Tools for the Trails

Packing It In

The above inventory might sound like it’d take a team of mules to carry, but it all fits in an enduro-oriented fanny pack and a small pouch on a hydration system. Different riders will prefer different pack options, but here are a few issues that are important for most off-roaders.

Keep the weight down (height-wise) and rearward. If you can store heavy tools lower on your body – in a fanny pack instead of a backpack, for instance – do it. A bag slung over your front number plate or snugged against your front fender will interfere with handling more than one strapped to your rear fender. Instead of having one giant pack, divide the weight into smaller, less bulky packs. This principle is perhaps most important in the case of a fanny pack: a moderately sized rear compartment and two smaller side compartments on the belt will feel and work much better than a solitary mammoth chamber out back. And a small rear fender bag may allow for a noticeable reduction in how much you have to carry on your person, without affecting the feel of the bike.

Choose packs that have built-in organization. It’s a lot easier to find items when they’re kept in separate compartments or held in place by elastic loops. Rooting through a big bag of loose stuff is frustrating. Plus, free-floating tools are more uncomfortable to carry over rough terrain and more dangerous in a fall, since they can end up at sharp angles between the rider and hard surfaces (screwdriver tips and internal organs don’t mix). Keep things you need routinely (i.e. squirt bottle and rag for cleaning goggles) in outer pockets; side pockets can be accessed without removing the pack. A clear plastic pocket can protect your maps while leaving them easily viewable. Secure closures are essential.

Comfort is king. Look for wide belts/straps that distribute loads across broad areas and don’t cut into your flesh. Adjustability is great, but adjusters must hold their positions during vigorous jostling (many won’t). Check for compatibility with other gear. That back pack might feel fine in the store, but fit poorly over the shoulder plates of your roost deflector. In hot weather, you’ll appreciate ventilated panels on the surfaces that rest against your body.

The best options aren’t always where you’d expect to find them. Our favorite tool tote, the TMX fanny pack by O’Neal, cost us only $40. It has since been discontinued, but there are plenty of functional packs available in the same price range. And a CamelBak Lobo or M.U.L.E. is hard to beat for trail use, even with purpose-built hydration packs from dedicated motorcycle gear manufacturers.

Size matters. Buy packs that have enough room to hold the stuff you need, but not so much room that the contents flop around or you end up with lots of wasted space. The goal is to be as sleek as possible, while still carrying all the necessities. Also, make sure your pack’s construction is up to the task; a weak pack might burst in a fall or deteriorate with repeated mud-baths. Your tools won’t be of any use to you scattered in the undergrowth.

Resources

Adventure Medical
5555 San Leandro Street
Oakland, CA 94621
(800) 324-3517
www.adventuremedicalkits.com

Blue Ridge Racing Products
PO Box 248
Marble Hill, GA 30148
(877) 299-7353
www.blueridgeracing.com

CamelBak Products, LLC
2000 S. McDowell, Suite 200
Petaluma, CA 94954
(800) 767-8725
www.camelbak.com

CruzTOOLS, Inc.
PO Box 250
Standard, CA 95373
(888) 909-8665
www.cruztools.com

Motion Pro, Inc.
867 American Street
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 594-9600
www.motionpro.com

MSR (Malcolm Smith Racing)
1055 Montecito Dr.
Corona, CA 92879
(951) 340-3301
www.msrmx.com

Pit Posse Motorsports
3901 48 Avenue North
Saint Petersburg, FL 33714
(866) 447-6773
www.pitposse.com