The Rail is Thule’s enduro/ aggressive trail backpack. It comes in lots of different sizes and they all use a 2.5-litre reservoir, but only the Pro model (tested) comes with a CE-certified Level One spine protector. This is made from Koroyd, which is the same stuff found in Smith and Endura helmets. It’s a lightweight honeycomb that is super- breathable but acts like a crumple zone during an impact. The material is pricey though, which explains why the Rail 12L Pro tops our list on price.

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Wedged in the pack beside the dual-layer spine is a 2.5L HydraPak reservoir. This features a slide closure for easy cleaning and filling, a magnetic hose clip and a lockable bite valve to prevent leaks before and after your ride. The front of the Rail 12L Pro opens to reveal an array of tool storage pockets, each individually labelled, so you know what goes where. There are two side pockets to take a shock and a conventional pump; a pocket for CO2 canisters should you want those instead; a generic tool pocket and a zipped mesh pocket for everything else.

Externally there are some attachment points to tie on a full-face or chinbar or kneepads. The pack even comes with a medium-sized stuff pocket should you want to off-load a dirty jacket.

Two wings partially extend round the hips, but for a pack this heavy, the thin waist belt doesn’t offer a lot of support. The back panel is split into two sections and both feature ridges to boost airflow, but this pack isn’t as well-vented or as figure-hugging as our test winner. What really knocks it back, though, is the high price and stiff Koroyd spine protector – it simply doesn’t mould to your body like the best ones here.