Alpinestars AMP-7 rucksack review | Neevesy gives five stars across the board after 10k miles

5 out of 5

Alpinestars AMP-7 Rucksack

from Sportsbike Shop
£132.99 View offer
Published: 12 September 2024

The AMP-7 (Alpinestars Motion Pack) sits in the middle of the Italian firm’s comprehensive range of motorcycle rucksacks and it’s one of the most useful, well thought-out I’ve owned. Over the past year I’ve used it on three big European riding holidays, countless road tests, in all weathers and it’s travelled the world on press launches.

Price: £132.99 (was £139.99)
Tried and tested by Michael Neeves for 13 months and over 10,000 miles

Pros

  • Comfortably standing the test of time
  • Light and easy to wear
  • Full of useful features
  • Easy to pack
  • Handy removable inner bag
  • Neat waterproof cover

Cons

  • Expensive, but well worth it
  • Practicality
    5.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Verdict
    5.0
Construction Padded polyamide and Polyester outer shell with Polyester lining
Capacity 22 litres
Waterproof Rain cover included
  • Adjustable waist and shoulder straps
  • Vented and padded shoulder straps with reflective strips
  • Adjustable chest strap with magnetic fastener
  • Zippable main and lap top compartments
  • Zippable internal and external pockets
  • Waterproof cover stored in a zipped compartment
  • Removable inner zipped storage back with mesh front pocket

How practical is the Alpinestars AMP-7 rucksack?

It’s secure and comfortable to wear on and off the bike, thanks to its padded, vented and shaped shoulder straps, which have reflective strips around the front. There’s also a buckled waist strap and a chest strap that moves up and down on a rail, so you can get it in the perfect position. The chest strap has a neat magnetic fastener that can you flick open with one hand wearing gloves. All straps are adjustable.

Alpinestars AMP-7 Rucksack chest strap

Its 22-litre capacity is spread between a large main compartment, big enough for everything I need on a trip and a padded laptop section. The front of the rucksack unzips all the way, letting you pack the main compartment like a suitcase, rather than having just an opening at the top. It’s the AMP-7’s best feature and hugely useful when you have lots of things to ‘Tetris’ inside. There’s a zippable, mesh-fronted internal compartment to keep knick-knacks safely in one place and a zipped front pocket for more smaller items. Four extra straps are used to secure the front compartment, which I can also use to hook waterproofs or your motorbike jacket on when you’re off the bike. It even has three carrying handles.

The bag itself isn’t waterproof, but it comes with an elasticated lumo yellow waterproof cover that goes over the top and secured by four toggles. It keeps everything dry, even in a heavy storm. The cover is neatly stored away in a zipped pocket at the bottom of the bag when it eventually stops raining.

Alpinestars AMP-7 Rucksack rain cover

Even handier is a removable, zippable padded fabric inner bag that looks something like a big pencil case. I keep all my cables, cameras and more knick-knacks in there and it has a mesh front pocket, which I use for earplugs and it can be secured in any position inside the main compartment on a Velcro rail.

Is it a good looking rucksack?

I prefer the AMP-7’s clean, sleek looks over a bulkier canvas-type rucksack with their plethora of straps, buckles and drawstrings.

What’s the quality like on the Alpinestars AMP-7?

It’s still in great condition, despite the heavy use. The slim, lightweight, padded, wipe-clean polyamide/Polyester outer shell is durable, as are all the various zips, buckles and straps. The only thing broken after over year’s heavy use is a tiny, inconsequential plastic loop fitted to one of zip tabs.

Is it good value for money?

Given how much I’ve enjoyed using this rucksack, the condition it’s still in after all these miles and its practicality, I’d say it’s great value, even at the full RRP. Better still, you can find them for less than a hundred quid, if you shop around.

Tried and tested by Steve Herbert-Mattick for five months and 2,600 miles

"Firstly, Kriega’s luggage is designed by bikers, for bikers. This is my third of their back packs over the last 20 years and I’ve never had one break. Even tumbling down the road in a 50mph crash, my ageing R35 escaped with a single scuff. They are so well made and will likely last a lifetime. The R22 then (taking its name from its capacity) has a waterproof 18-litre main compartment, lined with a removable, washable lining and a simple roll-top closure.

There’s a 4-litre non-waterproof front pocket (that doesn’t actually let water in), the two providing enough room to take my laptop, lunch and gym kit on my daily commute. The Quadloc-LiteTM harness does an excellent job of distributing weight evenly so that even on a recent 500-mile, 15-hour ride I didn’t have any fatigue across my shoulders or upper body. The moulded, padded straps and air-mesh back panel make it extremely comfortable to wear and with light loads I barely notice I’ve got it on."

Pros

  • It's spacious
  • It's genuinely waterproof
  • Lots of adjustability
  • It's rugged and hardwearing

Cons

  • It's pricey, but it is worth it
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    4.0
Construction 420D Cordura and Ripstop nylon
Capacity 18 litre main compartment and 4 litre extra pocket
Waterproof Yes
Warranty 10 years
  • 17" laptop pocket
  • Quadloc-Lite harness transfers shoulder weight to chest and body, giving all-day riding comfort
  • Air-mesh back panel for rider comfort
  • Removable waist strap
  • Four compression straps help keep the load stable
  • Optional hydration reservoir compatible
Price: £40.35 (was £49.99)
Tested by Gareth Evans for six months and 3000 miles

"For one reason or another I’ve been through three motorcycle rucksacks quite recently and this unassuming item from RST is by far the best of the bunch. For me and my lifestyle, it’s perfectly-sized, seriously comfortable, and practical. "

"The 42.5-litre capacity features a laptop pocket, while a trio of zipped smaller pockets hold stuff like disc locks or earplugs. But it’s the thick, highly adjustable chest and waist straps and breathable back protection that make this bag a joy to use. Plus, it’s taken a battering over the last six months and remains in perfect nick. "

"For the money, I can’t see how luggage gets any better than this."

Pros

  • Practical
  • Comfortable
  • Chest and waist straps
  • Breathable back protection

Cons

  • Hard to find stock
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
Capacity 42.5-litres
Construction 1680D polyester with PVC backing
  • Polyester construction
  • PVC backing
  • Multiple internal and external pockets
  • Additional laptop pocket
  • Chest and waist fastening straps
Price: $199.95
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$199.95
Tested by Alison Silcox for 18 months and 2500

"For me, a rucksack should be practical, comfortable and fully waterproof. This 23-litre bag from Alpinestars meets all these requirements. With welded seams and a roll-top closure, the bag is split into two sections, with a specific, padded section to fit my laptop. There’s also a handy, fully waterproof outer pocket, perfect for keys."

"For comfort, there’s a back pad plus the shoulder straps are also padded. There’s an adjustable waist strap, along with a magnetic fastener at the sternum. After 18 months it shows no signs of wear and tear, plus it’s never let wet in. Quality is top-notch, but it’s expensive compared to others."

Pros

  • Comfort and quality
  • Practical and waterproof

Cons

  • Expensive to purchase
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    3.0
Capacity 23-litres
Construction Waterproof fabric
  • Waterproof
  • One external waterproof pocket
  • Quick release roll-top closure
  • Adjustable shoulder harness
  • Quick release magnetic centre buckle
  • Semi-rigid foam back

So what’s the final verdict?

Over my 22-year MCN Road Testing career I’ve tested waterproof rucksacks, practical ones with lots of handy compartments and many have been comfy and easy to wear, but none have managed combine all those good bits and more, like the Alpinestars AMP-7. It does everything you want from a rucksack, but it’s fully-opening front flap, handy internal bag and neat waterproof cover are its highlights.

Price: £132.99 (was £139.99)
Tried and tested by Michael Neeves for 13 months and over 10,000 miles

Pros

  • Comfortably standing the test of time
  • Light and easy to wear
  • Full of useful features
  • Easy to pack
  • Handy removable inner bag
  • Neat waterproof cover

Cons

  • Expensive, but well worth it
  • Practicality
    5.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Verdict
    5.0
Construction Padded polyamide and Polyester outer shell with Polyester lining
Capacity 22 litres
Waterproof Rain cover included
  • Adjustable waist and shoulder straps
  • Vented and padded shoulder straps with reflective strips
  • Adjustable chest strap with magnetic fastener
  • Zippable main and lap top compartments
  • Zippable internal and external pockets
  • Waterproof cover stored in a zipped compartment
  • Removable inner zipped storage back with mesh front pocket