Source Hydration Systems says that other brand's hydration bladders have irregular surfaces that naturally trap stench-producing bacteria and that its plastic membrane's surface is close to that of polished glass. Stench-reduced plastic bladders? Sounds like a good product to us.
Quick release hoses and large-mouth fillers make for easy cleaning and quick refills, especially for those who add ice for hot rides. The second from left features their in-line filter.
Source waistbands hold the packs away from the back and take the pressure off the shoulders.
Source double dared us to sip duck pond water through their portable filter.
Source fanny packs have shoulder stabilization straps.
Hydration bladder detail.
Endura Clothing
Endura MT 500 Waterproof jacket.
Endura cargo bibs were among the growing genre at Eurobike.
Details of the cargo compartments.
EVOC Gear
EVOC debuted a line of hydration packs inspired by a massive 45 kilometer downhill trail in Bolivia.
A little information in the inside pocket.
The yellow line is the topo-map representation of the route.
Evoc's handy EMT med pack organizes supplies for quick action. The bladder use a sliding seal.
The ventilated back protector insert is in a mesh pocket that also helps to keep your back dry.
A cross section of bags that EVOC created for cross-over sports.
Padded vest that could conceivably be hidden under a T-shirt for big-mountain purists.
I subscribed to the Fanny Pack program this year and it's been amazing for my local rides. Phone/water/multi-tool/food/c02 & and spare tube. It's really nice to shed the weight of my bigger pack on shorter rides.
been putting more stuff on the bike and the rest on the fanny pack. only bust out the camelback for all day epics... my friends laugh at me, but I'm slowly converting them. it helps that I have a sweet marlboro fanny pack.
Raceface do a pretty good one, and it's low profile enough you can wear it under your top so know one can see you wearing it I use it for all my rides these days.
Have a fanny pack from my running days and its perfect for this, cost 12 euros, hate to see mtbers getting ripped off.. mine has two small bottles, (more than enough for a quick spin), a phone pouch and enough space for keys and gels. It got me through 5 marathons and all the training, so its very robust. Tools etc on the saddle bag.
Won an evoc bag for fail of the month. And i gotta say i never would have imagined spending that much money on a bag before, but now i totally see how its worth it. I can hold all my normal riding supplies, plus 3l water, a dslr camera with a decent size lens, small tripod, and even a full face helmet on the back. It feels heavy as hell by itsself but once i put it on its really not bad at all, it just fits and supports the weight that good. And i have spine protection. Thanks evoc! Will definitely be buying more of your products in the future.
But who wants 3 litres of mouldy smelly water? This article proves that source makes better bladders. I mean, they are almost as smooth as glass! And you can drink pond water through them!
I don't understand where the smelly bag or foul tasting water comes from. I have a 4 yr old Lobo 3l and sometimes I leave water in it. Most of the time it sits in my truck, the other half the bladder is put in the freezer. I've never experienced bacteria growth yet. Why do so many people get the bacteria but I dont?
The one I got didn't come with a bladder so I just bought a Camelbak one and it fits and works really well. If you actually take care of it, let it dry, and maybe use a cleaning tablet like you should with any bladder, you won't have any issues.
I have a SOURCE bladder. Like the ones in the photos. The water has a plastic taste. Can't compare to Camelbak or other because I never used one, but this definitely leaves a bad/plastic taste in your mouth. Which it can't be good for you. Just like a bad water bottle. Like drinking from a swimming pool.
I'd just wash it with a drop or two of dish washing detergent. The key is not too much soap. Most plastics have a chemical used in the process to help them release from the mold they are made in. Freezing it after you clean it and then rinsing right after it comes out of the freezer always works for me. I have 3 Lobo's (2 kids) and I take better care of theirs than mine, but the occasional freezing seems to be an important step.
Anyone know if those filters are "on" all the time? or can I just turn on the filter when I'm in the backcountry where the water is questionable? seems like a great Idea for multi day trips.... But I wouldn't want to burn through filters with clean water as my everyday pack.....
It looks like just a Sawyer Mini, which you can get for $25. They can be installed inline on your bladder or just used as a purifier with a dirty pouch. Amazing ultralight system, hands down the best out there, and 100% reusable. You just back flow it with clean water when the filter starts to foul.
I was about to say the same. Sawyer Mini can be picked up pretty cheaply and plumbed right into the Camelbak hose. This is my exact backpacking setup but flow rate is a little slow for biking or intense activities when you need to gulp down a bunch of water on a short smooth section of trail.
if you pay $25, you got ripped off, check Amazon. I literally scrolled down to make the joke: "correction: "Source double dared us to sip duck pond water through a sawyer mini with a source sticker on it."" Oh, & I had pretty good success using a sawyer mini & a ketchup pump to push clean water back up the hose into a hydration bladder. No having to open the pack, no having you hydration bladder be a dirty water bag.
Idk if paying $4 more qualifies as a "ripoff"... cheapest one I saw was $21 (with shipping).
But yeah, there's a million ways to rig the sawyer. Ketchup pump is a cool idea. I use the squeeze bladder (dirty) connected to a Platypus (clean) through the tube that comes with it. Then I just kinda gently sit on the dirty bladder and wait.
I got mine for $16 shipped on Amazon(granted, I have prime) but a lot of Amazon pricing is dynamic based on competitors, so you have to wait sometimes.
Biggest advantage in my mind is trying to get a full dirty bag is super annoying. pump just drops into the water, go to town. Super easy. Certainly worth the $7 to try it. there's no real impedance to flow when the filter's clean, it's pumps as fast as a katydyn or similar.
The Endura products look spot on. I love their stuff. Have 2 pairs of their Hummvee shorts, and for how burly they are, they're still nice and cool out here in the desert.
Plus, they don't cost the earth either. I've had some of their liners etc for like 9 years, they are tired now and will be replaced soon, but for an item of clothing that sees that much use, incredible longevity. I'll always stick to Endura, even if they aren't the coolest looking, they last forever!!!
Ther Humvee is the only short a mt. biker needs. Have a pair since 2008, re-stitched the crotch a couple of times over the years, otherwise they are flawless.
I don't even know why other brands/models are sold - there's no need to.
My Endura Humvee shorts have a huge rip up the rear leg seam after less than 4 months of use. Unfixable too (at least with my sewing skills anyway)! Strange, all my other endura kit has lasted for ages.
So let me get this right: The landscape is 5 star. The experience is 4 star. The riding technique is 3 star. What exactly are we packing in Bolvia? Nice that there is a trail map for when Peruvians try to do me in!
But for real; is this the Death Road or something actually worth going down there for?
Source fanny pack with shoulder stabilization straps. Sounds/looks about as cool as a banana hammock. Just not seeing myself in either - count yourself lucky!
I've been using endurorider.pl/2013/02/source-widepac-3l for years and it's incredible! The only thing that happened was grated scale for water. Besides that no problem at all.
I guess all swiss citizen will get this evoc 1st-Aid pack for free. How can they put the swiss flag on it instead of the red cross for a first aid kit?
I've been using a Source bladder for the past couple years after 6 years of using a "Competitor C" bladder, and I can confirm that the Source bladder is much more resistant to bacteria growth and funky smells.
hey evoc a back protection back big enough for 1.5l bladder and cell pocket and co2 and tube and multitool that's it call it the freeridedrop and be done
I'm a hip pack fan. I don't understand why people carry backpacks on sub 3 hour rides, unless there is seriously variable weather. Especially when racing!
I got one this year; there's actually quite a bit of mesh though there's *a lot* of padding all over the thing. Yes, it does get hot, though pouring water over my head helps quite a bit. And if there's a breeze the air circulation through the back protector is pretty incredible. Would definitely buy it again, though it is a bit snug around my 40-year old midsection...
Evoc backpacks are kinda shit. They could really use some help with their designs and material usage. Their backpacks ride up like crazy, and take up a ton of space for very little storage. Their material usage is prone to holes, and they don't hold stuff well.
Strange, my experiences with the Evoc FR Enduro pack have been quite the opposite. It's the best pack I've ever had, the only negative things are the lack of waist belt pockets and that it makes me sweat like crazy cause it covers so much skin.
Doesn't yours rid up when you have it full and you try to go down a jump trail? I agree with the sweaty part and the lack of waste pockets. The latter would be a surefire improvement.
It seems to me that there really needs to be a buckle on top of the stretchy mesh helmet area to secure the helmet because they just get plopped out by the stretched fabric. The bottom of mine blew out badly with holes. And the thing that really gets me is that after I put my 3L bladder into the bladder pocket, there isn't really room left in the pack for other stuff. For one, it just can't hold a full face helmet efficiently in any way on the outside, because there aren't enough straps. For two, if you are going to be storing a helmet, you're going to have knee pads with you, and you can't fit knee pads in the "13L" that are supposedly leftover after a 3L bladder is in the bladder pocket. The smaller outer pocket is fairly useful. I put a tube, pump, wallet and multitool decently well.
Also, the top goggle pocket area could be velvety for goggles. That'd be a sort of obvious touch for a $90 backpack. Also, the construction is poor in that the key holder ripped off very easily (which is pathetic honestly. I'd expect that from a walmart bag).
I think rather than make it so damn thin, they should keep the bladder pocket long, and put a majority of the "16L" down low in a bigger area. Adding hip pockets would be a great touch like you were saying. Getting rid of that neck thing would be really smart of them too. The handle that digs into your neck when you are going down steep stuff, and the pack is sliding up.
Have two evoc packs, both have hip pockets, both have back protectors, both have mesh backs to keep cool, both really well made and still look good two years later.... Seems to me you chaps have bought the wrong packs,, that's not evocs' fault.....
I use it for all my rides these days.
[searches around for reading glasses]
But yeah, there's a million ways to rig the sawyer. Ketchup pump is a cool idea. I use the squeeze bladder (dirty) connected to a Platypus (clean) through the tube that comes with it. Then I just kinda gently sit on the dirty bladder and wait.
How fast is it with the ketchup pump?
The ketchup pump works far better than a dirty bag, I've used both. & it's almost lighter. I don't carry the spring, & I attach the drinking straw from the sawyer to the bottom of it to dip into the water. www.amazon.com/Heinz-511030-Easy-Pump/dp/B001AB4G7G/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1441037866&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=ketchup+pump
Biggest advantage in my mind is trying to get a full dirty bag is super annoying. pump just drops into the water, go to town. Super easy. Certainly worth the $7 to try it. there's no real impedance to flow when the filter's clean, it's pumps as fast as a katydyn or similar.
I don't even know why other brands/models are sold - there's no need to.
What exactly are we packing in Bolvia?
Nice that there is a trail map for when Peruvians try to do me in!
But for real; is this the Death Road or something actually worth going down there for?
Now I need to hit a good sale on their backpacks
How can they put the swiss flag on it instead of the red cross for a first aid kit?
www.evocsports.com/de/bike/performance-backpacks/cc-16l
It seems to me that there really needs to be a buckle on top of the stretchy mesh helmet area to secure the helmet because they just get plopped out by the stretched fabric. The bottom of mine blew out badly with holes. And the thing that really gets me is that after I put my 3L bladder into the bladder pocket, there isn't really room left in the pack for other stuff. For one, it just can't hold a full face helmet efficiently in any way on the outside, because there aren't enough straps. For two, if you are going to be storing a helmet, you're going to have knee pads with you, and you can't fit knee pads in the "13L" that are supposedly leftover after a 3L bladder is in the bladder pocket. The smaller outer pocket is fairly useful. I put a tube, pump, wallet and multitool decently well.
Also, the top goggle pocket area could be velvety for goggles. That'd be a sort of obvious touch for a $90 backpack. Also, the construction is poor in that the key holder ripped off very easily (which is pathetic honestly. I'd expect that from a walmart bag).
I think rather than make it so damn thin, they should keep the bladder pocket long, and put a majority of the "16L" down low in a bigger area. Adding hip pockets would be a great touch like you were saying. Getting rid of that neck thing would be really smart of them too. The handle that digs into your neck when you are going down steep stuff, and the pack is sliding up.