Review

The Review | EVOC MacAskill Rover Trolley 80L

13.01.2016
by
Written by

It’s that time of year where thoughts turn to escaping the winter and heading overseas for some adventure, shredding unfamiliar dusty trails and drinking beers that you don’t recognise. Nothing’s better than throwing your summer gear into a bag while the rain lashes down outside, with escape and salvation only a flight away. We have been testing the new €230 Danny MacAskill signature EVOC Rover Trolley 80L to see how it shapes up as a travel companion.

We have been on three trips with the Rover, it's a pleasure to travel with.
We have been on many trips with the Rover, and it has proven a pleasure to travel with.
The internal partitioning and compression straps make keeping bike and casual clothing separate a breeze.
The internal partitioning and compression straps make keeping bike and casual clothing separate a breeze.

EVOC are synonymous for their excellent range of bike bags, and their experience can be seen in their luggage range too. Their MacAskill Signature line features a new grey denim colour and is made out of rugged Ballistic 1680D Nylon, so can handle the worst abuse that the budget airline baggage handler apes can dish out. A long telescopic handle retracts neatly into the back of the case for easy storage and all the zips are substantial to avoid any bursting when trying to force in that last pair of shorts.

The handle retracts with a push button release for easy stowage.
The handle retracts with a push button release for easy stowage, and the address tag pocket is great if you often leave your gear behind!.
The sunglasses pocket is great for last minute additions when packing.
The sunglasses pocket is great for last minute additions when packing.
The durable skate wheels are replaceable if needed, and make short work of airport floors.
The durable skate wheels are replaceable if needed, and make short work of airport floors.

In use the 80L capacity is just enough for a week long bike trip while keeping the weight down to 3.6kg; with plenty of space for a helmet, backpack, shoes, gear and casual clothing too. There is enough flex in the material to really fill the bag to the brim without the zips jamming and internal and external compression straps can be used to restrain everything. The best thing about the bag though is the handling, the EVOC is a ‘mountain biker’s bag. The durable and silent running skate wheels are great, but it’s the excellent stability that impresses most, without any of the unpredictable cornering that plagues many roller bags. After a number of exciting sprints to catch a boarding connection we have not sworn at, or kicked the bag once! When you have only one hand free the Rover is easy to maneuver, and the envy of those dragging conventional hold-alls around.

The retractable handle is long enough that even the tallest travellers don't have a walk like a neanderthal when towing.
The retractable handle is long enough that even the tallest travellers don’t have a walk like a neanderthal when towing.
The EVOC MacAskill Rover Trolley 80L has enough capacity for the essential week long bike holiday
The EVOC MacAskill Rover Trolley 80L has enough capacity for the essential week long bike holiday

The MacAskill Rover is great travel case; a master of curbs and rough ground, while lesser roller bags are doing their best to flip over at every opportunity the Rover glides on through. The long handle and silent running skate wheels make towing around the airport a much less stressful experience. At €230 it’s not cheap, but the durable materials, rugged build quality and sensible compartmentation mean it should become a trusted travel partner for many exciting adventures. If you love matching kit a MacAksill EVOC Street Bag and Bike Bag are available too.

For more information check out the EVOC website.

Words and photos: Trev Worsey

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