Motorcycle Backpacks

Your backpack has to sit flat on your back at 110km/h, shrug off a commute-home downpour, and not drag on your neck when you tuck. Regular daypacks do none of that. We stock 26 motorcycle backpacks across Oxford, Nelson-Rigg, SHAD, MOTODRY and Leatt, from a $23 fluoro commuter daypack up to the $319 Oxford Atlas B-30 touring pack. Volume runs 12L for the coffee-and-laptop commute up to 40L for three days on the Old Pac. Shop by type: tank bags, panniers and saddle bags, roll bags, gear bags, all motorcycle luggage. Every pack ships free Australia-wide over $200 from our Gold Coast warehouse.

How to pick a motorcycle backpack for your riding

Pick the pack for the riding you actually do. A 40L touring bag on a CBD commute is overkill. A 15L daypack on a three-day trip means your socks are strapped to the tail.

Daily commute (12L to 25L). Laptop sleeve, chest and waist strap, water-resistant or fully waterproof. The chest strap matters more than most riders think. Without it, any pack bigger than 15L drags on your shoulders at 80km/h and tries to climb over your helmet under brakes. Oxford Aqua Evo 22L at $229.90 covers most commuters. MOTODRY DryPak 20L at $109.95 is the budget waterproof.

Touring (30L to 45L). Modular layout, quick-release buckles, most accept a 2L to 3L hydration bladder in a dedicated internal sleeve. Bladders sold separately via hydration packs. Oxford Atlas B-30 at $319.99 is the premium all-rounder, dry-storage compartment and laptop sleeve included. Nelson-Rigg Hurricane SE-3040 at $199.95 is a 40L fully-welded waterproof if you need the volume but not the features.

Track day (20L to 28L). Flat profile, armour-friendly main compartment, room for a leather suit and wet socks on the drive home. Leatt Laptop Back Pack 28L at $189.99 doubles as this plus a commuter, which is how most track-day riders actually use it.

Sport riding (under 20L). Stays flat under a tuck, doesn't drag on your lid at 150km/h, minimal bounce. The Oxford Aqua V 12 at $139.90 and the FUSPORT Reisen at $44.95 fit this slot. Don't ride sport with a 30L half-full. It sways.

Every motorcycle backpack on this page lists volume, closure style and strap setup in the product specs. Two rules that save regret: check the chest strap is genuinely adjustable (not a token bit of webbing), and check the laptop sleeve fits your actual laptop. A 15-inch MacBook does not fit most 20L commuter packs marketed as "laptop compatible".

Why motorcycle backpacks are built differently

Look. A regular backpack is designed to sit still while you walk. A motorcycle backpack has to stay flat on your back while 100km/h wind tries to peel it off. Four things separate the two.

Chest and waist straps. Non-negotiable past 15L. At 80km/h, a 20L pack without a chest strap pulls back on your shoulders with the drag of a small parachute. The chest strap pins the load to your torso. The waist strap transfers it off your shoulders onto your hips. Most quality motorcycle packs run a 25mm chest strap with quick-release buckle. Check it sits across your sternum, not your throat.

Low-profile shape. A tall narrow pack is a motorcycle pack. A wide short pack is a hiking pack. Motorcycle pack height stays under 55cm so it does not foul the back of your helmet when you check over your shoulder. Top of the pack should sit below the base of your lid, even in a tuck. Tall, narrow, reflective, under 55cm. That's the shape to look for.

Water resistant vs fully waterproof. Not the same. Water-resistant means DWR-treated face fabric: it beads light rain for ten minutes and then soaks through. Fully waterproof means roll-top or welded-seam closure with taped or welded seams. The Oxford Aqua range and the MOTODRY DryPak are fully waterproof. Tested by the Gold Coast in January. The Oxford Heritage 30L and most fashion-leaning "motorcycle" packs are water-resistant only. If you commute year-round, roll-top is worth the slower access.

Abrasion-resistant shell. Good motorcycle packs run 500D to 1000D Cordura or equivalent TPU-laminated face fabric. 500D is standard commuter weight. 840D sits in the touring Oxford Atlas range. 1000D is overkill for anything short of enduro. Reflective panels on the rear and strap tips add a surprising amount of night visibility when a car is behind you on a country road.

Motorcycle backpack comparison

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a regular backpack and a motorcycle backpack?

A regular backpack is shaped for standing upright and carrying the load on your shoulders. A motorcycle backpack sits lower on your back, stays narrower at the top so it does not foul your helmet when you shoulder-check, and runs a chest strap and usually a waist strap so the load stays pinned at 100km/h. Regular packs drag, sway, and try to climb over your lid under brakes. Not a dealbreaker under 80km/h. A real problem on the highway.

Are Kriega backpacks worth it?

Kriega's reputation is earned, but we don't stock them. In the same category on our shelf: the Oxford Atlas B-20 at $269.99 and B-30 at $319.99 run a proper load-bearing strap system with chest and waist straps, fully waterproof main compartment, and compression straps. The SHAD SW45 at $249.00 is a 40L welded-seam waterproof that doubles as a seatbag. Both options we'd ride with.

Waterproof vs water-resistant for riding, what actually matters?

If you ride year-round or commute through Gold Coast summer storms, fully waterproof. Roll-top closure, welded or taped seams. The Oxford Aqua range, MOTODRY DryPak and SHAD SW series all sit here. Water-resistant packs rely on DWR coating that beads light rain for around ten minutes then soaks through. Fine for a fair-weather weekend rider. Not fine if your laptop is in the main compartment.

Backpack or tank bag for commuting?

Tank bag if your bike has a steel tank and you commute under 30 minutes each way. Keeps weight off your back, phone and wallet in eyeline. Backpack if you ride further than 30 minutes, carry a laptop, or ride a plastic-tank bike where magnetic mounts don't work. A lot of commuters run both. Tank bag for day-to-day stuff. Backpack when the laptop comes home.

How big a backpack for touring?

30L to 40L for most multi-day tours, assuming you also run a tailbag or panniers. A 30L pack (Oxford Atlas B-30) holds two changes of clothes, a laptop, toiletries, charger kit and a light jacket. Push to 40L (Nelson-Rigg Hurricane SE-3040, SHAD SW45) if the pack is doing all the work and you don't have luggage on the bike. Under 25L, you'll run out of room by day two.

Can I ride with a laptop in my backpack?

Yes, with two conditions: padded laptop sleeve (10mm foam minimum) and a fully waterproof main compartment. A bare laptop in a water-resistant pack through an hour of M1 rain turns into an insurance claim. The Oxford Atlas B-20, Oxford Aqua Evo 22L and Leatt Laptop Back Pack 28L all meet both. A chest strap helps too, laptop weight on one shoulder at 100km/h gets old fast.