For the past month or so, I’ve been using the Deuter Dry Shield Bike 18 backpack on my daily rides to work.

For years, I’ve been searching for a good waterproof backpack that will keep my stuff dry during the nasty wet Calgary winters. While a good drybag, or even a garbage bag, can usually keep things dry inside a regular pack, the pack itself will still end up soggy and smelly, and it’s a pain to dump everything into a drybag.

The Dry Shield line from Deuter is a waterproof line, which includes a cycling-specific pack — the DS Bike 18.

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Reflective ribbon on backpack, originally uploaded by elliottzone.

If you use a backpack when you’re commuting, adding some reflective ribbon to your pack can help make you more visible.

On my backpack, I have two pieces of reflective/neon yellow ribbon. I fixed them to the pack in an X pattern. They’re about 16″ long, so about 7″ dangle below my pack and flap in the wind.

My theory behind this is that the flapping parts may attract a bit more attention because they’re flapping. I added three grommets to each strip. This makes it easy to attach to any pack with a couple of mini carabiners or plastic ties.

Cost for the ribbon was about $10.

I have to admit, it’s rare that I come across a product that I’m completely satisfied with.

Usually, there are at least a couple of things I’d have done differently or that I think could be improved upon.

So, imagine my delight when I came across a backpack that seemed to have been designed specifically for cyclists. I also have a feeling it was designed, not by the marketing department, but by people who actually USE a backpack when cycling. Gadzooks!

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