pak makes our list for its long list of unique, innovative features tailored specifically to motorcyclists. Take the broad front harness system, for example. 

Stashed inside each of the sternum straps is an armored D30 panel, providing default chest protection every time you throw the Tek Pak on. The armor is a perforated honeycomb design, however, so it doesn't restrict airflow in warm weather. 

"The Tek Pak's beefy harness is uber-secure, but still flows a ton of air." 

Then there's that steel security cable running around the outside of the pack. There's enough length there to secure your helmet, bag, and jacket to your bike. You can run it under your seat or use a standalone padlock, but either way, it's a nifty feature. 

There's also a laptop pocket, routing for a hydration system, a microfiber goggle pocket, and the same cinchable bulk stash pocket behind the front pounch as Klim's popular Nak Pak. Storage is generous at 21 liters, but can also be compressed. 

Our main complaint with the Tek Pack is that although Klim sees fit to charge $200 for this motorcycle backpack, they don't manage to include either a hydration bladder or a lock for the security cable. C'mon. 

Pros:

• Integrated chest armor
• Sturdy chest harness 
• Integrated steel security cable
• Large size, but compressible as needed

Cons:

• Bladder and lock sold separately
• Likely too large/bulky for some commuters

CHECK PRICE:
Klim Tek Pak

SHOP RIDE ADVENTURES
REVZILLA | AMAZON

4. Kriega Trail 18: Best Waterproof Motorcycle Bag

Kriega motorcycle backpacks are widely considered some of the highest quality on the market, and the brand’s flagship adventure pack, the Trail 18, may be their toughest pack yet.

Durability is a high mark here, even by Kriega standards. The bulk of the pack is made from 420D Cordura, the exterior net is made from Hypalon, the quadlock sternum buckles are utterly bombproof, and all of the zippers are heavy-duty YKK units.

"The Trail 18 earns it's keep through a secure fit and dependable waterproofing." photo: Kriega

It’ll take an act of god to put a dent in this thing, but should you somehow manage the feat, we also love that the Trail is covered by Kreiga’s outstanding 10-year warranty.

Aside from durability, the big selling point for us here is the Kriega Trail’s waterproof storage. Of the 18 total liters of space available, 12 of it is 100% waterproof thanks to a roll-top main storage compartment and a secondary roll-top electronics storage pocket.

A standard 7-liter zippered compartment handles the rest of the hauling duty, and there’s also that exterior netting we mentioned earlier, which is ideal for stashing bulky layers or air-drying wet gear.

Our main complaint with the Kriega Trail 18 is its price, which typically sits somewhere around $250. That's a tough pill to swallow for a bag that doesn't have a goggle pocket, dedicated tool storage, or an included hydration bladder. 

Still, you're paying for a highly secure, highly adjustable pack with just the right amount of storage. That 10 year warranty guarantees this will be a buy once, cry once purchase, but there are definitely cheaper ways to get into a harness-style motorcycle backpack. 

Pros:

• Roll-top closures for waterproof storage
• Secure Quadlock harness system
• Bulletproof materials throughout
• Ten year warranty

Cons:

• Expensive
• Hydration bladder sold separately
• Could use a few more moto-specific features

CHECK PRICE:
Kriega Trail 18

REVZILLA | AMAZON

5. Oxford Atlas B-20: Most Versatile

Oxford doesn't have quite the brand recognition as other packs on our list, and that's a shame, because they make some quality gear. Their Atlas B-20 is currently our favorite all-around motorcycle backpack for under $200. 

The Atlas is built tough, with a mix of heavyweight polyester and thick Hypalon reinforcements in the front and underside for added durability. It's also completely waterproof thanks to a full-length removable waterproof liner.

"Oxford's Atlas B-20 is handsome, rugged, weatherproof, and incredibly versatile."

It's 20-liter capacity feels right on the money for daily use, while sternum harness straps keep the Atlas secure regardless of how much or how little you carry.

Oxford also designed the Atlas to function as a tail bag when you don't feel like carrying it around. 

We'll also note that the overall material and hardware quality is just outstanding: Duraflex buckles, aluminum gear hooks, the magnetic sternum strap, and premium YKK Aquaguard zippers all look like they belong on a much more expensive piece of kit. 

Our only real complaint with the Atlas is that while it includes a sleeve for a hydration bladder, it lacks proper protection for laptops, tablets, or other sensitive electronics.

That feels like a bit of an oversight considering most folks will use this as a commuter. 

Pros:

• Outstanding quality for the money
• 100% waterproof storage throughout
• Sturdy sternum harness setup
• Tail mounting system included

Cons:

• No laptop protection

CHECK PRICE:
Oxford Atlas B-20 

REVZILLA | AMAZON

Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you decide which motorcycle backpack is the right one for you. Let us know in the comments below which one you went with!

→Read More:
9 Common Mistakes while Loading a Motorcycle
Best Casual Motorcycle Shoes to Keep You Safe on Your Daily Commute