March 30, 2009

The Novara Commuter Pack (courtesy, REI)

Do you have a question of your own?

Mountain biking and hiking are not all THAT different, but I do both and see the need for a pack that can go both ways.

A pack I've grown very fond of this past winter, as a bike-commute pack, is REI's Novara Commuter Pack ($69.50). Don't let the name fool you. This is an excellent all-purpose bike/hike pack. It has a very generous 1,480 cubic inches of stuffable space, a single large compartment plus two smaller ones, various cubbies and tie-ons for odds and ends, and an excellent, close-fitting suspension. Even has a rain cover that pulls out of a zippered pocket at the bottom of the pack. It could hold some hiking clothes, hydration bladder, and much more. Plus it has the snug-to-the-back fit that’s ideal for mountain biking.

CamelBak's Fourteener ($125) is a tad bigger, with room for day-hike gear and hydration bladders. Two compartments, plus main compartment, good suspension, and lots of room for things. Nice pack.

When I'm out mountain biking for the day, I wear an Ultimate Direction's pack that is no longer made but that is very similar to that company's current Hornet ($95). It can take a HUGE hydration bladder and still has room similar to the REI and CamelBak packs for assorted gear. Less water carried, more room for gear. I like the way the Ultimate Direction pack organizes gear, with a secondary packet that is perfect for keys/energy bars/gloves/hat. A little different pack layout than the other two, and very nicely done. Perfectly suitable for hiking, too.

So there you go.

•	Subscribe to Outside and get a FREE Gift!
•	Give the gift of Outside Magazine!
•	Subscribe to Outside Online's free weekly e-mail newsletter featuring gear reviews, fitness advice, galleries, podcasts, and more.

RECENT QUESTIONS I'm looking for the lightest breatheable bivy sack out there, any suggestions? What is the best way to carry water on a hike? Are there any high-def cameras that can zoom into a six-foot square—from 60,000 feet? What’s the best pair of winter running shoes? What shoes provide light-and-fast performance and support? Search the Gear Guy

GEAR GUY FEATURES Check out the bio of Douglas Gantenbein, aka the Gear Guy. Readers' Mailbag: The Gear Guy digs into some of your more bizarre, obscure (and let’s face it, downright weird) posts from years gone by to see if he can make sense of it all, or if it’s just time to run up the white flag. Previous column: Beat the Cost of Gear. The Gear Guy reports from the 2005 Outdoor Retailer summer trade fair, with his rundown of ten products to watch in 2006, plus the inside scoop on what shook down at the bi-annual gearapalooza.

MORE GEAR The Outside Gear Blog 2005 Buyer's Guide State of the Art: 2005 Bikes