This review is part of our group test of the best panniers for rear racks, in which five everyday all-rounders go head-to-head. Click here for our buying guide, and an overview of each model.
The commute rarely ends at the bike rack. Between the office, train station, supermarket and home, a pannier bag often has to cover a fair distance without the bike. The Forrider 3in1 Urban Adventure bike bag tackles this reality with three carrying options: it can be attached to a pannier rack, worn as a backpack, or carried over the shoulder. Like all the brand’s bike bags, Forrider (part of the Austrian company innovative Goods 24 GmbH) wants it to be waterproof and functional, without compromising on style.
The concept promises its biggest advantages wherever conventional panniers become awkward. But how smoothly can you switch between pannier rack, backpack and shoulder bag – and is the Forrider equally practical in all three roles?
The Forrider 3in1 Bike Bag in Review
How Well Does the Pannier Perform in Everyday Use?
Fitting and Removal
The Forrider proves highly adaptable when it comes to installation. The two upper clips of the brand’s proprietary Quicksafe 2.1 mounting system can be moved sideways, and fitted with rubber pads of different thicknesses. This allows the bag to accommodate pannier racks with tube diameters of up to 18 mm. In our review, the bag fit onto all five racks we used – an impressive result, particularly given the considerable differences in their tube diameters and designs.
The lower fixing system plays an important role in this broad compatibility. Instead of a rigid hook, Forrider use a flexible hook-and-loop strap that wraps around the lower struts of the pannier rack. It kept the bag secure and stable on every rack in our review, without wobbling or slipping. However, the solution isn’t exactly effortless: threading the strap between the struts and spokes is a tight squeeze, and contact with dirty bike parts is almost unavoidable. Every time you remove the pannier, the strap has to be opened and fastened again. The upper carrying hooks, on the other hand, release with a simple pull on the handle loop.
Off The Bike
It takes just a few simple steps to transform the Forrider 3in1 Urban Adventure from a pannier into a backpack: the mounting system disappears behind a padded cover, while the straps emerge from their closed compartment and clip in at the bottom. The conversion is quick, and the shoulder straps stay clean and dry while you’re riding.
Backpack mode works well for short walks from the bike to the office, the train platform or through the supermarket. One detail we particularly appreciated in our Forrider review: after a rain shower, the shoulder straps are still dry inside the sealed rear compartment. On longer walks, however, the Quicksafe 2.1 mounting system stored in the back panel makes itself known. It creates a bulge, preventing the backpack from sitting flat against your back, and compromising pressure distribution.
That makes the additional shoulder strap all the more useful. Worn as a shoulder bag, the Forrider 3in1 is comfortable to carry, and the curved back panel is no longer an issue. Away from the bike, it remains a flexible companion for shopping, or a trip through the city.
Bag Organisation
The roll-top lets you adapt the Forrider’s capacity to your needs. Up to 27 litres are available – enough for a laptop, documents and a jacket, as well as a larger grocery run, or swimming gear after work. A removable inner sleeve provides dedicated storage for a laptop and documents. It adds some structure for the working day, but can be taken out completely when it isn’t needed. Reflective details improve visibility in low light conditions. However, we would have liked the organiser system to be a lighter colour, making it easier to see inside the bag.
Is the Forrider 3in1 Bike Bag Waterproof?
Absolutely – the Forrider stayed watertight throughout our three-minute heavy rain simulation. The contents remained dry, making the bag suitable for commuting and shopping even in a serious downpour.
Who Is the Forrider 3in1 Bike Bag For?
This 3-in-1 pannier bag is particularly well suited to routines that involve frequent transitions: onto the bike in the morning, then into the office, onto the train or quickly through the supermarket. Its broad compatibility, adaptable capacity and three carrying options make it especially compelling wherever a conventional pannier would become awkward once the bike is parked.
However, we wouldn’t recommend it to anyone planning to carry the bag on their back for extended periods. The mounting system creates a bulge in the back panel, which affects carrying comfort while walking.
Conclusions
The Forrider 3in1 Urban Adventure scores with excellent compatibility across a wide range of pannier racks, a secure and wobble-free fit, and flexible internal organisation. As a backpack, however, it is best suited to short distances, as the mounting system presses uncomfortably into your back. Thanks to its generous 27 litre capacity, the adaptable 3-in-1 bag remains a versatile and attractive solution for commuting, shopping and leisure.
Tops
- Compatible with all five pannier racks in our review
- Tool-free mounting system with a stable, wobble-free fit
- Stayed dry in the rain test
- Quick transition between pannier, backpack and shoulder-bag modes
Flops
- Lower hook-and-loop strap is slightly fiddly to use
- Stored mounting system causes the back panel to bulge
For more info, visit Forrider
The Test Field
All panniers for rear racks in review: deuter XBERG 25 Cycling Backpack | Forrider 3in1 Urban Adventure Pannier | ORTLIEB BACK-ROLLER 20L Zip-Pocket | Thule Shield InLock 23L Cycling Backpack | VAUDE Aqua Back Single
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Words: Felicia Nastal Photos: Jan Fock
About the Author
Felicia Nastal
Communication Specialist
Felicia Nastal combines her academic rigour and eye for detail with a passion for technical lifestyle products at 41 Publishing. As a qualified Germanist with over ten years of teaching experience, she is responsible for in-depth individual and comparison tests for DOWNTOWN magazine. She translates complex features into clear value propositions – whether that’s coffee culture, car camping or high-tech gear for everyday life. Alongside her editorial work, she oversees central tasks in SEO and GEO optimisation, as well as manufacturer communication at 41 Publishing.
