Anything but the briefest of mountain bike rides requires some kind of comfortable and convenient storage for your trail essentials. There is a massive range of mountain biker-friendly back packs currently on the market ranging from the slimmest possible hydration systems through to packs large enough to store a change of clothes and a day’s worth of food, water and supplies.

The model on test in this review is the RIG 500 in a very fetching and almost ‘hi-vis’ yellow colour... great for visibility in dark misty forests and bleak mountain sides. The first thing that you notice with this pack is a high level of build quality and the back panel oozes comfort before you even load it up and strap it to your back. The fabric feels reassuringly tough and all zips and pockets are very well constructed. There is also a nice chunky carry handle on the top of the pack; a feature which is a refreshing and useful addition. The layout inside consists of the typical small storage pockets, a separate sleeve for the reservoir and a main compartment for your waterproof jacket and sandwiches. On the outside there are two easy-access slimline pockets, one of which has a headphone port for those who like to rock out on the trail.

What Geigerrig hope will separate this pack from the competition is its pressurisation system. It sounds complicated but in reality is very simple to use and just requires 20 - 30 pumps to pressurise the reservoir. Then you benefit from not having to suck at all on the bite valve and it becomes easier and more hygienic to share water with friends. You can even re-fill the reservoir back at the car park and rinse down your bike with it. The downside of this system is that there is another tube to think about when maneuvering the reservoir in and out of the main pack... luckily Geigerrig have used the HydraPack system which lets you unattach both tubes from the reservoir when filling and emptying. During testing, this worked well and there were no leaks to speak of. The pressurisation feature is certainly unique and does work well out on the trail and the pump mechanism doesn’t interfere with your riding in any way.

As expected, the pack is very comfortable during use and moves around on your back less than other products used. The size of this model is a little on the small side for a big day out in the mountains but Geigerrig have thought this through and there are several bigger options available.

In conclusion, we would definitely recommend this pack for those looking for a simple and comfortable hydration system with great build quality and good looks. The pressurisation feature is pretty cool for riders into their gadgetry but its not a life-changing innovation that we couldn’t do without. 

Geigerrig packs are currently available from several online retailers including http://www.lakelandadventurer.com/ and http://www.outdoorgb.com. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see these packs for sale by some mountain biking stores as they are clearly fit for the job.