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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE NOVEMBER 3rd 2025
HOW DO WE REACH THE OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Lomo Hi Viz Cycling Dry Bag Rucksack
810g 30L £39
The Lomo Hi Viz Cycling Dry Bag Rucksack is just what it says. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, a rucksack is a great way to carry your gear. I’ll ‘fess up. I am not a big fan of cycling with rucksacks. I have done so, and they have their place. This one shouts “utility” at the top of its voice. It is also a very large rucksack, so may suit those setting out for a hostelling weekend, or such-like. As ever, Lomo offer a quality product at a distinctly cheerful price, so I’ve been looking forward to trying this one out with a promise toput my rucksack prejudice behind me.
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Pros: Hi-viz fabric and reflective strips, effective ventilation to the back, genuinely waterproof in normal cycling situations, simple roll-top.
Cons: no light loop, no laptop sleeve.
Specification
Thirty litres is a very healthy capacity. To help organise your gear there is a single mesh pocket. This is removable, secured with hook ‘n’ loop strips.
There are two pads, one at the top and one at the bottom to keep things soft on the back. They lift the rucksack away from the back, leaving a gap which should aid climate control.
The two shoulder straps also have substantial padding in the right places. There are also chest and waist straps for added security and weight distribution. At the top is a handle for carrying the pck.
Waterproof PVC material will keep your stuff dry, so long as you secure the roll top closure properly. Seams are sealed, so waterproof credentials are excellent. The hi viz yellow fabric is further enhanced by reflective material in two groups of four strips and two stripes running from top to bottom. These are, as you’d expect, on the back of the pack, but there also reflective patches on the shoulder straps.
Fit 3.5/5
One size should fit all. Adjustments can be made to the length of the shoulder straps to ensure a decent fit, and that should be the case whatever your back length. (The back length of the rucksack from base to the shoulder strap pads is 42cm). The waist strap is, after all really designed for security rather than weight carrying, as it would be on full-size backpacking rucksack.
The waist and chest straps can be adjusted, too, of course. I’m 36 inches round the waist and 40 inches round the chest. There’s plenty of strap left for stouter people. Mrs Steve feels that the chest strap may not suit the female form. However, I’ve never found it necessary to use both chest and waist strap, in fact, I very much prefer the latter. Whatever the weight in the rucksack fit has felt very good with just the waist strap. Mind you, I would not rule out use of the chest strap at the same time, it is just that I have not found it necessary so far.
Does the rucksack obscure that life-saving view over the shoulder. Not so I have noticed. I am six feet tall and broad shouldered, which may have an impact, but, even when nearly full, I have not found the rear view obscured by the top corners. Other anatomies may have different effects.
One minor point, I’ve found that rolling the top too far down when carrying little tends to distort the back and the position of the padding in particular. Given that it is easy to get a waterproof seal without doing this, it isn’t so much of a problem as something to note.
Care and durability 3.5/5
Inevitably it seems, as I commute along the canal towpath, a rucksack is going to come into contact with the masonry of low bridges. It has done so, but has survived the odd scrape without a mark. Same with the odd encounter with any low hanging branches. I’d not expect any fabric to survive a serious gouging, but nor would I expect other people t be as clumsy as me. Just take normal care. The Lomo rucksack is as sturdy as any I have tried out.
As with most waterproof rucksacks and panniers, a wipe over with a damp cloth generally removes dirt. I’ve also given it a light spray with a friendly bike wash. Straps don’t usually get much dirt on them, but a wipe removes it. A deeper clean is easily done with something like GTechniq’s Tri Clean.
I’ve worn the rucksack now for around 200 miles, say eighteen hours. I’ve not seen anything to suggest that, as you’d expect from a reputable manufacturer of waterproof equipment, this bit of gear will not last for a long, long time.
Waterproofing 4.75/5
Lomo began life – I stand to be corrected – with wetsuits. Since then they have branched out, but kept a focus on waterproof gear. They are expert in the field and the brand is popular with a clientele from divers to, well, cyclists. An end to the padding, simply put, this is fully waterproof. It is up to the user to ensure a proper seal with the roll-top, but that is not difficult. I mentioned above that rolling the top down too tightly – tempting when carrying only a little – can distort the back. It is not necessary. Ensure the roll is secured with the side straps and you have a waterproof seal.
Will it float? I’ll leave you to try that out, but few cyclists find themselves in water that deep even with the pot-holed state of some of our UK roads. If you do, I think the security of your rucksack may be amongst the least of your worries.
Capacity 3.5/5
Thirty litres may not be enough for some, but it is plenty for me, and is pretty standard for rucksacks of this kind, as opposed to technical MTB type rucksacks. It is plenty to swallow tool kit, waterproof trousers and jacket, D-lock, wallet, keys, phone and still be only half-full, allowing for that emergency shop for three bottles of beer and something to eat on the way home from the beach (or anywhere else).
The inside pocket is held in place by hook and loop strips. Sensible, as any additional seams add to potential issues with waterproofing. Note, “potential”. Initially, I decided to use it to carry a small Abus D-lock. Slim enough to avoid obstructing other contents, and preventing it clanking against more delicate items. However, it proved too heavy for the hook and loop, so it was relegated to sitting on top of the waterproofs, whilst wallet, phone, and such-like were popped into the sleeve. Not keys – no way to destroy mesh better than entanglement with keys.
Those transporting laptops may miss a specific lap-top sleeve, which one finds in some pricier models.
Stability, visibility, and comfort 3.75/5
Stability is excellent. I’ve not resorted very often to more than the shoulder and waist or chest straps. This did not come as a surprise, but even when rattling over rough forest trails there’s been nothing in the way of wobble. OK, I have not taken on anything technical, and I’d prefer my venerable slimline Deuter pack if I were to. The Lomo, like others of similar design, is not designed for this.
Back on the road, having a large hi-viz blob with reflective strips on your back should add to your presence. It does. I mentioned the lack of a light loop on the back, but given the luminous fabric, it is would be a luxury rather than a necessity. At night, you’ll get noticed as soon as a headlight catches the strips slowly becoming more and more obvious as the vehicle approaches; anecdotally, at least 400 metres. That’s plenty, but I expect that is a minimum.
I have already said that rucksacks are not my go-to when it comes to carting my gear about. However, there are plenty of people who are fans, and to some extent, it’s a question of what you are used to. The Lomo Dry Bag is pretty comfortable to wear. The padding on the shoulder straps is thick and in the right places for cycling as well as walking. The padding on the back is very simple compared to some more sophisticated designs, but remains highly effective. It is pretty thick, is in the right places – at least for me – and channels air effectively around the back. True, you will get a sweaty back when working hard or in hot weather. By the way, the most of our testing has taken place in temperatures from 5-15C. However, I have felt the breeze around the back of my jersey. Very pleasant and grand for ventilation. This seems to me to be pretty effective.
Value 4/5
Craft Cadence Cycling Back Pack comes in at around twice the price of Lomo’s take. However, it possesses many of the same qualities and is meticulously designed for the cyclist, with external pocket, removable laptop sleeve, and corner straps that keep over-the shoulder-visibility clear and negate the need to unbuckle the pack every time one wants to open it. On the down side, it lacks the brutal luminosity of the Lomo.
ProViz offer a reflective zip closure model for £54.99. Featuring numerous additional pockets externally and two compartments inside with a laptop sleeve (12”). It’s made from their all-round light-up Reflect 360, but is not waterproof without a cover – included in the price). They also offer a 30L roll top model, with light loop and other features at £69.99. ProViz describe it as water-resistant.
Altura’s Grid Cycling Backpack has a 20 litre capacity, internal organiser, and a roll-top closure. It comes in at £60, and has a DWR finish, so you might want to invest in a suitable waterproof cover – maybe a hi-viz or reflective one.
There's also Alpkit’s 30 Litre Waterproof Rucksack Gourdon 30 which is much dearer than the Lomo. Altura offer the Thunderstorm, which is a little smaller at 20 litres but very waterproof. There's also Oxford's V20 Aqua Backpack, which is genuinely waterproof, although with reduced capacity and bigger price tag.
Summary
Genuine waterproof gear is a definite plus for all-year round hell and high-water riders – especially commuters. Lomo delivers this. Internal organisation may not be as great as some, but I tend to put things in bags anyway – change of clothes in one, sardine sandwich to annoy the nostrils of my colleagues in another, etc. As ever. A lot of bang for your buck with great street presence after dark. Well-worth a good look.
Verdict: 3.75/5 Straight-forward value for money waterproof utility backpack.
Steve Dyster
https://www.lomo.co.uk/products/30l-hi-viz-cycling-dry-bag-rucksack/
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2025
