The Review | EVOC Explorer 30l Team Backpack
As riders we are lucky to have a great range of cycling backpacks that offer protection and ‘like it’s not even there’ comfort, but what happens if you want to carry some extra kit. Some of the best adventures take us far beyond the crowds, through overnight missions and long distance epics. The current range of packs on the market are great, but as soon as we start trying to pack a sleeping bag they all start to look a little small. Enter the €140 EVOC Explorer 30l Team, offering all the high performance features of the smaller packs but with a cavernous 30 litres of capacity.
Just because we need to carry a lot of gear does not mean we want to sacrifice our riding enjoyment, there is nothing more frustrating than riding in big mountain terrain carry a heavy pack that does not want to behave. Every jump or hard corner presents a unique opportunity for most high volume pack to joyfully try and kill you in various ways. So we were very pleased to see a great harness on the EVOC Explorer 30l Team, with adjustable chest strap positioning and load adjusters. It was also great to see the extensive venting on the back plate (not a protective back plate) which should help on the long climbs.
The main compartment is accessible from the top and bottom, and there is a draw string divider separating the two large compartments, perfect if you have wet and dry gear. All the other features you would expect on an EVOC pack are present, including a separate tool compartment, stow away rain cape, helmet carrier and compatibility (non supplied) with hydration systems up to 3 litres.
If you are riding with a heavy load on a bike it’s important that the mass is well controlled, and the EVOC Explorer features 4 compression straps allowing you to compress and pull the load close to your back. With the straps tightened the pack is very secure and the weight is kept under control if you are starting to enjoy yourself and getting a little wild.
Our Impressions
We have been using the EVOC Explorer 30l Team for the last 4 months, from short day rides with minimal contents, to big overnight epics and have been impressed. The fabric is tough and lightweight, and at only 1250g you hardly notice the extra bulk of the bigger bag. Whe partly loaded the compression straps do a great job of securing the contents and keeping everything where it should be. The harness is soft and comfortable and does not chaff even when fully loaded on 8 hour rides, and keeps big loads under control even when you are cracking on over rough ground.
We found that there was plenty of space when packing for big trips and access from both the bottom and top proved very useful, especially on one occasion in the rain when we realised the that pump was under all the food and kit. The well vented back panel did an exceptional job and the pack always felt breezy and light, a great accolade compared to other high volume packs. It would have been great to see some top or bottom straps allowing us to pack sleeping mats outside the bag.
Bottom Line
Retailing for €140 it’s certainly expensive, but if you are looking for a pack to carry more gear into the mountains without sacrificing riding enjoyment, then the EVOC Explorer 30l Team is one of the best out there. The lightweight construction, clever load distribution and comfortable harness impressed us all, and the pack remained stable and balanced on very rough terrain. This is one for those that like to take the kitchen sink too.
For more information check out the EVOC website.
Words and photos: Trev Worsey
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