Mountain biking is a simple joy, but like any outdoor sport, there are accessories that come with the territory. Water, pumps, spare tubes, tools, patch kits and maybe even food and clothing are all things that need to be pedaled up and down the hills, you know, “just in case.” Platypus is a company that makes outstanding water filters and bladders, and it only makes sense that they offer hydration packs, as well. The Tokul XC lineup features three bags made specifically for mountain biking. I got my hands on the Tokul XC 8 at the beginning of summer, and I’ve been racking up miles with it on my back to see if it’s worthy of your next outing.
Platypus doesn’t skimp on the water capacity. The 3.0 Big Zip reservoir comes standard on the XC 8, meaning you’ll be plenty hydrated no matter how far your ride takes you. I never once ran dry, even during the dog days of summer when I was sucking down water with every turn of the pedals. In a separate compartment, five liters of gear storage (including tool pockets and a pump sleeve) was plenty of room to fit all my “just in case” items. I carried a tube, patch kit, tools, a few rags, pump and a couple maps with room to spare for food. The exterior stretch mesh pocket also gave me a place to store an extra layer in case the rains came. The Tokul XC 8 had just enough room for me to carry everything I needed, which is a good thing. While I couldn’t have fit anything else into the bag, the fact is I didn’t really need to.
The XC 8 weighs in at 1 lb. 3 oz., and even fully loaded with water and gear it felt great. I hardly noticed it while riding, even on technical trails with plenty of rocks and roots. The Tokul wasn’t shifting around on my back despite the rough rides it endured. Ditto for my gear- nothing shifted inside the pack, and my sandwiches never got flattened. The ventilated back panel was comfortable, and kept my sweaty self from getting too soaked, even when temps soared into the 90s. The shoulder straps are also ventilated, and simple enough for quick adjustments on the trail. Overall, I found the XC 8 to have a very minimalist design, which translated to a very light, comfy carry no matter what the trail had in store.
I don’t have much to gripe about with this pack. I’m not a huge fan of Platypus’ bite-valve design on the reservoir, but that’s a personal preference (and probably a bit nit-picky). The waist strap stash pockets seemed a bit on the small side, and I often found the straps had come out and were dangling off the bag by the end of a long ride. Fortunately, this was never a serious issue.
After almost four months of biking with the Platypus Tokul XC 8, I can confidently say this is one heck of a great bike pack. Well designed, lightweight and very functional, the XC 8 was the perfect companion for my days on the trail. You won’t be able to fit more than you really need, which is a good thing. With three liters of water at your disposal and no bulk to weigh you down, the only reason you’ll stop is because your legs have had enough.
The Good: Tokul XC 8 carries 3 liters of water, is well designed and very functional as a day pack for mountain biking.
The Bad: Stash pockets for the waist strap are undersized and not reliable.
The Verdict: Carries everything you need for a long day of biking, but is small enough to bring for shorter rides and won’t weigh you down.