Quintessential nerdiness or level-headed practicality? The Kriega R8 Motorcycle Waistpack manages to be practical while eschewing the dorky stigma associated with lesser waistpacks. The matte black color scheme, tasteful logos, and overall design speaks more to understated practicality (aka “tactical”); far from the neon-green images of overweight Americans at Disneyland with M strapped to their ever-expanding waistlines. Kriega R8 Motorcycle WaistpackThe Gear: As a stand-alone piece of gear, the waistpack does handsomely for day-trips and quick blasts out to the canyons and mountains. It is designed to carry tools (in the included Kriega tool roll), food, small electronic accessories and other bits you might need on a short ride. There are two main compartments, one small and the other large. The larger is water-resistant and can either house the Kriega Tool Roll or any other gear (small camera, etc.) Included in this compartment are compression straps to hold whatever you decide to carry nice and tight.

The smaller compartment is basically a mini dry-bag with removable white liner (kudos Kriega!), which is great for carrying water-sensitive gear. I don’t do much riding in the rain so I usually carry things like glove liners, food, extra ear plugs, wallet, microfiber cloth, etc., in the R8.  You can augment the usefulness of the pack by wearing a Kriega R15 rucksack right above it, adding the ability to carry up to 3 liters of water in a hydration pack and more necessities such as a thermal jacket, extra visor, extra pair of gloves, and more. Kriega R8 WaistpackThe Good: Outstanding quality: Kriega makes some of the best motorcycle-specific gear out there, and their sound conceptual designs are backed up with second-to-none fit and finish. The quality of the materials, stitching, snaps, zips and buckles is evident in all of their products and the R8 Waistpack is no exception. More useful than you would think. Works great as a small pack for quick jaunts or as a companion to the R15 backpack.

On some bikes, the waist pack can interfere with the pillion section of the seat, making it uncomfortable to wear. Overall, if you already don’t have much fore-aft space on your bike, then the waistpack is going to limit you even more. I found the pack to be a bit cumbersome when I had a couple Kriega tailpacks on the rear of my Bonneville as it forced me to remain in the most forward position during long rides. At a price of $129.00, it’s pricey, but Kriega is nice enough to include their excellent tool roll… I wouldn’t ride with your accessorized tool roll in the bespoke compartment; I found it to be uncomfortably heavy and the pack tended to sag onto my bum. I elect to put my heavy tools in my tailpack. The Verdict: This Kriega provides baseline practical functionality and that is going to appeal to a lot of folks. By itself, it’s a comfortable way of carrying everything you need for half-days on your favorite roads. Coupled with an R15 pack and possibly a couple of tailpacks, and it becomes a worthy companion to any overnight or multi-day tour.

More: Kriega R8 Motorcycle Waistpack Product Information >>Important: Please report inappropriate ads by sending a message to . Please include the Posting ID located in the header of each ad. 10 New Products Worth Knowing About from CES 2017, Part I The Affordable Dive Watch That's Perfect for Summer Save on a Filson Shirt, Climbing Rope & More How to Make Your Online Password Ironcladwc3 backpack How to Make The Granddaddy of All Cocktailstf2 backpack lag Dedicating yourself to two-wheeled transportation around the urban sprawl takes a special skill set and the right gear. wc3 backpackAnd not just for your body. backpack manager eden eternal

Schlepping anything with more girth than the latest, largest handheld device demands dedicated storage. On a fully decked out bagger, cruiser or panniered ADV, that’s not an issue; but on the more maneuverable city-friendly motos, portable stowage is a must. That Jansport you’ve had since freshman year will work in a pinch, but it sits too low, resting its weight in all of the wrong places for tucked and upright riders. kulkea backpackThankfully there are plenty of good rider-friendly bags out there, and these are the best of them, from tank to tail and everywhere in between.backpack dulfy With 16 liters of completely waterproof protection, the Kriega Urban WP Messenger bag is an ideal tote for riders who aren’t scared away by rain. There’s enough space inside to lug a 17-inch laptop (remember those?!) as well as all of your daily essentials.

A strategically placed side pocket can be accessed easily from the saddle and the (optional) waist strap positions things properly when riding. Built using a weatherproof and abrasion-resistant Cordura shell, the Buran Night messenger can handle the rigors of demanding riders. Its four-pocket design has a place for everything — including a padded laptop sleeve — and the cross-chest load stabilizer helps keep it all in check mid lean. The waxed canvas semi-rigid shell of the JBird Collective Techpack is built like your favorite second bike — it takes a beating and looks the better for it. Mil-spec G hooks are everywhere to clip extras onto if the 25-liter capacity leaves you wanting, and the patented Cobra Buckle isn’t phased by dirt, dust or grime. Unlike most backpacks, the shoulder straps are pure suede and relatively slip resistant, so the Techpack stays locked in position. You’ve sorted out your soft parts with hardshell armor, so it only makes sense that your everyday essentials get treated to the same protection.

The Boblbee 25L GT offers up 25 liters of armored internal storage, including a separate sleeve to secure 15-inch laptops and everything else an executive with a penchant for speed needs to conquer his day. As an added bonus, the Boblebee’s unique harness and shell designs are built to transfer impact forces away from riders’ backs to minimize potential spinal injuries should things ever go awry. Saddle bags are one of the most practical passengers for any ride. The only problem is most were styled in the ’40s and feature fringe leather and get bolted to your bike. The Iron and Resin Pannier Bag is an attractive universal-fit solution that can quickly be removed and brought into the office with you. SW Motech makes some of the most durable soft goods in moto travel. Designed with the sport rider in mind, the Blaze Saddlebags are installed over the passenger pillion and employ a removable solid-mount arm to keep them from wiggling around or hitting hot pipes during travel.

If extra space is needed, they expand from 14 to 21 liters. If all of your daily essentials can fit in a breadbox, the Wolfman Peak Tail Bag is a pillion-mounted solution for backpack-free riding. Expandable from 8 to 11 liters, the Peak has multiple mounting options to fit virtually any bike and is one of the few tail bags to feature internal compression straps to lock down your load. Weatherproof, spacious and easy to install on anything with a frame rail, the Kriega US-20 dry bag is perfect for urban riders not scared away by damp or downpour conditions. If extra storage is ever needed, Kriega bags all feature attachment points to add on larger (or smaller) dry bags to create a complete luggage system for longer hauls. Combined with the bike-specific mount, the Givi Tanklock Tankbag eliminates the need to run straps or magnetic holds around your gas tank. That makes it easy to attach in the morning and, more importantly, easy to get out of your way when you need to fill up.