For mountain biking, where the probability of falling is comparatively high, I would never use a waist pack. I think that putting a bulge transversely across the lumber spine is asking for low back injury in the event of tumble onto the back. Additionally, the style of riding that I practice involves a predominant use of the hip hinge. The angle of the hinge is constantly changing while the back remains straight. My butt moves fore/aft and left/right a LOT, while my upper back has less movement. In my opinion, placing the load on the upper back and in line with the spine works better for my style of riding. OTOH, for people who sit and spin, there is advantage to having the load closer to the saddle. However, that advantage does not outweigh the risk of lumbar injury, IMO.
This probably why I will go with backpack, even just as a city rider. Altho I don’t think the injury will be as big as described. Your spine already naturally curls inwards towards the lower back so the lumbar pack will actually be filling in that curve, along with the amount of thick padding against your back, even a hard fall will just feel like traversed pad going across your lower back a little harder. I actually think you could receive a bigger injury if anti grav frame from Osprey’s nicer bags gets shanked into you on a bad fall.
Thank you for this balanced and honest overview, very useful for myself, considering a waist pack for high summer hiking.
Part of using a compackt space its Being Well Organized 😂
If you dont fold your clothes. They dont fit very well Anywhere lol
For mountain biking, where the probability of falling is comparatively high, I would never use a waist pack. I think that putting a bulge transversely across the lumber spine is asking for low back injury in the event of tumble onto the back. Additionally, the style of riding that I practice involves a predominant use of the hip hinge. The angle of the hinge is constantly changing while the back remains straight. My butt moves fore/aft and left/right a LOT, while my upper back has less movement. In my opinion, placing the load on the upper back and in line with the spine works better for my style of riding.
OTOH, for people who sit and spin, there is advantage to having the load closer to the saddle. However, that advantage does not outweigh the risk of lumbar injury, IMO.
This probably why I will go with backpack, even just as a city rider. Altho I don’t think the injury will be as big as described. Your spine already naturally curls inwards towards the lower back so the lumbar pack will actually be filling in that curve, along with the amount of thick padding against your back, even a hard fall will just feel like traversed pad going across your lower back a little harder.
I actually think you could receive a bigger injury if anti grav frame from Osprey’s nicer bags gets shanked into you on a bad fall.
Easy solution-don’t ride on rainy days.