Castelli's desire to best outfit cyclists has grown to include the best gear bags, bike accessories and luggage. The most popular so far is the Gear Backpack, a lightweight, water resistant backpack with a bevy of features that will benefit any user, but will complement the lifestyle of many active cyclists. There is plenty of room for pre-race gear, even your helmet, which is better clipped outside when you are packing a full load.

This stealthy backpack has a 26L capacity and has a padded laptop sleeve, along with many thoughtful internal compartments, such as one that is tablet-sized and padded. The internal material is the bright Castelli red color that not only adds some style, but brightens and contrasts the interior to make it easier to find your gear. A slash front pocket is handy for smaller essentials, and a the right side has a stretch mesh pocket that easily carries a heavy bottle. Two loops on the front allow for easy clip-on items.

The shoulder yoke and straps are wide enough for comfort when fully loaded, even when waiting in the airport security line. The straps are adjustable, and the combination of a hidden waist strap and a sliding chest strap system provides extra stability when rushing to the gate. As you would expect, Castelli uses waterproof YKK zippers, which work flawlessly. The exterior material will resist stains, and in general keep the items inside dry. It is not considered waterproof, but when everything is closed up tight, the Gear Backpack can generally survive a brief dunking with no problems.

This is not a climbing pack, but an active lifestyle pack with technical features and a well thought-out organizational system. With a clean and simple look, the Castelli Gear Backpack will safely carry your valuable gear with an Italian purpose and style.