A_M _B_2015_02_03_

66 - AMB

Deuter have been manufacturing equipment for
eccentric German adventurers for over 100 years,
and these days, one of the favourite adventures
for any German mountain biker is to embark on a
summer pilgrimage over the Alps by bike. Every
year groups of families, friends, and colleagues
set out to ride hundreds of kilometres with one
change of clothing, from southern Germany to the
sun-soaked town of Riva del Garda in Italy.

Deuter pioneered the idea of a bike-specific
backpack in 1990, and the legendary Deuter Trans
Alpine backpack has long been the baggage
of choice – so much so, that any change to the
design of this iconic bit of kit can spark outrage
in the European mountain bike community. If
you’re ever riding around the great Alpine passes
in Germany, Italy, or Austria in summer, it’s
inevitable: you’ll spot groups of tired, unwashed
cyclists from miles away, picked out against grey
skies by the distinctive fluoro rain covers – a
standard feature of the Deuter Trans Alpine bag –
parachuting behind.

WoRDs: IMoGEn sMITh

Hits

Versatile size for commuting, carry

on or epic journeys

Tonnes of internal storage pockets

Vibrant, attractive colours

Misses

Favours shorter riders, taller

women should check the mens

version

26L is too small for multi day rides

unless you’re ok with just one set

of kit

Unnecessary plastic flower proved

a hefty psychological burden for

this reviewer

RRP $169.95

http://www.velovita.net.au

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esseNtiALs

tHe tRANs ALPiNe - A BAG

WitH PeDiGRee

DEUTER

TRANSALP 26 SL

In recent years, Deuter have added a women’s

‘slimline’, or ‘sL’ version of the Trans Alpine to the

range, retaining all the usual favourite features,

including the Deuter Airstripes back ventilation

system, rain cover, and helmet holder, but with

some adjustments to the straps and length to suit

women better.

CoMfoRt

The bag differs from the men’s version in that the

straps, buckles, and the bag itself are narrower

and shorter, and the waist straps curve up slightly

and fasten higher. In practise I thought the

narrower straps were a great change, particularly

because you’re always reaching forward with

your arms when you’re riding, and not only are

women’s shoulder’s narrower, but the fact that we

have boobs means there’s definitely less room in

this area.

The narrower back also made sense, cutting

down the gap between the ridges of the Airstripes

design. Deuter’s patented Airstripes system is

basically two contoured ridges of foam designed

to keep the rider cool by allowing airflow over

your spine and through the sides of your back. If

you’re quite narrow around the upper body, and

many women are, there’s a chance your spine can

come in contact with the bag when you’re riding,

and roll uncomfortably.

side compression straps, shoulder straps to

even out the load, a removable foam insert (that

doubles as a cushion when you’re in the wild),

and my favourite, zips that snap together, all help

make this pack comfortable when overloaded.

The bag is also marketed to ‘male users with

shorter backs’, but as a woman with a pretty

long back, I did find that the curving waist strap

meant that it fastened somewhere near my

diaphragm and I was constantly tugging it down to

somewhere more comfortable.

While I loved the turquoise colour of the bag, the

prize for the most girly feature I’ve encountered

in an entire year’s testing goes to the detachable

yellow hibiscus flower that come with the

Deuter Trans Alpine sL. I detached mine, but if

you did lose a hair tie somewhere in the Alps,

the elasticated flower would be a reasonable

understudy.

A Look iNsiDe

While this bag was conceived for lofty adventures,

its day-to-day life could very well be in faithful

service to the humble commute. The inside sleeve

for the hydration pack is perfect for stashing a

laptop or notepad, while the front inside pockets

are perfect for makeup, toiletries, or pens. A

small lower section of the bag can be zipped

closed and is ideal for wet or dirty clothes. The

top front pocket has places for keys, wallet and

phone, etc. and there’s a helmet carrier whose

straps tuck neatly away when not in use. While

few of us use maps anymore, even when travelling

over the Alps, I found the side map compartment

perfect for hiding blocks of chocolate from my

partner: an invaluable alternate use.

testeD