Best hip packs for mountain biking: bum bags of brilliance

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If you want to ride pack-less, have a clean bike but still plenty of carrying capacity try swapping to one the following best hip packs. Getting the gear off your body and onto the bike can be a relief but it can mess with your bike’s function, clean lines and overall aesthetic. It is also hard to find room on your bike to strap on all of the correct amount of stuff you need for longer rides.

Read more: Best hydration packs for 2021 – small, medium and large backpacks

CamelBak Repack LR4

Best hip pack with bladder included

Weight: 566g inc. 1.5l bladder | Rating: 8/10

We’ve raved on about the benefits of getting weight of the rider’s back to increase freedom of movement and stay less sweaty. It seems plenty brands now agree and there are subsequently more hip packs available than ever. Now the straps are easier to cinch tight and more sturdy and secure, CamelBak’s latest offer makes a pretty compelling argument, plus it comes with the best hydration reservoir in the business. We’d love a more waterproof pocket option for muddy UK riding, but no brand offers that as yet with function and stability approaching the Repack.

Read review of the CamelBak Repack LR 4

Scott Trail Hipbelt FR 5

Incredibly comfy and supremely stable – worth the money

Weight: 283g | Colours: Black, beige | Rating: 10/10

Try and ignore the mud-splattered beige bumbag in the photo above – you can get this hip pack in a much more practical black colourway. And get it you should because it is most definitely our favourite hip pack out there currently. The key thing with this pack is the really broad (deep?) 80mm weightlifter-style waistband. This keeps the pack stable, prevents pinch points and also seems to help prevent builder’s bum ‘jersey creep’. Internally the pack is as good as any other premium hip pack too.

Read our full test review of Scott Trail Hipbelt FR 5

Osprey Duro Solo Belt

Test winning hip pack

Weight: 150g | Rating: 10/10

We have no idea whether bum bags are now cool again, or uncool because they’re too cool, or were never cool in the first place. And honestly we don’t care, because they’re simple, cheap and let you carry the essentials on a quick blast without being encumbered by a massive hydration pack. The Osprey Duro Solo is designed for running, but works brilliantly on the bike thanks to its wide wide belt that remains stable when you’re making shapes. The angled holster holds a 570ml bottle that’s not only squishy, but shaped to fit against your hips, and there’s a clear pocket for sneaking vital glances at your smartphone.

Read review of the Osprey Duro Solo Belt

Dakine Hot Laps 2L Waist Bag

Best value hip pack

Weight: 198g | Rating: 9/10

Staying close to your hips and low on your body means it has negligible impact on your freedom of movement and it’s impressively stable, however wild the track. Good value and functional, the Dakine Hot Laps 2L is now a regular companion on our rides.

Read review of Dakine Hot Laps 2L

EVOC Hip Pack Race

Organisation, fabric and retention materials are excellent

Weight: 335g | Rating: 8/10

Overall, EVOC’s organisation, fabric and retention materials are excellent, it can hold a fair bit of gear, but the cargo stability in rough terrain isn’t quite as locked down as some other hip packs.

Read review of EVOC Hip Pack Race

USWE Zulo 2 Hydration Belt

Impressive fit and security – at a price

Weight: 220g | Colours: Black, yellow | Rating: 8/10

This pack’s so small that some longer mini pumps or digital shock pumps simply won’t fit, but there is enough room for snacks, multi-tool, tube, CO2 canisters and some tubeless plugs. More a minimal race day or short blast pack then, but a big bonus is that the shape and fit is very body-hugging and ergonomic. There’s no getting away from the steep price tag, so definitely worth searching around for the sales.

Read review of USWE Zulo 2 Hydration Belt

RaceFace Stash Quick Rip

Small bum bag perfect for short rides

Colours: Black | Rating: 9/10

There’s a lot to like about the Race Face Stash Quick Rip 1.5L – it has a padded waist belt, so no matter how much clobber you’re carrying, or the size of your gut overhang, it’s not going to dig in. The 3D mesh construction cuts unnecessary weight, is super breathable and is easy to keep clean. This isn’t the biggest bum bag I’ve tested, and it won’t carrying everything, but it’s just the right size for short to medium length rides. It’s also good value, well made and pretty stealthy in this black.

Read review of Race Face Stash Quick Rip

Hip packs are unobtrusive and encourage you to ride more dynamically

How to choose the best hip packs for mountain biking

Unless you’re riding big, multi-day adventures or heading out into the wilderness where you need to plan for every eventuality, you don’t need to carry a full-on back pack for most mountain bike rides. Instead, a smaller, lighter hip pack will carry everything you need and let you get more dynamic on the bike, ensuring you have the most fun possible. But there are a few questions you need to answer before choosing the right hip pack for you.

What capacity do I need?

The bigger the hip pack the heavier, bulkier and more expensive it will be, and in the spirit of just enough, it makes sense to avoid taking something bigger than you need with you on a regular basis. It also depends on how much kit you carry on your bike. If you have an inner tube, multi-tool and perhaps a pump strapped or bolted to your frame (or within the down tube if your bike has internal storage), then that frees up more space in your pack for snacks or a jacket. Equally, if your bike has a bottle cage mount and you only ride for a couple of hours, or it’s easy to stay hydrated on a ride by stopping at a shop or filling from a drinking water fountain, then you may not need a hip pack with a bladder or a water bottle holster. Decide whether you may need to carry a lightweight packable jacket with you on occasion, and whether you need straps to attach some knee pads while climbing to the top of a long descent. Once you’ve figured out what you need to carry, you can decide what capacity hip pack will work best for you. 5L is more than enough space for tools, a tube, a mini-pump, phone, keys and a packable jacket with room to spare. This will also just about squeeze into a 2L hip pack like the Dakine, but it’s a tight fit.

Is organisation important?

This depends how bad your OCD is to a degree, but it’s always nice to have essentials neatly stored so you know where to find them quickly, and so they don’t rattle around damaging each other. For instance, a multi tool could end up putting a hole in a fresh inner tube or cracking a phone screen if they’re loose. We like packs that have side pockets, such as the Scott and CamelBak above, so you can easily reach in a grab something on the move – perfect for a phone, multi-tool or snack. Key tags are also useful to make sure your car or house key doesn’t fly out when you’re rummaging for something, and so you can find it quickly when you get back to your vehicle.

A stable hip pack should go unnoticed when riding

Make sure you get one with a stable belt

This is crucial, especially when they’re loaded up, as a thin belt with no grippers will slide around and become really annoying and distracting on descents. Look for a wide belt that can be cinched up, preferably with a material that adds purchase to your clothing and keeps it stable. Also look for ventilated back panels to help promote airflow and wick away sweat on hot days.

Bottle holsters are a great way to expand your water carrying capacity cheaply

How much water do I need to carry?

How long is a piece of string? Yes, it’s impossible to say exactly how much water you should drink when riding as it depends on multiple factors, but anything between 300ml per hour and 1l per hour is a rough guide. When deciding on your hip pack you should take this into account, alongside whether your bike has space for a water bottle, how easy it is to refill your bottle or bladder on a ride and how long you’re going to be out for. If you’re going to be in hot sun for several hours with no access to water then a hip pack  is probably not the best solution and you should consider a hydration back pack instead. If you are carrying a bottle on your bike and supplementing that with another in a bottle holster in your hip pack, then remember to keep the empty bottles on your pack when they’re drained – this keeps the weight low on the bike and off your hips where it can restrict movement and place a load on your lower back.