Whether you’re commuting to work or just popping to the shops a good backpack is not just useful, it’s necessary. And having a backpack that is both waterproof and stylish is the ultimate luxury! After carrying around the ORTLIEB Daypack City for over a year we can give you our conclusions.
If there’s one thing ORTLIEB can do, it’s waterproof and functional backpacks — they’re just incredibly practical. Having said that ORTLIEB’s development team never seemed to give the design aspect too much importance and only true aficionados of the German bag manufacturer were truly keen on the aesthetics of their products. But now the new Commuter Daypack City and Urban Line will satisfy even the most fashion-conscious among us. And yet, the roots of new backpack line are clearly visible — the classic ORTLIEB roll closure, bag-like look and the visibly reinforced bottom plate are mainly responsible for this. ORTLIEB fans will also recognise the typical backplate which features an additional glued-on foam pad on the Commuter Daypack City models. One striking feature is the holes in the shoulder straps which allow for ventilation and also act as a closure system for the adjustable chest straps.
The edges of the shoulder straps are lined with reflective fabric which will make you visible on dark winter commutes and the odd late-night ride. The hip belt of the ORTLIEB Commuter Daypack City can be removed. On the front side, there’s a small pocket but this is not waterproof because of the simple construction of the zipper. In addition, the daypack features a couple of loops which are ideal for attaching a lock or tail light – very practical indeed! On the inside of the backpack, there is a removable compartment which gives you several storage and organisation options. The daypack also contains a padded laptop sleeve for notebooks of up to 15.4″.
You can easily attach a lock or a light to the front of the backpack.
The laptop has by far the best place in the backpack.
In addition to the ventilation holes on the shoulder straps the backplate padding provides pleasant air conditioning.
Putting the key and the wallet in the outside pocket might not be a clever idea… but it’s very handy.
The Commuter Daypack City strikes, particularly with its discreet look. It’s a backpack that you’ll love to use in all sorts of situations from your daily commute to work to quick last-minute shopping stints to your local shops. On the bike, the backpack stays in place even without using the chest and hip straps but we recommend using them when the ground gets rough. On the trail, however, it’s an entirely different story. When riding rough descents the thin hip and chest straps tend to cut into the skin and the removable straps tend to come loose — it’s worth keeping an eye on these if you don’t want to use them.
Having said that the backpack sits nicely and feels comfortable even on longer rides. Not once did water get inside our backpack during our year-long test, despite heavy rainfalls and nasty thunderstorms! Even on the outside, the Commuter Daypack City can take quite a bit of water before getting wet. If you’re planning to use the outside pocket regularly to store your keys or wallet you should refrain from using the full 21 L capacity. If you do so the main compartment will stretch and make the small external pocket redundant.
Conclusion
After one year of strenuous deployment in all weather conditions — both by foot and and bike — our ORTLIEB Commuter Daypack City still looks as it did on the first day. The detachable chest and waist straps are too flimsy and could easily fall off — this somehow hampered our enthusiasm a little. All in all this still remains the absolute favourite among commuters and its price of € 130 is more than just fair.
For more information head to ortlieb.com
Price: € 129.99 | Weight: 707 g | Duration: 10 Month | Tester: Valentin
Strenghts
- Waterproof
- Snazzy look
- Many practical features
Weaknesses
- Hip/chest straps are too narrow and can easily fall off
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