The best motorcycle rucksacks

Not only does this rucksack get great reviews, but it's also Amazon's choice and it's easy to see why. It has a main compartment with a capacity of 24 litres (it expands to 36 litres) and is made of heavy-duty material with a waterproof lining. It will house a 17in laptop as well as a crash helmet and comes with a chest strap to prevent the wide shoulder straps from parting . There's also a waist belt with handy pockets built in to the webs.

Tested by Justin Hayzelden for 2 months, 1,000 miles. Quality 5/5, Value 5/5.

"At less than the price of a full tank of petrol, this waterproof backpack from Q Bag is cheap, cheerful and surprisingly good. It’s essentially a dry bag, the kind of thing you’d lash to a canoe or stow on a yacht, adorned with a simple pair of adjustable shoulder straps. There’s a genuine 30 litre capacity to play with and it easily swallows a change of clothes for the office or gym, leaving plenty of room for a laptop, packed lunch and drink bottle.

The roll top closure has proved perfectly effective in keeping the wet out, even in the worst motorway spray, and I really like the fact that the tough ‘rubberised’ construction makes it easy to wipe clean. The additional waterproof zipped pouch is big enough for wallet, phone and a spare pair of gloves, whilst the mesh side pockets make a convenient space for carrying visor cleaning kit."

A fairly basic rucksack, but excellent value and completely waterproof, winning a Best Buy triangle from RiDE on two separate occasions. It's made from PVC tarpaulin material and the company specialises in waterproof luggage, so you know it will keep your contents dry. A single compartment with a 30-litre capacity, it has padded shoulder straps with a chest strap and an unpadded waist belt and closes with a roll-top that is secured with buckles. Seal of Approval - We've tested this product and have found it performs well

Tested by Gareth Evans over one year, 3000 miles. Quality 4/5, Value 3/5

"This was my first foray into the world of more fashionable luggage, following a number of more functional items, and the moment I put it on I noticed the difference. This bag is seriously comfortable thanks to its padded shoulder straps, which can be connected via adjustable chest and waist straps to keep the bag in place while you’re riding. I was impressed with the quality of the materials too – both inside and out. The waterproof liner is removable in case you need to clean it, while there’s a laptop pocket and a good-sized main compartment for your odds and ends.

The outer shell is a soft water-repellent waxed cotton and canvas arrangement featuring an external zipped pocked with poppers on the front. The rolltop closing is secured at both sides by metal clips and adjustable ‘compression’ straps so you can tailor the bag’s capacity to the size of your luggage. The whole rolltop is then also secured using the two large metal buckles, which are my only real complaint with the design – they’re fiddly and never feel particularly secure. This is not a single point of failure though, as mentioned above, so I never felt concerned.

In fact, I never had a single problem with this bag. It was a brilliant companion for nights away or days out of the office with the laptop. The price is a little indulgent, but there are deals available right now if you shop around."

Kriega luggage is not cheap but it is excellent quality and this 30-litre rucksack is no different. Formed in nylon and Cordura, the ruckie features a removable waterproof liner with a roll-top closure to guarantee it's watertight and safe for laptops or cameras. It uses Kriega's Quadloc harness system, which fixes the straps close to the centre of the chest, taking the strain off the shoulders. There are two external pockets as well.

Tested by Gareth Evans for six months, 3,000 miles. Quality 5/5, Value 5/5

"For one reason or another I’ve been through three bags quite recently and this unassuming item from RST is by far the best of the bunch. For me and my lifestyle, it’s perfectly-sized, seriously comfortable, and practical. The 42.5-litre capacity features a laptop pocket, while a trio of zipped smaller pockets hold stuff like disc locks or earplugs. But it’s the thick, highly adjustable chest and waist straps and breathable back protection that make this bag a joy to use. Plus, it’s taken a battering over the last six months and remains in perfect nick. For the money, I can’t see how luggage gets any better than this."

Oxford produces different ranges of luggage, including heritage for retro style bikes and its waterproof Aqua range, which includes this 25-litre rucksack. Formed in PVC tarpaulin material, it uses a roll-top closure secured at the ends with webbing straps and buckles. There is an external pocket, wide-padded waist belt and two external mesh pockets for items like gloves. There is also a loop to fit a tail light for cycle riders. Available in a range of colours.

This waterproof rucksack from SW-Motech is formed in PVC tarpaulin and features a handy external pocket, covered by a waterproof zip and a roll-top closure with Velcro and side-securing buckles and straps. It has a padded interior with a laptop compartment good for a 17in monster, and offers 25 litres of storage in total. Both the shoulder straps and the waist belt are padded for comfort, and the rigid back helps stability in use.

The 16-litre capacity means that you won't be able to fit the kitchen sink into this messenger bag but it does offer a very stylish bag that is very on-trend with the current retro wave. The shoulder strap can be adjusted to fit either the left or right shoulder and the bag is also completely waterproof. It's made from super-tough 1000D Cordura and Hypalon and also features an additional water-resistant side pocket to keep everyday essentials. If the 16-litre capacity might not be enough though, the bag also has the ability to fit up to two additional 5 litre drypacks too. Like the R30, the Urban messenger bag also comes with a mighty 10 year guarantee.