Best Motorcycle Backpacks For Commuting & Travel

(Last Updated: December, 2024)

Finding the perfect backpack to meet your needs is never easy: especially if it’s a motorcycle backpack. It can be tricky to determine what exactly is needed in order to find a high quality backpack that complements your wild driving style. Luckily, there are several backpacks available that could be a perfect match for you.

When looking for a backpack for your motorcycle you need to consider things like a helmet carry strap, abrasion resistance, its ability to be a waterproof motorcycle backpack among other factors. 

According to our tests, the best motorcycle backpack is the Mardingtop Tactical Backpack. It's great for riding, and its versatile to be used for other things like hiking. It's efficiently designed to be able to hold a lot, without being bulky when its empty.

Now that we have narrowed down the different types of backpacks available, another question must be answered: how do I choose the right motorcycle backpack for me? Whether you’re racing away on your bike, or cruising along on the road, there could be the perfect backpack designed for you.

All that’s left is to choose the perfect one for you. There are different ways to determine which backpack is right for you.

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Your Body Type and Comfort Level

Comfort is a crucial part of riding: be aware of this while backpack shopping. Specifically, your hips and back are the most important parts of your body that you want to make sure is comfortable while riding.

Some backpacks don’t contain adjustable hip straps, so keep this in mind if your hips seem to be wider than most. If your back is sensitive, the smartest feature to look out for is extra back padding.

How Many Items You Plan to Store

If you are planning to drive your motorcycle to work or class every day, look out for sizeable and safe compartments. Find a backpack that has padding in different compartments to securely store your laptops or other electronic devices.
Some people also pack a nice pair of shoes to change into once they have arrived at their destination. Picking a backpack that stores not only your shoes, but several other needed items could be very important to consider when making an overall decision.

Where and How Often Are You Riding

Let’s face it: if you plan to invest in a motorcycle, odds are you will want to ride it as much as you can. If this is the case, you will want to keep an eye out for backpacks with material that is durable. Nobody wants to spend money on a brand new backpack to find it falling apart in a few months. Try to steer clear of any cheap or poorly made material and fabric.
If you know the climate you normally drive in is wet and raining constantly, the smartest purchase would be a backpack with a rain cover or waterproof motorcycle backpack materials.

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How Rough You Are On Material and Stitching

There is a very obvious fact that rings true with several materials and stitching on clothing and even backpacks: it can rip if used too much. Try to search for stitching that is strong and forceful. If you search for material that is resistant to rips, you may be able to save yourself from spending too much money on getting a backpack fixed or re-stitched as well as having to replace the backpack altogether.

Be on the lookout for material that has a harder time ripping or tearing to ensure a longer backpack life. You could also go for a molded exterior that can stand up to just about everything.

How Good You Want Your Backpack to Look

If you’re storing important items in it, then odds are you’re going to traveling everywhere this backpack. This means several people are going to be seeing you holding it. Go easy on their eyes and yours by picking a sleek and attractive design for your backpack.

Some were designed to be aerodynamic and other were made to be more portable and easy to store items. If you want fewer straps and more design room for others to view, consider checking out simpler and more visually appealing designs.

Maintenance

You need to keep your backpack clean, especially if you're planning on using it every day.  Whether you’re riding on a hot and sunny day or taking a hike, it’s inevitable: you’re going to sweat. This sweat can travel from your body all the way to your shoulder straps, belts, and anywhere else on your backpack. This eventually causes dirt to seep in as well, making it even more difficult for the fabric to fight off.

Zippers also get easily stuck when food or other items get stuck inside of them, eventually ruining the zipper altogether.
Luckily, cleaning and preventing this from happening is simple. Here are different items you will need to ensure a clean and sanitary backpack.

• Non-fragrance soap
• Washcloth or sponge
• Toothbrush or any brush with soft bristles

Before getting to work on cleaning, be sure to never wash or dry in any type of machine. Use lukewarm water when washing, and always hang it up when you are drying it. Make sure to clean zipper as well: they are known to track dirt and unwanted messy particles.

When cleaning, empty the backpack completely and vigorously clean the pockets and corners located inside of your pack, relinquishing the backpack of any access crumbs that traveled down to the bottom. Take out any removable straps as well while completing this cleaning task.

Fill a bathtub or sink with lukewarm water and continue cleaning with a sponge. Drain and rinse the backpack as much as needed to rid it of any excess soap.

Our Top 5 Picks For The Best Motorcycle Backpack