April can be a hard month for some people. It鈥檚 the end of ski season聽but not really full-on cycling season.
But I call聽bullshit. April is actually a great month for commuting, because it鈥檚 cold enough that you rarely overheat聽yet聽not so cold that you walk into work with numb hands.
The one thing you might have to put up with is rain. Our El Ni帽o winter has come around, so I鈥檝e already had several wet days this month. To stay dry, I鈥檝e invested in some key gear, including a fully waterproof 听($140).
I take a laptop to and from work, so I need a guarantee that it will聽stay dry. And while some backpacks claim water resistance, I prefer a full-on waterproof rating聽so there鈥檚 no doubt, even if I鈥檓 pedaling 20 miles per hour in a gusher.
Chrome keeps the water out by using a waterproof, 600-denier polyester-nylon outer material that鈥檚 held together with welded seams. Unlike a traditional drybag, however, this聽bag is also full of clever amenities that help with commuting. My favorite feature is the adjustable roll-top closure that expands or contracts depending on how much gear you have to haul. In the morning, my bag is nearly full, thanks to my lunch, extra coffee, etc. But on the way home, I can cinch聽it down so the extra material isn鈥檛 flopping around in the wind. I also dig the quick-access outside pocket that allows me to stash keys, a wallet, and whatever else I don鈥檛 want to lose in the bottom of the main compartment.
Inside, there鈥檚 a padded sleeve that fits up to a 15-inch laptop, plus tons of space for a full day鈥檚 worth of gear. It can be a little annoying when the thing you need is at the bottom of the main compartment and everything else has to come out before you can access it. But once you鈥檝e had the EX for a couple of months, you鈥檒l get used to packing nonessentials down deep and everyday necessities up top.
Often waterproof bags have terrible, minimalist straps that suck. Thankfully, Chrome invested in wide, well-padded ones that carry a heavy or awkward load comfortably. There鈥檚 also some smart padding on the back of the bag that increases ride comfort and creates airflow channels, so you don鈥檛 walk into work with a totally drenched back. For those who care, Chrome offers plenty of fun color options, but I go for black, just to keep things simple. That said, I always throw on a blinky light for safety while I鈥檓 moving.