Scott Grafter Protec backpack review
Huge capacity meets protection
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Scott’s Grafter Protec backpack combines spine protection with enough storage for a long day in the hills. Within the cavernous main compartment sits a flexible back protector that, even though it adds weight, goes largely unnoticed when you’re riding.
The pack is comfortable considering its generous 16l volume, though you do have to get it cinched up pretty tight to limit movement when you’re throwing the bike around.
The lack of internal pockets within the main compartment means that if it’s not full, the contents will shift around and it does make finding things that bit trickier.
We found the long side pocket with its internal zipped dividers useful, but its location on the pack and its thin, shallow shape and long zip mean that when you’re rooting around looking for things, it’s easy for something to tumble out.
Our biggest gripes, though, are the lack of quick-access pockets on the padded hip strap and the design of the rigid sunglasses pocket. This takes up too much room inside the main compartment and we also found the Velcro flap wouldn’t always line up correctly, and therefore wouldn’t shut properly. Considering the price, a bladder would be nice too.
Authors
Rob Weaver is BikeRadar's technical editor-in-chief. Rob manages all of the testing here at BikeRadar and across our magazines, Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus. Rob first graced the pages of MBUK back in 2001 when working as a freelance writer and went on to start testing bikes for the title in 2007. In 2010 he joined the team full-time and has been keeping a close eye on all things test-related ever since. Rob’s expansive knowledge of bikes comes courtesy of his passion for racing. He cut his teeth racing cross-country mountain bikes in the early 90s before finding his feet in downhill. After many years competing on the UK national circuit (including a year attempting to race UCI DH World Cups), Rob realised his know-how and passion for bike setup, tech and writing clearly outweighed his racing ability. A degree in sports technology and decades of riding experience all help to give Rob a thorough understanding of what’s needed to create a great bike or product. While Rob’s a mountain biker at heart and never happier than when he’s sliding down a Welsh hillside, he’s more than happy to put the miles in on the road or gravel bike, too.
