Rapha Travel Backpack Reflective review - versatile for daily commuting and weekends away

A well thought-out easy-access design and excellent reflectivity

Image shows the Rapha Travel Backpack Reflective
(Image credit: Andy Turner)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

The Rapha Travel Backpack is a great bag for commuting or for carrying your cycling gear to events. For an extra $20 / £20, the reflective coating is well worth it both for safety. It’s an expensive bag, but in line with the pricing of similar rigid structured backpacks with a ~25 litre capacity. It lacks some of the outside pockets or attachment points that other bags have, but does offer better security with the zip pockets that it does have. Comfort is brilliant and it is very easy to live with

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Plenty of zip pockets

  • +

    Reflectivity is brilliant

  • +

    Comfortable straps

  • +

    Good overall capacity

  • +

    Clamshell opening for main body

  • +

    Decent waterproofing

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Not fully waterproof at seams

  • -

    Can feel a bit bulky when full

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Rapha's Travel Backpack Reflective sits in an increasingly crowded market. Both well-established cycling brands and more generalist luggage labels are targeting the commuter segment for a slice of that utility cycling spend.  

With so many options abounding, finding the best cycle commuting backpack for you can be a bit more of a difficult task. On the other hand, it does mean that there are many great options to chose from! Can Rapha's Travel Backpack justify its position amongst the rest? We take a look at how it stacks up...

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