The minimal size and light weight of Rapha's Fixed backpack make it great to wear, not restricting movement at all. At night the reflectives on the rear do a great job with the advantage of being stylish and discreet during the day.
There's just one major bugbear – that price tag; £85 is one helluva lot of money for a rucksack, any rucksack.
It does have a lot of great features, but not as many as my favourite commuting rucksack, the Revolution Stow expert (25l) – and that's £49.95.
The Fixed backpack follows Rapha's well established understated design cues, being very simple looking with minimal styling.
The thick and hardwearing Cordura outer has a central panel with pin dot reflective detailing, all the zips are stormproof, and there are two side pockets at the base and one central pocket with a vertical zip and handy light loop.
Padding is minimal but well placed and comfortable, and the straps are simple and lightweight.
As the bag sits fairly high on your back, it has a chest retention strap rather than a waist strap, but the grippy back panel and the bag's minimal nature means it doesn't move around much.
Inside, the Fixed has some well thought out features: an integrated padded laptop sleeve, tool pocket, superb soft-lined pocket for your sunglasses – a very neat idea, and a second compartment that'll take a bladder which also has an exit hole at the top for the tube (which can double as an iPod earphone hole).
With a capacity of just 11 litres it's useful to those who commute light, and for day rides there's enough room for tools, food, a spare tube, camera and pump.
Shame about the price though.
