In addition to Swedish brand Thule’s range of backpacks, its Rail Hip Pack offerings provide an alternative method for carrying motorcycle essentials. Available in three sizes (0L, 2L and 4L), the Rail Hip Pack is ideal for riders who don’t want the bulk of a full backpack, but still need to carry hydration, food and tools on the trail.
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Thule Rail 2L Fanny Pack – $129
The Thule Rail Hip Pack 2L shown here is smaller and weighs only 230g. However, it still manages to hold (*uh*) in a host of high-quality features. There are dedicated sleeves for carrying two water bottles, and these are wrapped in stretch pockets for storing food and gels that you can easily access without having to remove the bag.
Inside the main zipped compartment you’ll find segmented pockets to organise your tools and spares, and there’s a dedicated felt-lined phone pocket on the front to carry your Nokia 3310 or maybe even a BlackBerry (ooh chic!).
The elastic waistband provides surprisingly good stability, thanks to the addition of a nylon buckle and dual tension straps. Tightening the waist straps adds tension on the bottles, which helps minimize movement and shaking. The perforated foam padding is also nice to see, which is good for comfort and ventilation.
Thule Rail 4L Fanny Pack – $199
The Thule Rail Hip Pack 4L is the largest bum bag in the range and comes with a 1.5L hydration bladder. Made by Hydrapak, the bladder uses a slide-closure system for easy cleaning and a soft bite valve to funnel fluids into your cake hole. A clever trick borrowed from the Thule Rail and Vital backpacks is the magnetic strip for the hose, which does a brilliant job of stopping it from flapping around. Left-handed people should take note, though: the hose routing is skewed for right-handed use.
Like the Rail 2L, the Rail 4L features a dedicated phone pocket on the front. A chunky zipper loop makes it easy to access while you’re riding, which is useful for mid-ride TikToks, leveling up on Snake, or angrily commenting on Flow’s latest social media post. There are also the same stretch pockets on each size, a zippered main compartment with internal organizer pockets, and a front flap that’s the perfect size for a lightweight windbreaker.