Even though it claims an eight-litre capacity, the POC Column VPD backpack is primed for bigger days out on the bike, especially if you’re a deft hand with clever packing techniques. Complete with a slither of the brand’s famous VPD back protection, the Column is lightweight and impressively stable. It may not be as technologically endowed as its contemporaries but it’s certainly among the best cycling backpacks on the market.
- The best hydration packs for mountain biking - tried and tested
- Hydration packs - how mountain biking's original hydration system became fashionable again
- Rockrider XC Light Hydration Backpack review
POC Column VPD Backpack 8L - Technical details
POC says that the Column VPD backpack is ideal for short trail rides with its eight-litre capacity including space for a three-litre hydration bladder, tools and a snack. That bladder’s hose can be routed either from the left or right, by the way.
The majority of the pack is made using recycled materials and it’s built with three compartments. The main compartment is home to a sleeve for a hydration bladder and a rather neat organiser for tools, complete with elastic loops for a pump and other things you would like secured with elastic. Bolstering the feature list is a key hook inside the main compartment but there’s also a pair of secondary compartments that are accessible from either side and are ideal for storing a phone, a map or similar.
Moving to the back or inner side of the backpack is a ventilated 3D mesh that stretches over to the shoulder straps. Inside is POC’s VPD Air protector. It’s 19cm long and is sorted with ventilation or holes cut in to promote a bit of airflow. However, it must be said that this ventilation is not near the sophistication found in competing packs.
Where the Column sets itself apart from the vast majority of backpacks, is that it does away with the waist belt in favour of adjustable sternum and shoulder buckles. POC says that these straps do a good enough job of keeping the bag in place, so the addition of a waist strap simply isn’t necessary. On the chest portion of the straps are small pockets that are an ideal size for storing a phone, multi-tool or other bits and pieces that require quick and easy access.
The shoulder straps are then attached to the bag in two areas, one which keeps it close to the back and the other applying pressure from the outermost face, so it should cinch everything down.
As for weight, considering that it’s a backpack that’s kitted with a back protector, it’s fairly light at 630g.
POC Column VPD Backpack 8L - Performance
With that light weight and decent design, the Column VPD is one comfy pack. Its straps are wide which evenly distribute what weight is present across the shoulders and back. The VPD protector does take a little bit of time to warm up and get properly malleable but solely due to its heft of comfort, I’ve been very happy riding with this backpack for day-long jaunts.
And where POC says that it’s built for short rides, the brand is selling the pack short. Generally, I ride carrying very little extra kit and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what the Column can store. In it, I carry a multi-tool, three-litre hydration bladder, a pump, a Stan’s Dart tool as well as a set of regular tubeless plugs. I also carry one of Pirelli’s TPU inner tubes for good measure and a cycling computer that sits in one of the shoulder strap pockets.
All of that leaves me with tonnes of room left for a jacket and snacks. And even if I wanted to bolster the repair capacity up for almost any eventuality, there’s more than enough space to carry spare chain links, more tubes, and a bigger, more efficient pump. That’s without even venturing into the smaller side pockets that have been left empty for the duration of my test.
POC has forgone a waist strap having boldly claimed that the Column VPD doesn’t require one to be stable and that’s a statement I can agree with – but only to a point. On the body, the pack sits well and reasonably high up the back. And, for the most part, stability and security are very good, especially considering that there is no waist strap. Ditching this also increases comfort.
However, because there’s no waist strap working to keep the very bottom of the bag in place, it can move around while riding and most noticeably, when unweighting the bike. When unweighted through jumping or larger drops, the bag can lift, so it could do with the extra security of a waist strap. But with that said, not everyone is a fan of securing a bag around the waist and as such, the Column VPD poses a compromise that doesn’t impede too much on its performance.
Another niggle and one that makes a real impact, is that although POC has made some effort to promote airflow between the pack and the back, it’s not enough as airflow is prohibited. When using this pack, a very sweaty back is to be expected, even during cooler days as there’s nothing that lifts the inside face of the pack away from the body, such as EVOC’s Airflow Contact System or Deuter’s Airstripe System. This is a real area where the Column VPD could be improved and holds it back against others in its price range. It would also be great to see some kind of hose clip to keep the hydration bladder’s hose firmly in place.
On the other hand, the range of pockets available on this pack makes it super convenient to use, especially the relatively large pockets found on the shoulder straps. These have often become home to those things that I require regular access to, so a multi-tool and having them in such easy reach is a real advantage of the pack. It’s meant that I’ve not had to swing the bag around, open a zip, and rummage. Instead, I can keep the bag exactly where it is and get to work.
The internal organiser hasn’t been dumped near the bottom of the main pocket either, which keeps all of the important bits and pieces well within easy reach.
POC Column VPD Backpack 8L - Verdict
The POC Column VPD Backpack 8L is a back protector backpack and that shows in the £160 price tag. If we drop the money to £140 you can get the Deuter Flyt 14. It comes with a SAS-TEC back protector and works on the foibles found on POC’s offering with built-in ventilation and better stability. However, where this pack falls short is in its weight as it tips the scale at a portly 1,230g.
EVOC’s FR Freeride Lite Back Protector comes in at £170 and that extra tenner gets you a ventilated back panel. It uses a traditional waist belt and is missing zipped pockets on the shoulder straps, so it may not be quite as easily accessed as the Column but it does get a couple of extra litres of storage in comparison.
If you're looking for comfort and convenience in a low-profile and lightweight package, the POC Column VPD Backpack 8L is a good option. It’s a neat pack that can store more than it lets off, all while providing vital back protection. Some areas could use some improvement but it's an impressive cycling backpack on the whole.
