I went back and forth between this fanny pack (let's be real guys... this is just a cool fanny pack no matter what you call it) and the Dakine Hot Laps. Both packs had high reviews and equal amounts of cons. I watched a lot of YouTube videos. This Evo is more expensive, but in my mind it is worth the money.
Pros: First, the pack feels and looks like it's some good quality construction. I'm used to wearing a hydration backpack, so transferring everything over to a fanny pack had me concerned; not only with comfort, but also storage space and stability. COMFORT: this pack is very comfortable! Even with a full bladder and storage I hardly feel it on my back. In fact, sometimes I forget I have it on until I want something to eat or drink. When fully loaded, the pack feels heavy to pick up. But when I'm wearing it, I don't feel the weight, standing or riding. This is because the weight is placed on your hips, which are load-bearing. Backpacks place most of the weight on your shoulders. With a backpack, my back would be sweaty pretty quickly, especially after long climbs. With the Evo, my back is able to catch drafts and keep it cooler and less sweaty. Even where the pack sits on my lower back it's not that sweaty. The Ventiflap feature that is used to release the pack from your back and give you an extra inch or so breathing room during climbs is a good idea, but I don't notice any difference to be honest. I just leave it strapped down tight. I also like the wider waist strap. It's double the width of the Dakine. This equates to more comfort around the waist, not allowing the strap to "dig in" to your stomach. The waist strap also velcors together, and then the final step is to clip the secondary strap into the buckle to cinch it down tighter. STORAGE: there is easily plenty of storage for tools, snacks and accessories for a 3-4 hr ride, unless you're one of those riders that has to have a backup tool or piece for every single thing that could go wrong on a ride. I fill the 1.5L bladder up with water and also carry a bar, a waffle, some energy chews, multi-tool, mini first aid kit, hand-pump with a Co2 cartridge, derailleur hanger and a chain link. There's also room for a spare tube, but I have that strapped to my bike. I could stuff more things in there, but I'm a minimalist. STABILITY: I was afraid that the pack would flop around when doing jumps but it doesn't. Granted, I'm not doing road gaps or 18' doubles. I'm the kind of rider that will do the 1-2' drops, and maybe a 3' if I'm feeling lucky (or round a berm and get caught off guard and am forced to do it). The pack doesn't flop around at all! During all of my research I noticed a lot of riders stating that the hydration tube could come unstuck from the magnet after a jump or technical section and flop around down by your feet. I haven't had this happen at all. Like I said, I don't do huge jumps, but I haven't had any issues with the strength of the magnet itself.
Cons: so far, the only gripe I have is that the magnetic clip that the hydration tube connects to comes off the pack very easily. This really should be fixed by Evo. The magnet is great and pretty strong. But the clip it's on that keeps it connected to the pack is a poor design. Today I did a 2 hr ride (14.5 miles 1500' elevation gain) and I had to reconnect the clip to the pack twice. Such a simple thing to fix.
So in conclusion: great pack! Comfortable. Stable. Enough room for 3-4 hr rides (maybe even more). Well made. One of the more expensive packs I researched, but in this case you really do get what you pay for.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 14.29 x 9.25 x 4.02 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.64 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 11.02 x 3.15 x 7.09 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.45 Kilograms |
| Brand Name | EVOC |
| Warranty Description | no information |
| Model Name | Bike Packing |
| Color | Black / Carbon Grey |
| Material | N 210D RIPSTOP HD, 3D AIR MESH, AIROFLEX |
| Suggested Users | mens |
| Number of Items | 3 |
| Manufacturer | EVOC Sports GmbH |
| Part Number | 102504120 |
| Model Year | 2018 |
| Style | Hip Pack Pro 3 |
| Included Components | EVOC HIP PACK PRO 3l hip bag for bike tours & trails (3l storage space, AIRFLOW CONTACT SYSTEM, AIRO FLEX hip belt, 1.5l hydration bladder), Black / Carbon Grey |
| Size | incl. 1,5l hydration bladder |
| Sport Type | Outdoors - Backpacks & Bags |
