I’ve drunk from the Kriega Kool-Aid container and I’m hooked. Having spent a full riding season using many of their products, I’m left impressed by the quality and robustness of the British-made gear.

Designed for motorcyclists who aren’t opposed to putting hard miles in adverse conditions on their machines, the Kriega R30 Rucksack is a versatile drybag that proved to have long-term comfort as its strongest attribute. Divided into three sections, the bag has two large easy-access outer pockets said to be water resistant and one large 30 litre drybag described as waterproof. The outer pockets use sealed zippers while the drybag section closes by rolling the top of it down and using three snap buckles to keep it closed.

Completely unobtrusive, even when fully loaded, the bag’s Quadloc harness kept it glued to my back no matter what I was up to. Fit is adjusted via a closed-loop strap system at the top and metal sliders at the hips that allow the R30 to be snugged down for a perfect fit. The harness closes over the chest with two snap-lock buckles that are quick to open or close. To minimize the bag’s profile and keep its contents in place, the R30 uses a six-point compression system to tailor its shape. When properly fitted, the R30 integrates itself to your body and is so comfortable that I often forgot I was even wearing it.

A grab handle at the top of the bag can be used either to carry it when not riding or for someone to drag your body out of a ditch, should you be so unfortunate to find yourself lying in one. Adding visibility and safety during inclement weather, the R30 has large reflective panels on the front and back of the bag that make you shine like a beacon of hope in the dead of night.

My only complaint with the R30 is with its top-loading design that forces you to be cognisant of how you load it. Items that you might need in a hurry, such as rain gear, need to be kept at the top unless you want to empty the bags. As an interesting twist, the R30 can also be used as a tank bag when used with Kriega’s Tank Bag Adapter kit.

 

I found Kriega products to be highly durable; after a full season of riding the $219 USD bag still looked new and didn’t suffer from any quality issues. Its weather resistance was also good. Although long rides in hard down pours left items in the outer pockets damp, everything within the drybag remained dry. Even if you’re not using the R30 for a transcontinental romp, it’s light enough to use as a commuter or day bag. I often found myself using a mostly empty R30 to carry my large-sized helmet when I reached a destination.

 

The R30 Rucksack is available through Kriega’s US distributor (www.kriega.us).