In comparison with other hydration packs, the Portage is more of a conventional backpack shape, and it does have a more luggagy feel by virtue of its many pockets and durable fabric.
It’s easy to load up and a real gift for anyone who takes masses of kit on a ride. It swallows a whole load of gear with ease, but it’s dark inside – you’ll have to learn to organise if you want to find something in a hurry from the depths.
The removable helmet cover and strap pouch elements mean you can customise what you carry to suit your needs. We’d probably use this for carrying lots of kit to local play spots, but not to use on a ride.
It’s a heavy and not very ergonomic pack to carry when empty, but there’s also a tendency for the load to go straight on when you’re trying to corner when it’s full. However, if you need something bombproof and weight is less of an issue, the price will be attractive.
