I absolutely love my Kriega R25 backpack, using it for everything from quick shopping trips to a recent Baja excursion where it comfortably carried everything I needed for a four-day, 750-mile, all-off-road adventure. I love everything about the R25 except its tactical military styling, which looks fine with MX gear on Baja but utterly ridiculous, say, café racing on my vintage Moto Guzzi. And if one more person asks me why I'm wearing a parachute…

Call me a fashion victim, but I wanted a cargo-carrying solution that offered all the moto-specific functionality of the R25 but with a less-technical appearance. The Motor Barrage backpack from San Francisco's Chrome Industries is exactly what I was looking for.

With a heavy-duty ballistic-nylon exterior and a welded-waterproof inner liner made from 18-ounce, 600-denier tarpaulin—the same stuff the US military makes truck tarps from—this rolltop bag is Baja-tough and has proven utterly waterproof too. Expandable from 22 to 34 liters, it’s big enough for overnighting, but load-stabilizing external compression straps cinch it down if you’re only carrying a laptop.

An ergonomically engineered shoulder strap, bolstered by a sternum strap, evenly distributes heavy loads, and an EVA-foam back panel keeps you comfortable even after hours in the saddle. Durable metal cam-lock buckles instantly release shoulder strap tension—to easily slip the pack over a bulky, shoulder-armored motorcycle jacket, for example—then retighten just as quickly once the pack is on. Windproof “strap keepers” prevent annoying loose ends at 80 mph. This pack is clearly designed for those of us who ride.

My favorite moto-specific detail, however, is the fold-down tool carrier integrated into the front pocket—something essential when you commute on a 43-year-old Italian motorcycle! Designed to perform, built to last, and timelessly (under)styled, Chrome’s Motor Barrage is my new favorite backpack.

PRICE: $240
CONTACT: chromeindustries.com

Verdict: It’s not cheap and only comes in black, but no other backpack so successfully mixes expedition-grade functionality with urban style.