- 20L backpack with waterproof liner, glove-friendly YKK® AQUAGUARD® zips, and breathable back channel.
- Converts from backpack to tailbag, with modular compatibility across Oxford’s Atlas luggage range.
- Built tough with ripstop polyester, Hypalon reinforcements, and a lifetime guarantee for peace of mind.
Distributor: Whites Powersports | Find It: www.bits4bikes.co.nz | Price: $299.90 | Also available: 10 & 30-litre
Finding a decent backpack is one of those magical moments, with a bad fitting or badly designed bag quickly becoming a real pain on a ride. And we think we’ve just found our favourite, with the Oxford Atlas B-20 hitting the sweetspot of carrying enough while also being comfortable. Oh, and it’s a tailback, too!
You can usually tell with motorcycle gear whether the person designing it is a motorcyclist. Like whether the buckles or zips are easy to use with gloves on, how it fits and feels, you really need to have spent serious time on two wheels to get that knowledge to make a decent bike kit. After taking a serious look at the new Oxford luggage, it’s quite obvious there’s a team of motorcyclists somewhere in the Oxford building who are keeping an eye on things.
We recently got our hands on the Oxford Atlas B-20 Backpack, along with some of Oxford’s other luggage (but more on that later), and it’s nice to see a quality bag that certainly has the makings of being able to go the distance. Whether it will is yet to be seen, as we’ve only just got our hands on it, but having a poke and prod around the bag and the material feels strong and durable throughout. The bag is made from different materials depending on how much wear or dirt different parts of the bag are likely to be exposed to, so for example, there’s zoned 420D PU-backed polyester ripstop for flexibility and compactness, while 1000D PU-backed polyester and 1mm Hypalon in other areas are there for strength. There’s a 3D mesh in areas for breathability, including a pocket on the side (to dry stuff) and also as a tunnel between the pads that go on your back to add ventilation.
There are pockets galore on the B-20 (it’s called that because the capacity is 20 litres) with YKK® AQUAGUARD® zippers with glove-friendly pullers, making it easy to get in while also keeping the contents dry, while the top opens and closes by folding over and clipping in place. With a removable waterproof liner inside that’s a nice bright blue so you can see what’s down the bottom, the bag looks like it will swallow a decent amount of kit and is certainly going to be big enough to fit all the cameras and audio equipment we cart around whenever we’re testing a bike.
The bag features a good sized harness that spreads the weight across your chest, not just on the tops of your shoulders meaning it should be comfortable for longer journeys, and there’s another neat buckle to lock the harness in place, with a magnetic clip making it easy to secure when you’ve got a helmet and gloves on, while pulling a small tab is all that’s required to release it. It’s a simple yet very easy system.
And now the best bit – the versatility. The B-20 comes with additional straps so that yo can convert the backpack into a tailbag if you require. And the Oxford range has been designed so that it’s modular, meaning you can clip this bag to other Oxford luggage and make a much more substantial luggage system that secures to your bike. Then, if you’re staying somewhere and just need a day pack, you can leave the other bags in your room and just take the backpack. See, that’s seriously versatile.
With a summer of bike testing rushing towards us, there’s no doubt the Oxford B-20 backpack is going to get a serious workout. Check back again to see how it’s going.
Manufacturer’s Blurb
OXFORD ATLAS ATLAS B20 ADVANCED BACKPACK
The best luggage allows you to explore wherever, whenever. Our range-topping ATLAS modular luggage range can take you to the shops or around the globe. If you need to expand or contract your carrying capacity, you can quickly add or subtract a bag using its MODULAR LUGGAGE SYSTEM. The main compartments are always accessible even whilst mounted to your bike and four adjustable compression straps per bag ensure load stability. Your kit will stay dry and be easy to access thanks to its WATERPROOF CONSTRUCTION. The internal waterproof compartment can be fully removed, or even doubled up to keep contents separated and additional waterproof inserts in 10l, 20l or 30l can be added. Just four turns of the roll-top opening creates a watertight seal. When you want to grab everything quickly off the bike and make a dash for it, you can rely on its UNIVERSAL FAST FIT. And, because it’s built to last, we offer the peace of mind that comes with a LIFETIME GUARANTEE*.
Features
- LIFETIME GUARANTEE*
- Magnetic Speed Lock Sternum Strap
- Duraflex® buckles and tri-glide adjustment sliders
- Aluminium alloy G-hooks
- YKK® AQUAGUARD® zippers with glove-friendly pullers
- 3-point adjustable roll top opening
- Under seat security strap (for use when attached to the motorcycle as a tail pack)
- Ergonomic shoulder straps for freedom of movement
- 4-point adjustable shoulder straps
- Detachable waist strap
- Direct vent system creates a breathable back channel
- Storage
- PU-coated mesh side pocket for drying kit
- Quick access rear and side pockets
- Contrast lining to improve pocket internal visibility
- Detachable 100% waterproof lining
- Discreet, easy access motorway pass/credit card pocket
- Hydration bladder pocket with tube routing
- Fabric
- Zoned 420D PU-backed polyester ripstop for flexibility and compactness
- 1000D PU-backed polyester
- 1mm Hypalon® underside for durability
- 0.6mm Hypalon® front panel
- Reflective components on the front and rear
- 3D mesh back and shoulder strap panels
