The 12 Best Bike Essentials for Ladies

DAKINE Drafter 14L Hydration Pack – Women’s

Built for ladies who’ve got places to go and miles to pedal, the Dakine Women’s Drafter 14L Hydration Pack is a great way to keep all your backup repair tools on hand for when a tire pops or you need to make an on-trail adjustment. Designed specifically for females, the Drafter comes bundled with a 3L Hydrapak lumbar reservoir and accompanying Blaster bite valve, so during a rowdy uphill push you won’t have to stop to get some much-need thirst quenching. Designated tool storage and a bevy of zippered internal pockets yield plenty of secure storage for your car key, snacks, phone and a trail map. Plus, the pack is compatible with Dakine’s Impact CE-certified spine protector (not included), so you can add on some extra protection if you like stepping up to the next-level, but want to mitigate risk in the process.

CamelBak Helena 20L Backpack – Women’s

Montana’s capital has an endless supply of outdoor activities for you to enjoy, so it only makes sense for you to bring along the pack that bears its name. The CamelBak Women’s Helena 20 Hydration Backpack offers a clean, simple aesthetic without sacrificing much-needed storage space on your adventures in hotter weather.

From the forests to the mountains, the heavy-duty nylon construction is built to withstand navigating through tight trees and getting tossed to the ground, while the breathable air mesh backpanel ensures a lightweight, comfortable fit in hot and humid conditions. The women’s-specific design features a short back panel and S-curved harness for a close, conforming fit so keep your focus on the trail, and its load-bearing hipbelt evens out the weight for a stable ride over rocky terrain. The 2.5 liter Crux reservoir holds enough water for five-hour hikes in the summer months, and is complemented by the side water bottle pockets for when you’d rather be safe than sorry.

Osmo Nutrition Hydration Singles – 24 Pack – Women’s

Ready for your active lifestyle, the Osmo Women’s Hydration Singles 24 Count Box contains single-serving drink mix packets for in-workout hydration. Developed by Dr. Stacy Sims, an accomplished triathlete and road cyclist, this drink mix is catered toward female athletes, with the approach that “Women are not small men.” That’s not to say that women don’t have the same athletic potential as their male counterparts, but she’s specifically referring to the physiological differences, mainly hormonal fluctuations, that require a different approach to in-workout hydration.

Until recently, most workout nutrition supplements were tailored to the needs of men, with male research and testing performed to back up products’ performance claims. As such, women’s supplements were given a “shrink and pink” treatment, with pretty colored packaging, scaled-down calories, added soy protein, and maybe a bit of added calcium. Not here. The Women’s Hydration Singles mix approaches workout hydration for female athletes in a much different manner than the competition.

Since it’s tailored to the needs of female athletes, the Women’s Hydration Singles mix is designed to counteract the effects of the menstrual cycle on performance. Namely, the fact that a woman’s internal temperature varies by 0.5-degrees Celsius during her menstrual cycle, while sodium losses increase and plasma volume drops. As such, this hydration mix helps you avoid premenstrual-related performance decline, while increasing overall power output and endurance.

Each box of Women’s Hydration Singles comes with 24 single serving packets, in either Mango or Strawberry flavors. One packet mixes with 16-ounces of water, allowing you to simply grab a single packet and head to the gym or trail head with minimal fuss.

Osprey Packs Dyna 1.5L Backpack – Women’s

Conveniently carry just the bare essentials with you on your next road run with the comfortably-designed Osprey Packs Dyna 1.5 Hydration Pack. Constructed to make the most out of its small design, this true vest-pack delivers bounce-free stability and utilitarian comfort as you tear up miles on dirt, pavement, and everything in between. Durable nylon fabric holds up against abrasive surfaces and pesky, snagging branches, while the included Hydraulics 1.5L reservoir with attached hose and sternum magnet frees up your hands for quick hydration when you’re rounding mile five.

Platypus Siouxon 10L Backpack – Women’s

The Platypus Siouxon Hydration Pack is made for steep hiking and steep biking. This adventure-ready backpack features a helmet carry system, fleece-lined eyewear pocket, waist belt with zip pockets, and a convenient hydration hose in the shoulder straps, which means it’s prepared to handle intense bike rides and long hiking treks. Its main compartment has multiple mesh pockets to store your repair kit and snacks, and the two pump sleeves conveniently secure a shock pump and tire pump.

Since the Siouxon Hydration Pack is made from 210D nylon with a PU coating and YKK zippers, it naturally repels water and stains after each use. Even if it happens to rain, there’s an easy-to-use rain cover in the bottom pocket so your gear stays safe and dry without any added hassle of carrying a plastic poncho. And since this pack is from Platypus, it has a three liter wide-mouth Big Zip reservoir, magnetic hose clip, reflective detailing, and a ventilated suspension to keep you cool as you ride.

Osprey Packs Kitsuma 7L Backpack – Women’s

When you’re hitting the trails for mountain biking or hiking but don’t need much except water and a few essentials, reach for the Osprey Packs Kitsuma 7L Backpack. Its front zippered pocket holds your extra tools, a spare tube, and a rain jacket while behind it, the external hydration sleeve holds the 2.5L reservoir to keep you hydrated on the trail. The backpack has an AirScape backpanel for ventilation and comfort while the light and airy harness with rolled edges deliver stability and comfort for your ride or hike.

Osprey Packs Raven 10L Backpack – Women’s

Whether you’re mounting up for a cross country loop or crushing downhill runs at the resort, shoulder the Osprey Women’s Raven 10 Hydration Pack for an unrivaled fit and easy thirst quenching. The three-liter Hydraulics Reservoir is shaped to match the profile of the back panel for improved balance and less sloshing, while the magnetic bite valve keeps the hose from whipping around when you fly down steep straightaways. Although fairly compact, the Raven has plenty of room for a light layer, a substantial snack, and all the tools you need to get your bike back to the trailhead after a mid-ride breakdown.

Osprey Packs Dyna 6L Backpack – Women’s

Bring along just the bare essentials with you on your next trail run with the Osprey Packs Dyna 6 Hydration Pack. Designed on the idea that less is more, this true vest-pack provides bounce-free stability and utilitarian comfort whether you’re pounding the pavement or navigating wooded trails. Rugged nylon construction holds up against close encounters with harsh boulders and snagging branches, while the included Hydraulics 1.5L reservoir with attached hose and sternum magnet frees up your hands for easy drinking when you’re in the middle of an intense hill climb. The zippered main compartment and multiple pockets make sure you bring along your gloves, hat, headlamp, and any energy-boosting snacks you might need during your outing.

CamelBak Luxe LR 14L Backpack – Women’s

A beacon of light in an otherwise over-saturated backpack market, the CamelBak Women’s Luxe LR 14 Hydration Pack offers dependable hydration and storage for all of your mountain biking needs. The Luxe LR features a lower center of gravity, which provides you with a more stable ride and well-balanced fit.

The Luxe is equipped with a streamlined silhouette that’s more than adept at navigating narrow trails. Meanwhile, the stabilizing and load-bearing hip belt keeps the Luxe close to your backside, so you can forget about the pack sloshing around as you ride. An Airfoil back panel promotes maximum ventilation when things begin to heat up, and the included rain cover shields your gear from incoming weather. Not to mention, the included water reservoir makes it easy to stay hydrated when you’re on the trail, and the Magnetic Tube Trap keeps your hydration within quick reach and secure, so you continue pedal pushing in comfort.

Gregory Amasa 14L Backpack – Women’s

The largest pack in Gregory’s bike-specific line, the Amasa 14L Backpack is designed to help you take on longer rides with little to no support. It has enough space for an extra layer, plenty of water and food, plus the tools, tubes, and other gear you need to ensure you keep rolling. The Shift RS Suspension system lifts the load, and adjusts the hip belt vertically for a customized fit for your torso. Matrix Ventilation Technology uses foam and mesh to lift the pack off of your back, ensuring airflow between you and the back panel.

Platypus Siouxon A.M. 15L Backpack – Women’s

Strap on the Platypus Siouxon A.M. 15L Backpack and head out for a ride, because it’s got everything you need to enjoy a day on your bike. This low-profile pack is the larger option for the Siouxon, and features plenty of bells and whistles, including a 3L hydration bladder, gear-specific pockets, and an incorporated rainfly in case you encounter stormy weather. The FloatAir back panel is made from a highly breathable mesh that’s tensioned over a wire frame, keeping support up and weight down, all while optimizing cooling airflow as you ride. Platypus being Platypus, they naturally want to keep you hydrated—they equipped the Siouxon with easy hose routing and magnetic hydration retention, so a refreshing sip is never far away.

Gregory Amasa 10L Backpack – Women’s

As the mid-sized option in Gregory’s mountain biking-specific collection, the Women’s Amasa 10 Hydration Backpack is your best bet for half-day rides. It can hold hydration reservoirs as large as three liters, and there’s still space for snacks, layers, and essential tools and a spare tube. Gregory’s Shift RS suspension system includes light foam with spacer mesh that assures the utmost ventilation, and the padded waist belt moves with your hips for long-lasting comfort.