Gear Junkie: Ivan biking bag

By STEPHEN REGENOLD

Last update: April 26, 2009 - 12:50 PM

Mix a whitewater dry bag with a military-surplus pack and you get the Ivan, a biking bag that's waterproof and durable.

Designed foremost for urban commuters, the Ivan has a roll-top closure to seal off the main compartment. An easy-access waterproof pocket seals shut with a urethane-coated zipper. Big cargo pockets store tubes, tools and a hand pump.

The pack has solid stainless-steel hardware for clipping and cinching on the pack. The harness and belt are comfortable and strong. At nearly 1,700 cubic inches in capacity, there's enough room inside for a trip to the grocery store or loads of gear.

But the big size makes the pack from Chrome (www.chromebags.com) unwieldy. It's warm in the summer on your back. It's pricey, too, at $200. Finally, the bag's propped edges create corners that stand tall to cause sight-line issues when you're hunched on your handlebars. Glance over your shoulder and you might catch the corner of a backpack for an instant, thinking it's a car.

STEPHEN REGENOLD

Stephen Regenold writes a daily blog on outdoors gear at www.gearjunkie.com.

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