Admittedly, I’m more of a trail rider than a trail builder. While I’ve always intended to strike a better balance between the two, that intent became an imperative last Fall.
As you may have seen on the news, Asheville and the surrounding mountains in Western North Carolina got absolutely shellacked by tropical storm Helene in late September 2024. With some areas receiving upward of 30” of rain in two days, floods and landslides wreaked havoc on the steep topography, and the 40-70 mph winds that followed brought down an unfathomable number of trees.
A blanket interruption in power, water, and internet service pushed recreation far down the priority list. More than a month after the storm, most of the city was still without potable running water, but the stabilized situation meant it was time to assess the damage in Pisgah National Forest and start restoring access to my favorite local infrastructure — the trails.
After a few weeks of using a 25-year-old Kelty hiking backpack for trail work, I got curious about a purpose-built solution — big thanks to EVOC for sending over their Trail Builder 35 Pack at a time of urgent need.
Evoc Trail Builder 35 backpack specs
Features
With hundreds and hundreds of trees down on my local trail system, the main thing I needed out of a pack was the ability to safely and easily transport a chainsaw. You can use straps and some ingenuity to rig something up, but this pack does a much better job securing my Stihl MS 271 chainsaw with a 20” bar. Accessing and then returning the saw is quick and convenient, meaning you can tackle more downed trees in less time. Besides saw storage, the Trail Builder 35 has a lot more tricks up its sleeve.
In addition to the saw, the external attachment system can simultaneously secure long-handled tools like rakes, hoes, or McLeods, and the two tall pockets on either side are perfect for housing your gas and bar oil away from the rest of the pack. Removing the saw gives you access to the outermost compartment, where I usually keep a file, stump vise, and sometimes an extra chain if I’m planning on a long day. There’s also a zipper pocket at the top of this section where I’ll keep foam ear protection and a small multitool.
The whole outer compartment folds down when you access the main storage area of the pack, which lets you fill it to the brim without having to take everything out when the thing you’re looking for is on the bottom.
The pack is nice and spacious, and the internal dividers on either side are good for water bottles, handles for a breakdown tool, or in this case, my camera and tripod. I’ll also throw a first aid kit and headlamp in there in case things don’t go as planned. A top zipper pocket holds smaller items like snacks and keys separately so they don’t get crushed.
A soft pocket on the very top is a great addition to any pack for items you don’t want scratched like sunglasses or eye protection and a phone. It’s also useful if you use a helmet light with an external battery like I do. Down on either side, the spacious hip pockets keep my favorite snacks exactly where I like them.
It’s worth noting that the pack also includes a detachable nail wrap, which some folks might find useful. I’m mostly clearing trees instead of building wooden features, so I typically leave it at home.
In the field
I’ve gone out to cut with this pack dozens of times, and I’m incredibly impressed by it for a few reasons. Durability is number one — transporting my chainsaw was destroying my old pack with half as much use, but the Trail Builder 35 has shrugged it all off with no visible signs of wear. Details like the metal clasp system on the waist belt (instead of fragile plastic buckles) and Cordura reinforcement all over really highlight how durability is at the forefront of the design ethos.
Organization is equally important to maximize usability. My previous option had one cavernous opening for pretty much everything, but EVOC’s pack does a great job keeping contents separate. No one wants their dirty tools fraternizing with their clean layers, first-aid kit, or essential PPE.
And finally, while a chainsaw will never be a part of my regular mountain biking kit, this pack makes riding with one and all the accompanying tools and gear as painless as possible. It really does handle a heavy load better than I expected. The fact that the saw handle can stick out the bottom of the pack also helps keep the bar lower overall. My 20″ bar can handle 95% of situations here in North Carolina, and it only adds about a foot of clearance overhead — it’s a really important foot though, so proceed with caution. Forcible dismounts are uncomfortable.
In a pinch, any old pack will do for occasional trailwork. Still, after 15 or so days in the woods, my aging Kelty began to succumb to usage it was never designed to endure. I had another option, but the high likelihood of leaking gas or bar oil (or both) when constantly transporting a chainsaw meant I didn’t want to use my dedicated hiking pack for trail building work.
Bottom line
EVOC’s Trail Builder 35 has been a fantastic option, transporting tools, saws, files, and more with no issues and no signs of early wear that could turn into something problematic in the months to come. If you’re serious about trail work and want a pack you can reach for when you’re riding or hiking your equipment deep into the woods, I have zero reservations about recommending the Trail Builder 35.
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