You often hear the old trope that gravel is just an updated version of 90s XC mountain biking, so it’s probably not a great surprise to see the resurgence of hydration packs, especially for those racing or looking to travel light by minimising the use of bags on their bikes.
There are many reasons to look at ditching your water bottles when riding off-road. Firstly, your liquid is well away from all the dirt and dust, so there’s zero chance of grit in your teeth or for those in wet and muddy conditions and riding near agriculture, something potentially much worse. You can also often carry more liquid, with most gravel-oriented bags designed to carry around 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid. They also often feature extra storage, ideal for the essentials like multitools, pumps and tubes and food.
Deuter make a vast range of bags for all sorts of outdoor activities, so I was interested to see how they have taken their 125 years of outdoor experience to design something for the broad use case of gravel riding and racing.
Construction
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
The key difference between a traditional MTB-based pack and a gravel-oriented one is the weight and close fit. The theory is that you need to carry less, and the bag itself doesn’t need to be quite as robust and crash-resistant. MTB bags also often have much larger bladder capacities, and some even feature spine protectors.
This means gravel packs actually have more in common with those used for trail running, and the Rogla 5 is no exception, though it does have more cargo capacity than pure running versions. It weighs 353g and has a 5-litre volume, which, though not huge, is plenty to fit the essentials in. Deuter recommends you carry no more than 3kg in the pack.
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
Along with its low weight, it also has a closer and more secure fit than a traditional backpack. I found the straps felt more like a gilet or waistcoat, with wide straps that are a complete part of the bag and use what Deuter refers to as the ‘perforated lite’ system. This system is very comfortable and, as it features lots of holes, very breathable. Those wide straps also have storage space, with one marked for glasses and one featuring a key tab.
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
The straps use a velcro strap system that sits just below your rib cage on both sides and is easily adjustable. There are two thin straps across the chest area, too, with one featuring a guide for your bladder hose. The bag can take up to a 2-litre bladder, but somewhat confusingly, it does not ship with one. Through testing, I used a 1.5-litre Hydrapak version from Uswe, which worked well, but there are plenty of options from brands like Camelbak, Hydrapak and Source available too
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
The main compartment has a bag zip and is easily accessible, and has separate compartments to keep your kit organised and rattle-free. It has two mesh pockets that I found ideal for tyre levers, a Dynaplug tubeless tool, CO2 canisters and gels. There’s a larger zipped pocket as well and a separate bungee strap for pumps if you decide to carry one as well extra straps on the outside that you can use to carry a helmet or jacket should you need to.
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
Like a lot of German brands Deuter works hard on their green credentials, with the Rogla 5 made using recycled materials wherever possible and without any PFAs or harmful chemical coatings. The main section is made using a lightweight yet robust polyester and although it doesn’t have a specific coating the PES fibred material does a good job of keeping water out.
My bag came in a fetching two tone green that was a great match with a lot of the gravel kit I’ve been testing lately, but it’s also available in a graphite and slate colour. Unusually for a gravel pack it only comes in one size which is designed for riders ranging from 170-195 cm in height; I say unusual as most brands tend to offer at least two sizes as they fit more like a gilet than a traditional rucksack.
The ride
I’ve used mountain bike hydration bags for years and the first difference I noticed was how small the Rogla 5 is by comparison. It is a much snugger fit, and in fact I was near its maximum size-wise wise , which was surprising to me at 82kg and with a 104cm chest. Its fit is different to a classic bag too, and sits much higher up than a hydration pack would usually, which, when standing, feels a little odd, but when on the bike, it felt perfect and didn’t put any extra weight or noticeable stress on the saddle or my shoulders.
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
The close fit means that the pack stays in place no matter how much I move around on the bike and despite the lack of a waist support. The bag would feel a little snug when the 1.5 litre bladder I was using was full, but this quickly subsided once I’d taken a drink, so although Deuter says it’ll take a 2-litre bladder, I think the smaller size is preferable. Fitting the bladder is easy, with a wide pocket opening and easy-to-use openings to put the hose through and secure in place and the tube length is easy to adjust mid ride with a gentle tug should you need to.
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
The storage space is small, but I found it just right. It meant I could carry all the things I’d usually stuff in a saddle bag or jersey pocket. This had two benefits: one was that it made it much less likely that I’d forget the key items I needed each ride. It also meant I could use my cargo shorts and jersey pockets for storing things like food and gels, which I found really useful on the gravel events I took part in whilst wearing the pack.
The separate pockets in the main compartment are helpful too. Not only does it make things easy to see and find in a rush, it also stops things rattling around when riding. I found I could fit a packable waterproof gilet or jacket in, though not much more. Again, for racing and travelling light as I like to do this was perfect, but for those looking to carry more you’ll still need frame bags or a larger pack. The bungees on the outside are a good idea, but not something I used in practice as I’m never on a gravel bike without a lid.
(Image credit: Future / Neal Hunt)
The storage pockets on the straps are useful, but in practice, I found I used them for either gels or storing my phone and made getting to any food mid ride much easier than fumbling around in rear jersey pockets. I rarely take my glasses off when riding, but I found they would make the pocket much bigger and more noticeable when riding so it wasn’t something I used often.
All the materials used are of a very high quality and have lasted well throughout testing in varied conditions.; even after several cold machine washes, it’s in perfect condition.
Value and Conclusion
At £90 it first appears cheap compared to its rivals like the Uswe Rush bag which comes in at £139 / $149.99 / €149 or the Restrap Race hydration vest at £145 / €174 but when you factor in a suitable bladder at around £40 / $/€50, it’s in the same ballpark.
It is of high-quality and looks like it will last a very long time and Deuter’s green credentials are to be applauded. I found it to be a very comfortable, well-designed piece of kit that I have enjoyed using and it worked well in a range of temperatures without feeling too hot or sweaty in the recent good weather. The extra liquid capacity and ability to comfortably carry all I needed without strapping stuff to my bike on gravel rides was really helpful.
The tight fit might also be a limiter for some though. I’m not exactly what you would describe as a big guy, so I was surprised how small it actually is.
