The new collection features waterproof bags with TPU fastenings – ranging from ultra-light set-ups for races to everyday bags for commuting. It remains to be seen whether the system lives up to its promises. Initial in-house tests have already been carried out under race conditions.
Explorer Range
In addition, there are top tube packs, frame packs, multi-frame packs, a downtube pack, a pannier bag, a fork pack and a food pouch. All are waterproof and can be combined in a modular way. EVOC aims to cover every area of use with these products – from competitive cyclists to gravel tourists.
TPU straps and KLICKfix: Let’s get on the bike
The bags are secured using TPU straps. These are designed to adapt flexibly to different frame shapes whilst being gentle on the frame. Sounds good in theory – only time will tell how stable the whole thing remains on rough trails.
For the Fork Pack (4.5 litres) and the Pannier Bag (25 litres), EVOC uses KLICKfix technology. The advantage: you can attach and detach the bags in a flash – without fiddling about with straps. Handy if you take the bags off frequently. If you leave them on permanently, you won’t get much benefit from it.
Ultra Series: Less is more
EVOC has developed the Ultra Series for long-distance races. Smaller bags, less weight. The Seat Pack Ultra is available in 4- and 7-litre versions, alongside the Top Tube Pack Ultra (2 litres), Aero Bar Pack (5 litres), Downtube Pack (1.2 litres) and Food Pouch. This range is aimed at riders who count every gramme during the Transcontinental Race or similar events.
For shorter rides, EVOC offers the Micro Adventure Range – more compact, quicker access, various sizes. Here, the focus is less on ultra-lightweight design and more on everyday practicality.
Commuting Range: Bikepacking meets the office
The Commuting Range brings the concept of bikepacking to the city. Handlebar Pack WP 1.5 and Pannier Bag WP25 with laptop compartment – for commuters who don’t want to ride with a rucksack. Do you need a bikepacking bag for this, or would a classic cycle bag do just as well? It’s a matter of personal preference.
Field test at the Transcontinental Race
Ultra-distance athlete Jana Kesenheimer put the collection through its paces at the Transcontinental Race. You’d be hard-pressed to find tougher conditions: 4,000 kilometres across Europe, self-organised, against the clock. If the bags hold up and work under those conditions, they’re fit for everyday use. Kesenheimer says: “For me, bikepacking means freedom and independence. The new EVOC collection is based precisely on these experiences.”
It sounds like a sales pitch – but it makes sense. Anyone who spends days on end in the saddle quickly realises what’s annoying and what works.
From October with BOA
At the heart of the collection are the Handlebar Packs (5 and 9 litres) and Seat Packs (9, 12 and 15 litres). Both feature the BOA fastening system, which is otherwise best known from cycling shoes. The advantage: turning instead of fiddling with straps – which is supposed to be quicker and more precise. Whether this proves a nuisance or a help in practice depends on how often you open and close the bags.
The facts
- Handlebar Pack BOA WP: 5 and 9 litres
- Seat Pack BOA WP: 9, 12 and 15 litres
- WP Fork Pack: 4.5 litres
- Pannier Bag WP: 25 litres
- Seat Pack Ultra WP: 4 and 7 litres
- Mounting: TPU straps, BOA fastening (available from October), KLICKfix
- Design: Waterproof
- Product ranges: Explorer Range, Ultra Series, Micro Adventure, Commuting Range
Laurin Lehner
Editor
