Upso Rivington Rucksack

The UPSO Rivington Rucksack may not be the most high-tech rucksack on the market, but I loved using it and it has usurped my old commuting bag. With unique styling, comfortable fit and impressive ruggedness, it is everything you need for a commuting bag that will last for years.

UPSO are a relatively new company based in Lancashire who have taken a green approach to making bags. They use lorry tarpaulins, wash them and make them into bags. This means two things: each bag is recycled, and each is unique.

The unique bag that I received was the Rivington Rucksack, handmade by Sue. I know this because she has written her name on the label inside the bag, showing that it is genuinely hand made. My bag is dark blue and from a company with a website and a T in their name (the only writing on it is WWW and a T on the inside of the bag).

Despite being made of recycled industrial material, the bag looks great. The front has no seams with only a clip to hold everything in place and some loops at the bottom for strapping a helmet, which is a simple and slick design. At the bottom there are two sections of seatbelt material that reinforce the seams and a firm piece of rubber to secure the bottom of the bag from excessive sagging. It all holds together well, the stitching is good and despite my best efforts to put the heaviest things I had in there (including dumbbells) the bag stayed strong throughout.

The straps on the bag are cushioned and comfortable on the shoulder, although I would have liked to have had a cross strap, just for security when riding. They are also strong thanks to the main weight bearing elements being made from seatbelt material, both in the straps themselves and the brace that attaches them to the bag. One of the few sticking points (literally) was that given the malleability of the bag, there is little airflow across the back, so on hot days it can get a bit sweaty.

Given that the bag is made from tarpaulin it is no surprise that it is generally waterproof throughout. It isn't totally waterproof because water can get underneath the flap, especially the bag's expanded,. However, this was never more than a few drips and I still preferred to use this over my roll-top commuter bag.

The bag has a 20-litre capacity, expandable to 25 litres. I found that this doesn't really give a true indication of its size though. Unlike most 20-litre bags, this is significantly more malleable, so I could easily fit in a week's worth of clothes and shoes. The storage is made of up one cavernous inside area with a laptop and documents sleeve on the back.

>> Read more: Buyer's guide to the best cycling rucksacks

The RRP is £65, which is a price I would happily pay. The bag is totally unique and handmade, plus you get that lovely feeling of knowing that it has been made sustainably. This features in most bags would cost well into the hundreds of pounds.

Overall, the UPSO Rivington ticks all the boxes for me. It may not have all the technological bling that other cycling bags have, but just the idea makes it a superb product. I know that when I ride, nobody will have the same bag and I know that I am also doing something good for the environment. Sure, you can pick up a similar bag for cheaper, but you know that it is mass produced and probably going to fall apart in a couple of years. This bag is well made, likely to last for years and sustainably made. Good job, Sue.

Verdict

Great, well-designed bag that makes you feel good, even if it lacks modern bling factor