One of the major bonuses of attending events such as Outerbike is the ability to demo just about everything mountain bik- related. The events are hyped largely as an event to demo all the hottest mountain bikes this season. However, the demos extend much further to items such as backpacks and protective gear. Sure, you can hang out in your local bike shop wearing a backpack as a “test,” but nothing beats stuffing the bag to the brim with all your necessities and riding a trail to see how it really performs.
For women, it can be particularly difficult to find a backpack that fits. There are several more factors for women to consider than men. To this end, I decided to demo the EVOC FR Track out on the trails.
The initial factor that drew me to the EVOC FR Track was the incorporation of the back protector. I admit that I’m not one to attempt the kind of jumps that would typically warrant a back protector. However, any protection I can add to gear I’m already wearing is intriguing.
The FR Track is a 10L bag with numerous pockets to keep all of your stuff neatly organized in addition to your hydration system. It also comes with a rain fly, which I’ve wished my personal backpack had on numerous occasions… even in the desert. The shoulder straps were comfortable. In addition, this style of backpack comes with very stout hip straps to hold the backpack in place while riding even the gnarliest of terrain. EVOC added this feature not only for comfort of placement, but also to ensure that the back protector is properly positioned in the unlikely event you need to utilize it.
The hip straps were extremely comfortable and snug. Quite frankly, it felt as though someone was giving me a hug constantly. The drawback to these hip straps is that they were quite hot, even in March in Moab (granted it was in the 70s by the end of the day). I don’t think I would be able to handle this style of backpack during the peak of summer.
Overall, the pack provided ample space for my gear and snacks, supreme comfort despite the heat, and looked good.
