Deuter may not be the first name you think of for mountain biking, but with the Flyt 14, the brand has created a backpack that’s comfortable, secure, and full of handy features. It’s just a shame that this particular colour isn’t quite as attractive as the price and that the waist straps need better organisation.
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The Flyt 14 is a backpack that’s been pared down to the essentials. As it turns out, to Deuter, ‘the essentials’ are a pretty hefty list. It comes with all of the usual pockets that you’ll find on a bike bag, an organizer partition containing netted pouches, as well as a separate zipped pocket that’s perfect for keys, phones, and other things of importance. Along with ample pockets, there’s a large main compartment with space for a 3L hydration bladder and plenty of room to spare. In the same compartment, there are useful SOS instructions printed onto the fabric. At the top of this partition, there’s routing for a hose at either side of the bag and hook and loop tabs on the shoulder straps to keep it in place.
Either side is an elasticated pouch, along with a rather beasty map pocket that spans the width of the pack. There’s also a rain cover hidden neatly behind a zip at the bottom.
The shoulder straps benefit from load adjustment. When loose they allow for better airflow, when tight they pull the load closer to the body, resulting in a more stable fit. On the left strap, there’s a neat and very welcome glasses holder.
The Flyt 14 has a lot of tricks up its sleeve, but my favourite has to be the SAS-TEC back protector that meets TÜV/GS certification. While it does weigh the pack down rather significantly (1.23kg all in), the bonus back protection is almost unnoticeable. Speaking of the weight, on my scales, it weighs 1230g, rather than the 1150g Deuter claims, though that's no big deal.
Deuter Flyt 14 | Riding
Before testing the Flyt 14, I didn’t know what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised. First and foremost, I was impressed with the pack's level of comfort and security. Before testing this, I reviewed the USWE Shred 16 which employs a meticulously designed harness to keep it 100% stable while riding, but Deuter’s offering performs just as well.
I’ve used this pack through all of the kinds of riding, and it’s not shifted under any circumstance. The wide waist strap and array of fasteners offer great stability. The Flyt 14 remains stable fully loaded and when only carrying the essentials. A couple of straps around the bag cinch it down when it’s not absolutely crammed, keeping it low and slim when that extra space isn’t needed. I have found a small issue here, though. There’s a lot of extra strap at the front which can get a little messy, even when tucked back under the elastic loop.
I was a big fan of the Air-Stripe system built into the back of the bag. It’s designed to encourage airflow between your back and the bag and it works very well. Any breeze that the system sucks up is noticeable, and on a pack this big, it’s more than welcome. The system is comfortable too, I was fooled into thinking that just two strips of foam would sit awkwardly but I was very wrong.
In general, the Flyt 14 is a user-friendly bag that can carry all you need for long days on the bike. The organisers are well arranged with an elastic loop for a mini pump, and there's a pouch for almost everything you can think of. The rain cover is just the cherry on top.
Deuter Flyt 14 | Value
£140 for a 14-litre backpack complete with certified back protection is nothing short of competitive. Usually from brands such as EVOC, you’ll be spending at least £180 for something like the TRAIL PRO PROTECTOR BACKPACK 10L, and although it's pricier, it claims to weigh only 1kg in its largest size.
Another option would be the USWE Shred 16 Daypack, that'll set you back £154, and while it's incredibly stable through even the roughest of terrain, it's super warm and quite a faff to set up.
Ergon’s BP1 Protect is cheaper at £110, but it’s a very different animal as it’s rather minimalist and designed to carry what’s more widely known as ‘just the essentials’ plus a 1.5L bladder.
What Deuter has achieved with the Flyt 14 should be applauded. While it has some quirks like the messy waist straps, it’s been well-considered and it's full of features that’ll be very useful during long rides. The back protector is a solid bonus too. In fact, for that, I can forgive the questionable colour (there are other colours available).
