The Greatest Mountain Bike Hip Packs of 2024

Why You Should Trust Us

We love riding bikes, and one of the key elements of enjoyable bike rides is being prepared. Carrying the necessary tools to handle mid-ride mechanicals, enough water for the duration of the ride, adequate food to keep the energy up, and the appropriate layers for the weather, are all important things that can make or break the experience. Hip packs are one of our favorite ways to carry all the necessities, and we’ve been riding in them for years. While there are now more ways than ever to stash gear on our bikes, in cargo bibs, or backpacks, we still gravitate towards hip packs for their comfort, stability, convenience, and ease of use.

For this buyer’s guide, review authors Paul Clauss and Jeremy Benson personally tested the 11 hip pack models chosen for this review. Clauss is an avid trail rider, mountain bike coach, and trail builder who lives in northern Vermont. He’s been riding for many years and has a great appreciation for any gear that helps to enhance his performance and elevate his experience out on the trails. A mechanical engineer by trade, Clauss is particularly critical of the design and construction and he brings a very measured and logical approach to product testing. In addition to testing hip packs, Paul has tested and reviewed numerous other categories of gear including dropper posts, bike pumps, flat pedals, and the best flat pedal shoes.

Benson has been professionally testing and reviewing mountain bikes, components, apparel, and accessories for over seven years. He is an obsessive rider who spends an inordinate amount of time on mountain and gravel bikes training for races, riding for fun, and testing new gear. He’s been riding in mountain bike hip packs for the past decade and has seen them evolve from their humble beginnings into their more advanced forms. In that time, he’s personally owned five different hip packs and tested over 20 different models. As a full-time product tester, he is constantly scrutinizing every piece of gear he touches to tease out the performance differences that separate the best from the rest, whether that’s hip packs, the latest mountain bike shoes, or a hitch bike rack.

How We Tested the Best Mountain Bike Hip Packs

After researching the best mountain bike hip packs on the market, we rounded up 11 models to test and compare. Each model was weighed before examining their design, materials, and construction to assess the build quality and storage layout. Then, we loaded them up with all of the tools, gear, water, and food we could fit and hit the trails. While riding, we considered the fit, comfort, stability, and ventilation of each model when used with a full load on trails ranging from smooth and flowy to rough and rowdy. On rides ranging from quick laps at the local trail centers to all-day suffer-fests, we used and abused each model just like anyone else would. We got familiar with each model’s storage capabilities and hydration systems by filling and cleaning bladders and drinking from hoses and bottles. After months of testing, we compared notes and zeroed in on our favorites and those that perform well in specific ways compared to the rest.

Buying Advice: How to Choose the Best Mountain Bike Hip Pack

Hip packs, also known as fanny packs, lumbar packs, and waist bags, have had a resurgence in popularity in the mountain bike world in the past decade or so. What was previously a fairly non-technical accessory used primarily by tourists on vacation has developed into a relatively specialized piece of equipment that many riders rely on to carry the necessary tools, snacks, water, and other gear out on the trail. Hip packs represent a happy middle ground between the minimalist on-bike and body approach and a larger backpack, the latter of which can be sweaty, uncomfortable, and bounce around when riding technical terrain.

Carrying the hydration, food, and tools you need to keep riding in the event of a mechanical and to meet your basic human needs in a way that does not interfere with cycling movement is a classic challenge for mountain bikers and one that hip packs aim to overcome. Compared to most backpacks, hip packs are generally more stable, relatively small so they cover less of your back, and are worn around the waist so weight is lower on your body. They can also usually carry more water and gear than most people are able to strap to their bikes or stuff into pockets.

With so many hip packs on the market these days with different styles, designs, cargo capacities, and hydration systems, finding the right one to suit your needs can be a challenge. For such a seemingly simple product, there’s a lot to consider when deciding what’s right for you. We’ll break down the important factors to consider when making a purchase decision.

Cargo Capacity

Mountain bike hip packs vary pretty dramatically in their cargo-carrying capacity with models made to suit just about every need or preference. The capacity is typically measured in liters with super slim, minimalist, race-belt style packs starting around 1 liter, and high-volume models topping out around 7 liters plus a 1.5 or 2-liter water bladder. We tested 11 different hip packs ranging from 1.6 to 6-liter capacity, with the Bontrager Rapid Pack as the smallest and the USWE Zulo 6L as the largest. The right capacity for you depends on what you plan to carry.

If you just need the essentials – your keys, phone, wallet, a tube, multi-tool, water (in a bottle or bladder), and some CO2 – any of these packs will work with space to spare, with the Bontrager Rapid Pack being the most streamlined option at 1.64-liter capacity, followed closely by the 2-liter Fox Standard Pack. If you’d like a little more flexibility to carry additional food and some bulkier items like a mini-pump or a super-packable layer, models in the 3 to 4-liter range, like the PNW Rover, Evoc Hip Pack Pro 3L, Osprey Seral 4, Thule Rail 4, or Patagonia Dirt Roamer are good choices. And, if you’re a heavy packer, going for a long ride, or heading out in variable weather, packs with 5+ liters of capacity will be easier to stuff with packable jackets and larger food items. The largest packs we tested are the Deuter Pulse Pro 5, the USWE Zulo 6, and the Dakine Hot Laps 5L.

It’s also important to note that most of the packs we tested feature highly usable compression straps, allowing the pack to be compressed when not fully loaded or to keep the load compact to prevent the contents from bouncing around inside. Compression straps can effectively decrease the volume of a larger pack, making it usable for rides when you need a lot of gear and those when you don’t.

And, despite our high priase of hip packs, sometimes even the largest models aren’t quite big enough for some people’s needs. Perhaps you’re going out for a huge adventure into the alpine where you need to bring a jacket, layers, and extra food, or maybe an overnight bikepacking trip? Situations like these may require significantly more cargo capacity, and backpacks might simply be a better option. Bike specific backpacks come in a huge range of sizes and designs to meet vary needs, far more even than hip packs. Deuter, for example, makes 12 different models of bike backpacks ranging in cargo capacity from 8 up to 30 liters.

Storage Layout

Nearly as important as the capacity, the storage layout of a pack dictates the organization of your gear and how you can use the space. Some packs, like the Osprey Seral 4, take a very simple approach, with a single large compartment with a zippered pocket within. Others, like the Deuter Pulse Pro 5 and Thule Rail 4, are highly compartmentalized, with separate zippered and open organization pockets and larger open sections. The split design of the Bontrager Rapid Pack, and its small capacity, make it difficult to carry larger items in, while the more open designs of packs like the Patagonia Dirt Roamer or PNW Rover make it easier to stuff bulkier items into them. 

If you want to separate your food from your tools or keep your phone screen safe from scratches while riding, a more compartmentalized design might work for you. Some of the more organization-heavy designs rely on the user storing tools and other items in their separate pockets to get the most out of the space. It may take some getting used to, but once you’ve got your system, everything can have its place and be quick and easy to find when you need it. If you want a bag to toss the essentials into, zip up, and forget it, simpler layouts may suit you just fine. Like capacity, layout depends on what you need to carry and how you prefer to organize it.

Pockets on the hip wings of the waist belt are another factor to consider. Many packs have them, and they can be very handy to keep smaller items that you want to access on the fly without having to spin the bag around to the front. These vary in size, but most are good for smaller items like keys, gels, chapstick, or credit card/ID, while a few are capable of fitting a smartphone. Additionally, a few models, like the Dakine Hot Laps 5L, Deuter Pulse Pro 5, and the Patagonia Dirt Roamer, have external strap systems that can be used to attach bulkier items like knee pads or a jacket to the outside of the pack for extra carrying capacity.

Hydration Style

Most mountain bike hip packs provide the ability to carry extra water in additional water bottles, water bladders, and sometimes both. Like the overall capacity of the pack, the right water capacity depends on how much you drink and the duration of your ride. Having more water than you need is always better than not having enough. Of the packs we tested, 4 of them carry water in bottles only, 7 of them carry water in water bladders, and 2 of the models with bladders can carry an additional bottle or two. What works best for you is typically a matter of personal preference.

Bottles

The bottle-carry models can usually handle one or two 20 to 25-oz bottles, which may be more than enough for your needs, especially if you’ve already got a bottle on the bike. Both the Fox Standard Hip Pack and the Patagonia Dirt Roamer can carry two bottles in sleeves on either side of the storage compartment. The PNW Rover comes with one detachable bottle holder, and you can add a second if you need to. The Bontrager Rapid Pack can only carry one bottle, but it does so very securely in the center of the pack between the storage pockets.

Compared to hydration bladders, bottles are super easy to fill and clean. For those packs that can carry two bottles, you can almost get the same amount of water capacity as a pack with a 1.5-liter bladder. For most of these packs, it’s also pretty easy to reach back and pull the bottles out of the pack for drinking, but not quite as easy as reaching a hose up to your mouth while riding. And, while most bottle holders are quite secure, there is the chance they could bounce out over super rough terrain or in a crash.

Bladder

Of the bladder-equipped packs we tested, six of them, the USWE Zulo 6, both Evoc models, the Deuter Pulse Pro 5, Thule Rail 4, and the Osprey Seral 4, come with a 1.5-liter bladder (50.7 oz). The Dakine Hot Laps 5L comes with a 2-liter (70 oz) bladder. Additionally, the Evoc Hip Pack Pro 3L can carry two bottles and the Deuter Pulse Pro 5 can carry one. Any of these packs should carry enough water for 2-3 hour long rides, or longer, depending on the temperature and your personal rate of consumption.

There are some advantages to bladder-style hip packs. Drinking from them is super easy and convenient. The hoses and nozzles are located on the waist belt, and reaching down and grabbing it to drink is quick and easy and can usually be done while riding on smooth sections of trail. The bladders are also soft and squishy, so they conform to the shape of your back and other contents in your pack and can distribute water weight more evenly, which can enhance pack stability. Bladders are carried internally, so they should never fall out on a rough trail, and you’re unlikely to set it down and forget it on the side of the trail like you could with a bottle. The disadvantages of bladders are that they are slightly more cumbersome to fill and clean, and bacteria and mold can grow in the bladder/hose/nozzle if neglected. Some people just don’t like drinking from a hose, and the hoses can occasionally pop loose while riding, which can be annoying and potentially dangerous.

Waist Belts

While they all perform the task of securing a hip pack around the waist, there are two main styles of waist belts on the packs we tested. Most packs come with a more basic, adjustable, static webbing belt with a plastic clasp to secure it. The PNW Rover, Patagonia Dirt Roamer, Fox Standard, Bontrager Rapid Pack, Evo Hip Pack 3L, and Dakine Hot Laps 5L, all use this style of waist belt.

Other packs, typically the more expensive ones, have wide, overlapping velcro belts that also have a webbing strap and clasp over the top to secure it. This style of waist belt is found on packs like the Deuter Pulse Pro 5, Evoc Hip Pack Pro 3L, Thule Rail 4, and USWE Zulo 6. Realistically, both styles work quite well and give little to complain about, but the softer, wider, overlapping models tend to be a little more comfortable, stable, and they distribute the weight of a loaded pack a little more evenly around the waist. The flip side is that they are a bit more finicky to put on, as you have to line up the overlapping straps before securing the buckle on top. Regardless, it isn’t that much of a hassle, and the added comfort and stability are generally worth the few extra seconds it takes to put them on.

Both styles of belts are adjustable to fit a range of waist sizes and keep them snug when in use. The designs vary somewhat, of course, but most are reasonably easy to adjust and stay secure while riding. The recommended waist size ranges also vary among the models we tested with some models like the Thule Rail 4 and USWE Zulo 6 fitting waists between 31 and 40 inches compared to the PNW Rover which is claimed to work for waists between 24 and 48 inches.

Ventilation

Compared to hydration backpacks, hip packs cover only a small portion of your back and are inherently better for staying cool and managing sweat. That said, they still make contact with your lower back where it can become quite hot and sweaty. Almost every hip pack makes some attempt at managing moisture where the pack makes contact with your body through the use of breathable mesh materials or more advanced ventilation systems, but they are not created equal.

The two Evoc packs, the Hip Pack Pro 3L and the Hip Pack 3L have by far the best ventilation among the models we tested with their Air Flow Contact System. The back panels feature raised, channeled foam blocks that are covered in an open mesh material that allows for superior breathability. Additionally, the Venti-Flap system allows the user to quickly loosen the upper part of the pack and create a gap between your back during climbs or other times you want to increase airflow, then quickly cinch it back down for the descents. The rest of the models we tested do a commendable job of promoting breathability and are generally much cooler and less sweaty than wearing a full-on backpack.

Value

Like anything else in mountain biking, hip packs vary pretty widely in terms of price. The more basic designs and those that carry bottles tend to cost a bit less. When you add a water bladder or fancier waist belt, the price goes up a bit. Of the models we tested, the $69 Patagonia Dirt Roamer strikes us as the best value, and it happens to be our favorite bottle-carry pack too. Other models at the low end of our price range are the Bontrager Rapid Pack ($68), the Fox Standard Hip Pack ($70), and the PNW Rover ($79). That said, we also highly recommend the more expensive models, like the Evo Hip Pack Pro 3L and the USWE Zulo 6, for their excellent comfort, stability, and ease of drinking while riding. Even though they are more expensive, you should expect to get several years of use out of them, assuming you don’t shred them in a crash or something. In fact, all of these packs should deliver years of faithful service under normal use.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Bike Hip Packs