Decathlon backpack in test: Inexpensive, waterproof and smart - the Btwin Speed 900

Commuting to work by bike has many advantages: You start the day on the move, your health benefits, and traffic jams and the search for a parking space are a thing of the past. Just a few kilometres a day strengthens your heart and circulation, reduces stress and gives you a clear head in the office. You also protect the environment - and often your budget too. How good is the commuter rucksack from Decathlon for just 79.99 euros.

The Btwin Speed 900: Black but not invisible

The French company is known for its strong price-performance ratio. Decathlon has also had shops in Germany for around 40 years. The 100th German shop was opened in Nuremberg in November 2025.

Decathlon products are often aimed at price-sensitive customers. It is therefore not surprising that the Btwin Speed 900 only costs around 80 euros. In comparison, brands such as Deuter and Evoc charge between 150 and 200 euros.
The waterproof look with roll-top fastening also looks modern and sporty. Although the rucksack is completely black, a band at the bottom reflects in the headlights. Unfortunately, this is not a matter of course for commuter backpacks - a clear plus point for the Btwin Speed 900.

Bag management: Good and clever

The interior has a lightly padded compartment for the laptop. Additional items can be stored in two further compartments. The back of the inner compartment is pleasantly light in colour - if the opposite side were also designed in the same way, you would have an even better overview.

However, the clever solution is that the inner compartments mentioned can also be easily accessed from the outside. This means you don't have to open the roll-top every time and rummage through a change of clothes. There is a zip on the side: open it, reach in - and you can access the inside pocket, which is also secured with a zip. Very practical. The only important thing is to close the outer zip again afterwards.

On the outside, there is also a small side compartment and a mesh pocket on the side, for a spare inner tube or water bottle, for example. However, it should be a little deeper for the latter.

Wearing comfort & safety: Comfortable & good

The carrying comfort of the Btwin Speed 900 is unspectacular, but perfectly adequate. The backpack sits comfortably on the back, the shoulder straps are remarkably well padded and comfortable. The back section is sufficiently profiled, but the soft foam compresses strongly when heavily loaded, which is at the expense of ventilation.

Instead of a waist belt, the rucksack has short but well-padded hip fins that sit comfortably on the flanks. A reflective band at the bottom makes the wearer visible in headlights - a good safety feature. However, it could be more prominent, especially with the dark colour scheme.

My conclusion on the Btwin Speed 900

The Btwin Speed 900 is the surprise par excellence. At just 80 euros, it is extremely affordable compared to its competitors - and yet it offers all the important features: it is waterproof, has solid pocket management and sits comfortably on the back with a medium load. With a score of 2.3, the Btwin Speed 900 from Decathlon is in the top 3 compared to brands such as Tatonka, Vaude, Osprey, Deuter, Evoc and Heimplanet. In short, if you are looking for a reliable, functional rucksack at a fair price, you can buy the Btwin Speed 900 without hesitation.

Name: Btwin Speed 900
Volume*: 22 litres (BIKE measurement)
Weight*: 960 grams (BIKE measured value)
Price: 79,99 Euro >> available here

BIKE EVALUATION: (School marks)
Carrying system (40%) 2.5
Handling (30%) 2
Safety (10%) 2.5
Weather protection (20%) 1

Overall grade: 2.1

This is how we tested it:

We tested each rucksack for at least 60 kilometres, mostly with a medium load and rather fresh to mild temperatures of 3 to 13 °C. We did not rely on the manufacturer's volume specifications, but instead filled the backpacks with specially filled bags - there were certainly deviations. In addition, the rucksacks were weighed and tested for their reflective elements; there is still room for improvement in almost all models. Most of the rucksacks are made of waterproof outer material. Some materials only have a water-repellent effect - we tested these under the shower head.

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