Oxford Atlas backpack review | B-30 rucksack tested

Date reviewed: August 2024 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £169.99 | www.oxfordproducts.com

It’s true… the Oxford Atlas B-30 backpack on review here does have some noticeable similarities to the Kriega R30, but having used both for a LOT of miles, in many different environments, I can tell you that there are more than enough differences to avoid a lawsuit, and – more importantly for us as riders – that Oxford has included plenty of unique design features that make its kit worth a much closer look…

Pros & Cons

Construction

Made of a combination of 420D and 1000D polyester and backed with polyurethane for waterproofing, the Oxford Atlas B-30 backpack also has a 1mm thick Hypalon (synthetic rubber) base, with 0.6mm thick Hypalon on the front. There’s also a reflective strip running down the centre of the front, and a smaller reflective panel above this.

The straps feature reflective panels too, and are shaped well, clipping together at the front, though the B-30 is comfortable enough to wear unclipped (for instance when also wearing an airbag).

The fastening is unique, and brilliant. A single magnetic Fidlock connector snaps securely together without having to be lined up – just move the straps towards each other and it finds itself and snaps shut.

A handy cord makes opening it again easy, and this really is one of the stand-out design touches of the Oxford Atlas.

Oxford started out making motorcycle luggage, and while it’d be easy to see this as a rather derivative design, it’s actually far from it, and the company deserve credit for developing something that really does carry a lot of great features. It’s also covered by a lifetime guarantee against faulty materials and manufacture (friends in the motorcycle trade tell me that Oxford is very good at honouring warranty claims), though this doesn’t include wear and tear, it only applies to the original purchaser, and it must be bought from an authorised Oxford stockist. Keep the receipt and register the warranty at www.oxfordwarrantyreg.com, but keep in mind that it also doesn’t include detachable components such as buckles, zip pullers, waterproof liners and straps (these have a 12 month warranty).

The Oxford B-30 is a large pack, but it’s not unwieldy, and I use it a lot on my bicycle too…

There’s barely any difference in weight between the two rucksacks, and neither are what I’d consider ‘heavy’. I’ve had the Kriega (which costs £219) for about ten years now, and it’s been all over the world with me. It’s tough, well made and comfortable when loaded up.

But the Oxford B-30, after more than 3,000 miles so far, is proving to be very well put together, really comfortable and more than capable of lugging everything I need.

It’s impossible to say at this stage which will last longer (and neither company covers wear and tear under the warranties – 10 years in Kriega’s case), though if you pushed me I’d say that the Kriega appears to have a few areas that look like they’re a little tougher. The standout is perhaps the 3D mesh back panels – on the Oxford the mesh is a softer material than on the Kriega. Will it wear out more quickly? I’ve no idea, and neither is showing any signs of wear at all. Of course, all our written reviews are kept updated, so if anything does change, you can be sure I’ll add it here.

Storage capacity

The fully waterproof main compartment of the Oxford B-30 has a capacity of (unsurprisingly) 30 litres, but another genius design idea here is that the removable insert (which is blue, making it easier to find stuff inside than a black bag, but not quite as easy as Kriega’s white) has Velcro hooks on one side and loops on the other. These inserts can be replaced if they wear out, but the genius of having opposing fastenings is that you can add more bags to create dividers. I have an extra Oxford Atlas B-30 inner bag (they cost £15.99 each), which means I now have two compartments in the main section of the pack – handy for separating dirty clothes from clean, fresh food from frozen, electronic kit from water and food… you get the idea, but it’s one of those things that makes you realise just how carefully Oxford’s designers have thought about this luggage.

In addition to the main compartment, there’s a tall, zipped pocket on the back panel and another on the side. On the opposite side is a zipped mesh panel that could be great for carrying wet gear that you want to dry in the wind as you ride. A 0.6 litre Sigg water bottle will fit in either side, or a larger bottle can go in the back pocket if you don’t want to pop it in the main compartment.

There’s also a small zipped pocket on the left strap, which is handy for earplugs, but not big enough for anything else really – you can’t get a credit card in there for instance.

On the right strap is a little pocket with a Velcro closing that will take a card, though I find it fiddly to get out, especially with gloves on. If it were about a centimetre shallower (but still with the cover flap) it’d be easier to use.

I’ve found that the £29 Kriega Harness Pocket I have secures onto the Oxford’s strap and creates a very handy quick-access pocket big enough for plenty of gear if you want to get at it here.

Overall, there’s more than enough room in the Oxford B-30 for a weekend away, for a decent amount of shopping or for a family picnic. A large laptop will fit in no problem, and you can even cram in a full-face helmet if you need to (though it's tight).

There is one suggestion I have for Oxford though... please make an optional bag liner that’s insulated. Having the opportunity to pop a cool bag insert in here would make this the absolutely perfect pack for pretty much any trip. I’d use it along with the standard liner, so one side had everything in that I wanted to keep chilled. Whether I was on the motorbike, cycling or out for a walk, I’m sure I can’t be the only one who’d jump at the chance to buy a cool bag insert.

Ease of fitting

Besides being a very versatile backpack, the Oxford B-30 can be strapped to your bike with the supplied ‘G-hook’ connection straps, or Oxford’s own additional luggage straps.

Multiple clips and straps give plenty of options to securely strap the B-30 to your bike if you want to, and you could easily attach the £79.99 Oxford T-10 Tourpack to the rucksack if you needed extra room.

The whole Oxford Atlas luggage system has been designed to work together, so if you do want to strap soft luggage to your bike, the B-30 works very well with the company’s Tourpacks.

As for comfort when wearing it, the Oxford B-30 rucksack is of course fully adjustable, and I find it as comfortable when wearing it over full motorcycle kit as I do over just a tee-shirt when I’m riding my bike. The main chest straps are fairly quick to adjust, though you need to take the pack off to tighten them. Kriega has some great metal adjusters here, though these too can only be easily made looser while wearing the pack, not tightened.

My only minor criticism of the Oxford B-30 is one that's come to light after about six months of use; when it's empty, the bottom pulls upwards a little due to the tension of the straps, which can press a touch into the base of my back. The Kriega has the edge here in its design.

There are also straps at the shoulders to adjust the position of the front buckle, and it’s the sewn-in markers that feature on the Kriega that I miss on the Oxford, but again this is a minor point.

The smaller straps on the rear of the pack have Velcro-secured loops to keep any spare from flapping about, while the chest straps have free-floating plastic loops that slide down to stop the straps flailing. These can ride up in use, but I’ve never had any problems with the ends of the straps slapping against me, either on the motorbike, push-bike or when walking around.

Loading it up isn't a problem either – cycling home for about 45 minutes with 9.78kg of shopping packed inside was no problem at all. The load is spread well over your shoulders and across the chest.

Features

One of the great extra features of the Oxford B-30 backpack is the hook and pocket inside (behind the liner bag) for a hydration pack (the Kriega R30 has this too). It proved essential on my ride into Spain during a heatwave, and with temperatures reaching 36°C while I was on the road for seven to eight hours, cold water remained cool throughout each day; an absolute essential.

Oxford offers its own 2 litre hydration bladder for £19.99, though I was using a Source hydration pack that I’ve had for about 15 years.

Waterproofing

The main compartment is a roll-top design and totally waterproof. The back and side pockets have water-resistant zips that’ll help keep rain out, but it will eventually find its way through a little. I had no issues in the pouring rain of my ride to Spain, but just keep in mind that a proper deluge could make your gear in here damp.

It’s the same story on the Kriega R30’s additional pockets, but I was slightly concerned that the opening where you can pass a hydration bladder pipe through might allow water in that could pool in the bottom of the pack. I didn’t notice any, and even if it did, it couldn’t reach the gear inside the inner bags.

Security

As with all soft luggage, if you leave the Oxford gear strapped to your bike when you pop for a wee or into a shop it is vulnerable. There’s no option to lock any of the compartments, though this isn’t something I’ve seen in any rucksacks (and you’ll be more likely to have this on your back anyway).

Three alternatives to the Oxford Atlas B-30 rucksack

It’s generally better to carry your luggage on the bike, rather than your back, but there are plenty of times that a rucksack is essential. They can also be extremely versatile and hence great value, so here are three alternatives…

• Kriega R30, £219 | An obvious alternative to the Oxford, this pack has proven tough and extremely good quality. Oxford has edged ahead of it in some areas but it remains an excellent piece of kit, like the company’s other gear. Read the full review of the Kriega R30 here.

• Oxford Aqua Evo, £89.99 | A decent pack with some good features that’s a lot cheaper than the B-30… but if it’s the smaller size that you want, I’d go for the £149.99 Oxford Atlas B-20 if funds allow. Read the full review of the Oxford Aqua Evo here.

• Alpinestars Rover Overland, £209.99 | We’ve not reviewed this, but it’s included as a premium, high-spec pack that has many of the features of the Oxford. gb.alpinestars.com

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the luggage we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

Oxford Atlas B-30 rucksack review: Verdict

The Oxford Atlas B-30 backpack is a very accomplished piece of kit, showing the value of the brand’s years of experience in motorcycle luggage. It’s well-made, has plenty of space and some truly brilliant features.

There are some design touches on the Kriega R30 that are absent from the Oxford B-30, but the Oxford has some great features of its own, and having used it for more than 4,000 miles on the motorbike, dozens of cycle rides, and several walks, I can honestly say that it comes highly recommended.

Do you own this luggage? Tell us what it’s like, or ask us questions about it at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.

2,105 miles with the Oxford B-30

Why this proved the perfect backpack for my trip