I’ve amassed a little collection of Kriega products over the decades – they’re the coolest, most robust and trustworthy way to lug your stuff around and available in any colour you like as long as it’s black
Kriega R3
Kriega call it a waist pack, but it’s also known as a bum bag or fanny pack in the USA. Whatever it may be classed as, it, like much in the Kriega range, is a robust and dependable piece of kit. Worn around the waist, the R3 has a capacity of 3 litres in the main waterproof compartment. This section is fastened via a roll top buckle system and is covered with a twin buckle flap. Inside the R3 are two more zip compartments – one in the flap interior and one outside the main section, perfect for keys, ear plugs and coins. It uses Kriega’s excellent belt adjuster on both sides so you can simply pull to tighten or pull in the other direction to loosen. The removable inner compartment is big enough to swallow a DSLR camera with wide-angle lens and a few batteries, along with a wallet. I originally got this in 2008, when the price was just £45 and while 17 years later the entry price may have almost doubled but the quality remains the same. Despite regular use my R3 still looks and feels like new. Criticisms are few – there are times when I’d like just a bit more capacity, and when it’s bulging with so much stuff rammed inside its gob it eats into the space used by the outside pocket. But that’s when you realise you should’ve taken a backpack, speaking of which…
FOR: Style, classic Kriega ruggedness and comfort – so much so you’ll barely notice it’s there
AGAINST: So comfortable you’ll barely notice it’s there!
BEST FOR: When you just need space to stash your house keys, phone, and rolled-up rainsuit
PRICE: £85
Kriega R20
This R20 is my personal go-to choice for everyday rides, as well as the occasional Euro tour, thanks to a sweet spot of usability, size and comfort. Compact and slim enough to wear on a sports bike or with a pillion on the back without being intrusive, but roomy enough to chuck a small laptop, trainers and a hoody. There’s a lot to love about the R20, from the curved shape of it meaning comfort against your back and minimal lift due to wind getting underneath to the Quadlock lite fastening system making it a speedy and efficient way to secure the backpack to your torso. Kriega’s Quadlock is the USP of their backpack range and it’s not difficult to see why – the moment you clip the two halves together you immediately feel the load supported by your torso as opposed to your shoulders. Sit on the bike and you’ll barely notice it’s there, but sit it does, and snugly too. You can adjust that snugness using the compression straps either side, one set for the waist, the other for the height at which the R20 sits on your back.
For a long weekend away, the R20 is a perfect size and because of its compact nature it can be used with a tailbag on the pillion seat too. The air mesh cushioning on the back makes it cool in summer, and snug in winter. Surprisingly, the R20 is not waterproof but in the 13-plus years and thousands of miles I’ve used it, across all types of bikes in all weathers, I struggle to recall a single time anything inside it got wet. While £139 doesn’t sound cheap, you definitely get what you pay for from the sturdy YKK zips to the solid construction, and when you throw in Kriega’s 10-year guarantee, the R20 is worth every penny.
FOR: Ideal do-it-all option. Comfortable and sleek design.
AGAINST: It’s not waterproof, so use a liner for total peace of mind.
BEST FOR: Everyday backpack, or when carrying a pillion.
PRICE: £139
Kriega R30
This was my introduction to Kriega kit and it dates back to around 2007 (it’s been SO long…!) when it cost just £129. Since then I’ve done countless trips up and down the UK and across Europe with it, and for longer trips it’s been faultless. The amount of abuse it’s taken over the years and survived without a single zip snagging or buckle breaking is a testament to the design and build quality. Made of a rip-stop nylon and Cordura combo, the R30 is as tough and as durable as they come. The capacity is a cavernous 30 litres and the main compartment features a roll top with a removable waterproof liner. There are various compression straps to get the perfect fit, including Kriega’s innovative one-pull waist adjustment where a simple tug on a toggle can tighten or loosen the fit. Although the main compartment is waterproof the two outer zipped pockets aren’t, though they will repel constant water from a shower head for almost a minute before relenting. There’s a useful carrying handle on the top of the R30 too.
The padded Quadlock harness system takes the load from the shoulders to the torso and is impressive the way it allows complete range of motion for your arms. The manner in which the weight of a loaded backpack almost vanishes is a Kriega backpack’s party trick. While the R30 might not be the most aerodynamic of backpacks, it is definitely robust, versatile and a perfect choice for those longer roadtrips where waterproofness, ease of use and capacity are priority. I’ve had mine in constant use for over 15 years and I fully expect it’ll still be in service 15 years from now too.
FOR: Spacious, sturdy, comfortable. It’ll last forever.
AGAINST: £229 is a big initial investment.
BEST FOR: Huge capacity and large main waterproof compartment make this great for longer road trips
PRICE: £229
Kriega Urban Messenger
Made of hard-wearing Cordura and Hypalon, this is one of the first Kriega Messenger bags from 2015 and I’ve used it both on and off the bike regularly but you wouldn’t know it – it still looks new despite being crammed with all sorts of stuff. Kriega claim a 16-litre capacity but I know it’s enough for a laptop, iPad, hard drive, gym kit, towel, and even the occasional Canon DSLR with wide-angle lens. There’s an easy access side zip pocket and a transparent mesh pocket ideal for documents that runs the length of the top flap. The Urban Messenger has travelled with me around the world from the blisteringly hot Egyptian desert to a sub-zero Icelandic glacier with zero fuss.
As with much Kriega kit, this is sturdy stuff. Nothing’s ripped, all the zips still work and it has kept everything inside bone dry when caught in the rain. It’s genuinely impressive how it has survived the torrent of abuse I’ve thrown at it over the years, from kicking it, treading on it and even rolling over it with an office chair. I love the peace-of-mind security and ease-of-use of the main compartment – the reassurance that once I chuck something in there, roll down the top and clip the ends together before double-buckling the outer flap down that those contents are safe from the elements as well as pesky pickpockets. The Urban Messenger also comes with a detachable waist strap to prevent it flapping around when on the bike, though I find that the rubberised back to the main compartment and shoulder strap kept it in place against my torso. Capacity can be expanded further with the addition of a couple of US-5 Drypacks. The main shoulder strap can also be converted to go over either left or right shoulder.
Some observations: the pad on the shoulder strap although long, could do with some adjustment when walking around fully-laden as it can dig in after a while, and the really useful compartment on the side has a zip opening which sometimes catches the lining when closed in a haphazard manner but I’m informed Kriega have long since modified the design so this no longer happens.
FOR: Versatile on and off the bike, large capacity
AGAINST: Shoulder strap would benefit from more padding and length.
BEST FOR: When you need a massive main compartment you can accesss easily without having to remove it, daily commute, hand luggage on an aeroplane…
PRICE: £169
Kriega Sling Messenger
For many, many years this Sling bag was my go-to option when it came to day-to-day activities, both on and off the bike. It has half the capacity of the Urban Messenger bag at 8 litres but it is also much more compact to lug around – perfect for carrying a small MacBook Air with space for a wallet, camera, and a spare T-shirt. For its small size it can fit a surprising amount of stuff making it fantastically versatile. The main shoulder strap can also be converted to go over either left or right shoulder. It has been a constant companion over the last decade on every family holiday and I probably wear it more off the bike than on. There’s a direct comparison with the bigger Urban Messenger in spec too, as it features a similar specification. Single large waterproof roll-top compartment with removable washable liner, inside zipped mesh pocket and outside zip pocket. Of all my Kriega bags, this is the one that shows the most wear and tear, notably on the base where it’s been chucked on the ground. It remains 100% serviceable though and still in regular use.
FOR: Compact and useful enough to take it absolutely anywhere.
AGAINST: Shoulder strap would benefit from more padding and length.
BEST FOR: Flexible enough for any situation, perfect for all-purposes
PRICE: £125
Kriega Sling Messenger Pro
As my Sling Messenger was just starting to get tired (though still totally useable) I thought I’d invest in the newer Sling Messenger Pro. At 14 litres capacity it is noticeably smaller than the Urban Messenger but carries almost as much with the combined inner waterproof main compartment and the secondary outer zipped compartments. As per the other Messenger bags it uses a padded grippy back and a removable waist strap to secure when on the bike. The main shoulder strap can also be converted to go over either left or right shoulder. The main roll-top compartment has a noticably wider aperture than the standard Sling bag making chucking stuff in easier, and the two outer zip compartments are supremely useful. The larger of the two uses a double zip so it can be opened either side, though the smaller one makes do with a single zip. There’s an additional transparent mesh pocket inside the top flap. I’ve had this just over 12 months but it’s seen a lot of use, both on and off the bike. It’s travelled with me to Egypt, Hong Kong, and to various bike shows where it’s been loaded up with camera gear and clothing. When you need more capacity than the basic Sling Messenger but without the size or bulk of the Urban Messenger, the Sling Messenger Pro steps up.
FOR: Excellent compromise Sling with all-day comfort and versatility. Separate compartments add useability
AGAINST: Smaller external pocket could do with being a double zip.
BEST FOR: Sweet spot of capacity and size.
PRICE: £155
