Review: Dakine Synchline 12L Backpack

After years of lustful onlooking, I finally bit the bullet and took up mountain biking. At first, I believed that all I’d need was a bike & a helmet. Boy was I wrong, and soon I'd amassed a litany of stuff—tools, tubes, pads, sunglasses, goggles—you get the gist. And that doesn’t even cover everything I need out on the trail like water, snacks, chain lube, and extra layers. As a reluctant collector of backpacks, I figured that at least one of my bags would suffice in carrying all my gear, but nothing from my arsenal fit the bill: too big, too small, not secure enough, too tight, too awkward on the uphill, too awkward on the downhill, the list goes on. So it was, until I found the Synchline 12L from Dakine—a purpose-built backpack made with mountain bikers in mind.

Unlike the other bags I used, the Synchline stays secure both on the uphill and the descent. The sleek design and lack of exterior straps keep it from snagging on brush or branches while I ride, and thanks to the intuitive design of the compartments, I can fit all my wares in the mere 12L of storage with ease. The bladder holds a whopping three liters of water—more than enough for even the longest rides on hot days—keeping me hydrated and ready for more. Plus, the bladder is located at the base of the pack—which centralizes the weight on my lower back for comfortable, worry-free riding—and is secured in a separate zippered compartment reinforced by two cinch straps should the zipper fail (wouldn’t count on it though, this thing’s built to last). The air flow back panel keeps me cool even when it’s fully tightened down, and if that weren’t enough, the exterior is made from burly, 100% percent recycled nylon. All said, you know I’ll be bringing the Synchline 12L along regardless of the length of the trail. You’ve already read this far, so why don't you go buy one for yourself and see what all this fuss is about?

Available at dakine.com; $180.