Commuter gear - Interbike 2013

Commuter essentials from Blackburn, Chrome, Ortlieb and Osprey

Blackburn's new Central line of panniers and bags add a bit of fashion as well as function

Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

Josh Patterson

Published: September 29, 2013 at 11:00 pm

There were a number of companies showcasing their latest bags and packs for commuters at Interbike 2013.

Panniers, saddlebags and backpacks continue to get more refined, with as much emphasis on form as function. Blackburn and Chrome were showing off new lines of panniers and bags. Chrome has created a line of bags for motorcycle riders as well.

Osprey was showing off its Portal backback, which has a zippered compartment with a clear screen that allows the user to access their tablet without removing it from the bag.

The osprey portal with the tablet window open and closed. the portal line retails for us$100 to us$160, depending on size. : - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

Osprey thinks the Portal will be a hit with commuters who spend a lot of time on trains, subways and buses

Click through the gallery at right for more details.

Contributor

Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.