R30 Review

  BIKE September 2010

TONY HOARE - R30 new product test: rated * * * *

It feels like a confessional thing to say, bearing in mind the regard in which Kriega is held, but I didn't like my last rucksack they made. My old R35's bulky chest strap was a pain at fuel stops as my helmet's cinbar whacked into it before I could see the filler cap. This latest offering, the Kriega R30, is a different story though. The chest strap is far slimmer and that removes the one prevoius irritation. So in the R30 I have a waterproof, high-quality rucksack that doesn't give me back or shoulder ache and is built to a high-specification to suit the fussiest motorcyclist. It swallows enough for a weekend away, including a laptop. And I can even see where I'm putting the petrol. The R30 has filled a need for a top notch rucksack in my kit armoury. And it comes with a 10-year guarantee.... You won't need another bag for years.

  TWO WHEEL FREAKS(USA)  July 2010

R30 new product test:

When Kriega contacted us about doing a review of their new R30 pack I only had one question; will my 15" laptop fit inside? ...Turns out that not only will my 15" laptop fit inside but a 17" laptop will also fit inside. And by 'also' I mean 'at the same time' (this was tested and proven by yours truly). Or you could do what I do and put my camera backpack in there along with my 15" laptop and still fit a substantial amount of additional 'stuff' into the outer two pockets. And this isn't even their largest pack! The Kriega R30's main compartment is closed by rolling down the top and snapping a buckle together on each side. This not only allows a small amount of adjustment for taller items but also endows the main compartment with its bst feature; a 100% waterproof main body. Yep, waterproof. This offers peace of mind to those who, like me, carry their laptop or other electronic gear with them. On the outside of the R30 there are two additional pockets that, if the main storage area isn't crammed full, will easily swallow a 50-count CD container each. Not that yo'd ever do this but it does illustrate the sheer volume of 'stuff' that one can stick in this pack. Unlike the main compartment, the outside pockets are only water-resistant as they zip shut using YKK zippers with sealed zipper seams. Oh darn. Since the idea is that you actually wear a backpack against your back, Kriega has equipped the R30 with some of the thickest back-padding I've ever seen on a backpack. Not only is the padding thick, it also built in three sections with channels between them to allow air to flow between your back and the pack. In addition to the channels, Kriega also covered the padding with a breathable, mesh fabric. After using the Kriega R30 pack as both a backpack and a carry-all pack that gets thrown in the trunk, I found the R30 to be pretty easy to live with and, so far, very durable. If you are the type of person that believes that eveything has to be seperated and organised then this pack, with its one main pocket and 2 outside pockets, may leave you feeling disorganised. But if your main goal is to carry a ton of 'stuff', keep most of it dry, be comfortable and look good doing it, then the Kriega R30 might be your next pack.