Rogla 5

The Deuter Rogla 5 rides like a vest, not a backpack. It wraps your torso, stays put when you throw the bike around, and keeps water, tools and food on you without the bounce or the sweaty back of a bigger pack.

Who it's for

Mountain bikers and road and gravel riders on fast rides of a few hours. Deuter rate it five out of five for MTB and for road and gravel. Think a hot morning loop at Nerang, a Mt Coot-tha lap after work, or a long gravel ride where the bottle cages are not enough. The 1-3 kg recommended load is water, a tube, tools, a phone and food.

Capacity, and what actually fits

5 litres in a slim 36 x 25 x 6 cm body: a 2 L bladder and a wind shell in the main compartment, with a tool organiser and pump attachment for your flat kit. The pockets on the shoulder straps hold your phone, gels and bars where you can grab them mid-ride, and your jersey pockets stay accessible behind.

How it carries

The vest-style harness uses wide, perforated shoulder straps and soft material against your back to wrap the torso. Two individually adjustable sternum straps and elastic hook-and-loop straps at the ribcage cinch it tight while leaving room to breathe hard on a climb. The Lite back is breathable mesh with ventilation slits, so heat escapes.

Fitting it

Deuter list the Rogla 5 as a unisex fit for back lengths of 44-54 cm and riders around 170-195 cm tall. Put it on with the bladder full, set the two sternum straps at a comfortable height, then snug the ribcage straps until the pack stops moving when you stand on the pedals.

Access and organisation

A zip runs around the main compartment so it opens wide. Inside there is a valuables pocket and a key clip. Outside, a bungee cord holds a jacket, a helmet attachment carries your lid off the bike, and reflective details and a glasses stow loop round it out.

• Zip-around main compartment with tool organiser
• Shoulder strap pockets for phone, gels and bars
• Hydration compatible, up to 2 L
• Bicycle pump attachment and bungee cord
• Helmet attachment; reflective details

Weight

350 g. Light enough that you forget it is there, which is the whole point of a vest-style pack.

Looking after it

The body is 120D recycled high-tenacity polyamide finished without intentionally added PFAS, and the pack is bluepass and Green Button certified.