The Karrimor X-Lite 20 is a decent trail pack that might not shout loudest in the company of some of its posh competitors but has proven itself to be dependable. It can handle being loaded to bursting point while remaining stable, but when it’s empty and you’re on a fast and light ride you can compress away the unused portions.
The X-Lite 20 hydration pack comes with a basic bladder with simple routing, and water delivery works well enough. The mesh-covered semi-rigid back is vented and contoured.
We love the usability of the large side pouches while the broad, padded shoulder straps spread the load evenly across the upper body. We thought we’d miss the winglets for added stability, but actually the X-Lite managed to remain locked on without these.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.