Summary
The VikingBags AXE-30 Large Back Pack is a rare value. After using this back pack I can safely say that the price point packs a lot of value. If you are looking for a motorcycle back pack with low wind drag and a comfortable fit this is the one you need.
Intro
Viking bags was founded in 2008 and they are based in Los Angeles, CA. They specialize in motorcycle luggage and offer everything from hard saddlebags to soft luggage and even back packs.
Construction and Features
Viking Bags Helmet Sling
This backpack is made of Cordura with leather trim. One thing you will notice is the form of the bag. It is not your typical floppy construction; this backpack is more like a shell. It’s not hard, but it does hold its form. To help spread the weight and keep the bag in place you will find an adjustable sternum strap and a waist strap.
The bag measures in at H18.5"xW12.5"xD5" and has a capacity of 27 liters. It consists of two large compartments and one smaller compartment. The smaller compartment is meant to protect your eyewear. It is lined and large enough for sunglasses or small goggles. Inside the middle compartment you will find an organizer that will help you carry your small items such as pens, keys, and wallet.
The largest compartment has a laptop sleeve and several stretchy pockets sewn in for organization. Most 15” laptops should fit in the laptop sleeve fine. I have a 17” laptop and I was not able to get it into the laptop sleeve, but I did manage to fit it in the bag just in front of the laptop sleeve.
One of the coolest and most innovative features of this bag is a helmet sling. The sling tucks into a pocket that would be near your lower back. You simply pull that out and connect the strings to the three D-rings sewn into the bag. This feature would probably not get used all the time, but if you were going to walk around for a bit it’s nice to have a place to put your helmet and free up your hands.
Comfort
I used this backpack to commute on my 1.5 hour drive each way. I do not have a small lightweight laptop so I was not looking forward to wearing it on my back that long. In the past I have had to carry my work backpack because I did not have luggage. I still remember the pain my shoulders and neck were in by the time I reached my destination. Back then, I only had a 40 minute commute each way and now my commute is twice as long. These days, I normally strap my bag to my bike or load it up in the top case, but I needed to do a fair review on this backpack so I packed it up and strapped it on my back.
To my surprise, the combination of wide shoulder straps, sternum strap, and waist strap helped to spread the load more evenly and my neck and shoulders were not exhausted after my long commute! I also noticed that the bag did not bounce around in the wind and it stayed very close to my body while riding. The low profile design was beneficial in keeping the wind drag down and made it more comfortable to use at interstate speeds.
What Could Be Improved
I could only come up with two things that I would improve on this bag and I think they could be done while maintaining the current price point.
The first thing I would like to see is a rain cover. Since I am carrying items like a laptop, rain could be a very expensive problem for me.
The second improvement I would make is adjusting the cut just a little bit so my 17” laptop could fit in the laptop sleeve.
Final Opinion
The Viking Bags AXE-30 Large Back Pack is retail priced at $70.99 and compared to some other bags I have seen I think it packs a lot of bang for your buck. Even in my long commute it was comfortable to wear and it has a classic design so you don't stick out too much if you need to carry it around town.
If you are looking for an affordable motorcycle back pack that has a nice set of features I think you will be happy with this one.
Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or would like to know anything I may have forgotten to mention please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond as quickly as possible. The opinions in this review are my own. If you found this review helpful, please consider supporting our sponsors with future purchases.