Viking Bags 45L Tactical Sissy Bar back pack.
Tom Bowie (Deep Six Cycles)
Viking Bags sent out this sissy bar bag for us to check out! No, we weren't paid, but we also didn't pay for it. We'll give you the most honest review we can. Usually, I find a decent military surplus day pack (or one inspired by the military) and bungee cord that sucker to the sissy bar. I wasn't sure I'd be sold on this, but I do use a bag on the sissy bar every single weekday that riding is possible.
It's actually really nice to have access to the pockets and compartments without taking the bungee cords off. I'd been thinking about trying a dedicated sissy bar bag for this reason. I was pretty impressed when this bag arrived. It has a lot of features: lots of pockets and storage compartments, a decent laptop sleeve, compression straps, and a waist belt. The shoulder straps detach at the bottom and stash away in a pocket on the back of the bag, keeping them out of the way of rotating parts and painted bodywork. There's also a port for a water bladder tube at the top, under the carry handle. It comes with a sunglass case and a waterproof pouch that can be attached to their unique version of MOLLE webbing.
My first impression of the MOLLE webbing was that it seemed a little light-duty and flimsy. That was until I stuck a finger through one of the slots and felt the webbing underneath. They sewed fabric over the webbing, so you're not quite sure what to expect at first, but there's no problem here. The thing I was more concerned about was the straps that hold the bag to the sissy bar. They seemed a little light-duty to me at first. In the long run, though, this is going to come down to the actual quality of the materials and construction.
The main compartment isn't huge. If you're planning a longer trip, a different bag or some additional luggage may be useful. But I've been riding with this bag daily for the past four weeks. Initially, I thought the shoulder straps might be uncomfortable because they aren't very padded. However, they're wide and shaped in a way that makes them comfortable during the short hike at the beginning and end of my day. It carries a small cooler bag, an ice pack, lunch items, camera equipment, an extra layer, and all the odds and ends one tends to carry when away from the house with room to spare.
I've really come to enjoy this bag. It hasn't let me down yet, and the materials and construction seem to be holding up very well. Those sissy bar straps? We'll see what time has to say about them. But I'm getting the feeling that if they ever do become a problem, I'll have had a lot of adventures with this bag by then. So far, they've never failed to cinch down tightly and hold everything securely.
