The Alpkit Presta 25L boasts a sturdy construction, featuring a 210D nylon ripstop body and a reinforced 420D nylon base, with a waterproof rating of 15,000mm hydrostatic head. It weighs 630g.
Priced at £69.99, the Presta 25L is £10 cheaper than the Scott Trail Lite Evo Fr’ 22 I tested it alongside.
Inside, the backpack consists of a main compartment with a three-litre capacity bladder sleeve that includes a hanging loop and hydration port.
Further storage options include an internal zipped pocket, zipped hip pockets, and stretch pockets on both the side and front.
Alpkit has designed an 'Aircool' back system, made from breathable foam and with ventilation channels for improved airflow and day-long comfort.
The adjustable shoulder straps, complemented by an elasticated chest strap, are intended to provide a secure and customisable fit.
The wide mesh hip belt is designed to offer support, but also ensures breathability and flexibility to enhance overall comfort.
Additionally, there's an emergency whistle on the chest strap and a rear light attachment loop.
Alpkit Presta 25L performance
Designed as a do-it-all backpack, the Presta 25L offers great versatility for multi-sport use.
It’s a simple design – there's one large main compartment with a bladder sleeve that you can get a surprisingly large amount of gear into.
I managed to pack in a full set of waterproofs, tools, spares, a first aid kit, extra layers and a plethora of snacks.
However, the zip of the main compartment doesn't open to the bottom of the backpack, which can make access to gear stored deep inside challenging.
The construction is durable and so far, after three months of rigorous testing, I haven't encountered any wear or fatigue.
The Aircool back-ventilation system works well, providing a decent amount of airflow on warm rides.
However, there are a few drawbacks to consider.
There are no internal organisational pockets to keep items separate and easy to locate. This also affects the weight distribution when the bag is not full because items sit at the bottom.
With heavy items, this can be a hindrance when riding because they move about – which is annoying and uncomfortable when you're on rough trails.
Another downside is that the hydration bladder hose tidy is only on the right shoulder strap rather than on both, so if you prefer having your hydration hose on the left, you may be frustrated.
The biggest drawback for me was that the straps don’t sit nicely on the shoulders. When the chest fastening is secured, the straps don’t lie flat and can dig into your collarbone, leading to discomfort and rubbing after a few hours.
Additionally, the backpack lacks extra features, such as a rain cover or included bladder, although Alpkit offers a two-litre bladder for an additional £18.99.
The hip straps provide good support, but are quite wide and solid. This meant they dug into my hip bone when in a forward, more aggressive cycling position.
However, the mesh pocket on the hip belt is a convenient size and one of my favourite features.
There's a zipped pocket for valuables that's spacious enough for a phone, wallet and keys (depending on size), although it lacks a key clip – so be careful your keys don’t slip out.
The two side pockets enable you to store items may need to access quickly such as a jacket, water or some snacks.
However, you may need to remove the backpack or get a friend to help access them because the pockets are not the easiest to reach when wearing the backpack.
The straps work well to cinch down tight, so you don’t lose items. It's possible to fix a helmet externally by being inventive with the straps, but there's no dedicated helmet carry.
The easy-access stuff pouch is perfect for storing knee pads or an easily accessible layer.
At 630g, the Alpkit pack is one of the lightest of the group I tested – and there's a good amount of adjustability for different-sized riders.
Hydration packs | How we tested
It's important on long rides that a backpack is comfortable and practical, no matter what terrain you're tackling.
We reviewed a selection of hydration backpacks with a larger capacity (20-35 litres) for big days on the mountain or long trail days when you need to take a bit more gear with you.
To test these hydration backpacks, we took them on all-day rides in a variety of locations, including the Tweed Valley in Scotland, England's Lake District and trails in South Wales, both fully packed and half-empty, to see how they fare with different loads.
Where possible, we packed the same equipment into each bag to give a true comparison.
Hydration packs on test
- Alpkit Presta 25L
- CamelBak H.A.W.G. Pro 20 Hydration Pack with 3L Reservoir
- Evoc FR Trail Blackline 20
- Osprey Escapist 30
- Scott Trail Lite Evo Fr' 22 Pack
- Vaude Bike Alpin 30+5
Alpkit Presta 25L bottom line
The Alpkit Presta 25L is a great option if you don’t want to spend a fortune and are looking for a simple hydration backpack that will do the job.
It's perfectly capable of carrying the gear you need for a big day on the mountain, but lacks the small details and comfort that can make the difference when spending long hours on the bike.
The bike-specific features that some may desire in a larger-capacity hydration backpack – such as organisational compartments, a helmet carry and a key holder – are also missing.
Product
| Brand | alpkit |
| Price | 85.00 EUR,70.00 GBP,95.00 USD |
| Weight | 630.0000, GRAM (25l) - |
Features
| br_bagCapacity | 25.0000 |
| br_bagCapacity | LITER |
| br_bladderCapacity | 3.0000 |
| br_bladderCapacity | LITER |
| Features | Bladder: Bladder not included |
