Following on from our look at the R10, we are now going to look at its big brother: the R25 has all the same features as the R10, but on a larger scale. As the name suggests, it is a 25L bag. The only thing missing that the R10 has is the pen holders and little pockets down the inside of the main compartment - this has been replaced with two cool bottle holders on the outside, which are  the first water bottle pockets I have seen that sink into the bag rather than stick out. This keeps the profile of the bag tidy, as well as securing the bottles and keeping them out of the way. There is also a secure strap inside the main compartment to help hold everything in place when you open it, but other than this, the R25 is the same as the R10.

Let’s take the opportunity to take in some of the details of the Riut bags: they are handmade on sewing machines from waterproof, durable and anti-abrasive cordura, one of the strongest and most durable woven nylons available. The base is a fully waterproof, specialist thermoplastic polyurethane - I don’t really like the look of this too much, but it serves an important purpose and allows you to put your bag down in any weather, on any floor, and can wiped clean if necessary. The Cordura is foam lined throughout to provide extra protection to your belongings and ensure your comfort whilst wearing the bag. All that padding comes at a cost, however; these bags get very warm on your back, especially if you have a long way to walk to the train station or bus stop, and if you take this anywhere near your bike you should be prepared for sweat patches on your back.

The adjustable sternum straps can be slid up and down the shoulder straps to get a perfect fit for your body shape - this is a smart feature that I haven’t seen on a lot of bags before. Apparently, these straps can be removed and “easily reattached”, but blow me if I have worked out how - they can just stay there for now.

The last thing I want to mention is RiutBands: little loops of reflective material that are reversible for some added colour. These bands come across as a health and safety afterthought and look a bit naff - I would rather they disappeared and were replaced with reflective detailing sown onto the actual bag.

For all my nit-picking, I still like these bags: Riut have created some thoughtful features to help keep your belongings safe and make your commute as stress free as possible. RRP £129.99

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4.5 out of 5

Pros

Lightweight

25L

Specific laptop compartment

Padded shoulder straps and back

Fully waterproof bottom

All zips hidden from view

Built in bottle pocket

Adjustable height sternum strap

Cons

Gets hot after long periods of time

RiutBands look tatty and naff

Removeable sternum strap difficult to remove