Clinging tightly below your saddle the Koala allows you to carry everything you need for your adventure, whether traversing the Peak District's rolling hills or bouncing from bothy to bothy in the Scottish Highlands.
The Koala has a minimalist design that reduces the pack’s weight without compromising on durability or carrying capacity. Available in 7 or 13 litre size options, it’s spot on for packing light, bulky and compressible kit like your sleeping bag and spare clothing when bikepacking. The roll-top closure and compression straps allow you to reduce the internal volume and keep your cargo compact and secure inside.
..Read moreThe Koala attaches securely using locking seatpost straps and webbing saddle rail straps with adjustable buckles. These hardwearing parts are designed to be easily repaired or replaced if they start to wear. For extra stability and reduced sway on rough terrain, the Koala is also compatible with our Exo-Rail seat pack mount. It’s simple to fit, sliding into place using the sleeve on the top of the pack. The 7L size is dropper post compatible when fitted to the Exo-Rail.
Designed to last, ride after ride, the Koala uses hardwearing materials and all stress points are reinforced using bar tack stitching. The main body is made from VX21*, a lightweight but incredibly tear-resistant sandwich of nylon laminate. And we’ve added an extra layer of super abrasion-resistant 1100D Cordura® along the spine to protect this high wear area from repeated rubbing.
With fully waterproof outer materials and a roll-top closure closure (3 turns should do it), the Koala is highly water-resistant, protecting your kit in bad weather. The stitching isn’t seam taped though so we’d always recommend wrapping any electronics or down items in a dry bag – especially if you expect to be fording any rivers!
Handmade and designed on the edge of the Peak District by our skilled factory team, the Koala comes with a 25-year Alpine Bond.
*The Limited Edition Camo colour uses X-50 fabric instead. X-50 combines a kevlar-reinforced laminate with a 400D Cordura® nylon face. This makes it lighter, stronger and more abrasion resistant.
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VX21 210D nylon laminate, 1100D Cordura® nylon
7L Pack Size: 37cm x 17cm x 13 cm
13L Pack Size: 41cm x 21cm x 17 cm
Minimum Clearance: 18cm
7L 212g
13L279g
Origin: United Kingdom
The Koala has a DWR coating which helps it to repel water and dirt. After your ride, wipe your pack down with a damp cloth or use mild soap on more stubborn muck. Leave to air dry.
We’d like bolt-on mounts for the Pod or Cradle and a web mesh on the Koala whose straps also need tucking in neatly. Otherwise, Alpkit has delivered an excellent set of fast but accurate to fit bikepacking bags using an even tougher selection of premium materials to make them more durable than the predecessors we’ve had no issues with over years of use. Details like the replaceable straps boost longevity too.
Pricing is excellent, considering the bags are all handmade in the UK and come with a 25-year ‘Alpine Bond’ guarantee against defects and reduced-price repair if you accidentally trash them.
Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)