Every element of the Solvo is designed with the commuter in mind. Weight weenies need not apply – at 30 litres and 1.77kg unladen, this one’s built for capacity and comfort. Constructed from leather and waxed canvas, this is a good looking, durable rucksack that you can cycle or walk with, and it’s smart enough for any office.
The Havana Brown contrasts with cream coloured zips and chunky red leather tags and trim – with some discreet reflective piping on the straps and main body.
The lime green interior trim is echoed by the Hump-style waterproof covering, which pops out from a hidden compartment at the leather-reinforced base. The canvas kept off brief, heavy showers.
There are waterproof zips with neat garages on the roomy side-access pockets designed for laptops and tablets, but not on the main top or auxiliary side pockets.
Thick, padded, leather covered ridges hold the pack away from your back to create air channels – and interesting vertical sweat stripes when you take it off. When new, those pads feel firm, especially when you’re wearing a single layer.
A medium-build male tester found the bag chunky, while a smaller-framed female rider considered the overall size and width between shoulder straps too big to be comfortable.
There’s plenty of adjustment in waist and semi-elasticated sternum straps, while the shoulder straps have soft padding covered by mesh – vital when the Solvo is loaded. There’s a padded, detachable phone pocket – wide enough for an iPhone – plus tidy clips to retain headphone wires.
A top pocket swallows keys, wallets and so on, while inside is a large mesh compartment plus pockets for tools and gubbins, including another padded phone store. We liked the detachable, insulated bottle pocket too.
Cycling Plus editor Rob Spedding unboxed the CamelBak Solvo 30 for BikeRadar – for his first impressions, check out the video below.
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