Position: Cycling Gear Director, the right amount of prepared
Pack: EVOC Hydro Pro 3
Key Element: Vest style, doesn't bounce around
These days, if I’m heading out for a longer ride I typically use EVOC’s Hydro Pro 3 hydration pack. It’s on the smaller side as far as carrying capacity goes, but I’ll usually supplement the 1.5 liter bladder with a large bottle on my bike. The same goes for the amount of gear it carries - it’s not what I would pick for a huge multi-day bikepacking mission, but with some careful packing it gets the job done for most of my bigger rides.
It’s the overall fit and the lack of side-to-side movement that’s kept the Evoc in my regular rotation. Compared to a traditional backpack with a hip belt it feels much less restrictive, and it stays in place even on the roughest descents. The front pockets are also handy - the left side is where I store a small multi-tool and a Dynaplug Racer Pro, the two items that work best when they’re as easy to access as possible. I’ll stick my phone in the right pocket, and maybe a snack of some sort.
I’m still on the hip pack program for rides under three hours, but for bigger laps the Hydro Pro 3 has been my go-to for the last couple of seasons.
Position: Tech Editor & Meeting Distruptor
Pack: EVOC Hydro Pro 6
Key Element: Just big enough, but not too big.
I'm a recent convert to the vest-style of backpack. Going between test bikes, I sometimes find it frustrating not to have a pump on each frame, or maybe even a bottle in some cases. With the pack, I have all I need ready to go. I normally take a tool, water, headphones, my keys, a small jacket and an emergency snack. On big days on bikes that do have a bottle, I'll often fill the bottle with Gatorade and then sip on the water as I go.
The chest pockets are something I use a lot, and they double up, with a pouch on the front side and a zip underneath. The pouches are great for food wrappers or gloves, and the zippers are were I put my phone and multi tool.
There is another pocket around the lower back of the pack, which I put a tube in. I carry a small pump, plugs and a shock pump on most rides.
