A few days ago I received the
EVOC FL E-Ride backpack and today will be my first time using it, though without a spare battery inside.
For testing purposes this morning I tried out the water bladder and battery storage together. I am 178cm tall and of a slim and athletic build.
1. Battery:
I put my main and currently only battery, a Bosch Powertube 625, into the bag and wore it for quarter of an hour to feel the weight. First of all, it fits like a glove, absolutely perfectly, it's like the bag was made for this battery. The flap goes over snugly and it stays in place and perfectly balanced. If you have a Bosch battery, this is the bag for you. You can certainly feel the weight, but the bag is very adjustable and the weight seems evenly distributed. The battery feels very stable. I guess I will need to wait until I buy a spare battery and go for a long ride to really test it.
2. Water bladder:
2. I bought a 2L Decathlon water bladder (
SPORT TRAIL MTB WATER BAG ADULT - 2L Hydration Bladder ) and installed into the bag. It also fits perfectly and I think I have routed the tube properly on the bag but maybe this can be improved a bit. Either way the tube length is perfect for me and has plenty of reach to my mouth without being too floppy or short. I think you could further improve how it sits on the bag simply by using elastic bands on the straps.
3. Bike Lock:
For the moment I have put the Abus U-lock in the same compartment as the back protector, flat against it. I am not sure if this is a good idea for areas where I really think I may fall on my back, but for normal riding I think it's fine and means no space in the main compartment is used.
4. Space left for other stuff:
Main compartment:
So, with the battery and water bladder installed there are two main areas of space either side of the battery which will be big enough for waterproofs or a light change of clothes and some toiletries and snacks. If you are traveling light and aren't a total princess that you can surely do a weekend trip/tour with this bag.
Other compartments:
It also has a:
- helmet web on the front that, believe it or not, due to the strap adjustability actually easily fits a standard helmet with everything in installed. Awesome;
- front compartment that you can fit a few things in such as power bank etc;
- side pocket for a display that you can use for that or anything else small;
- webbing-esque pouch for a water bottle or umbrella or whatever;
- bumbag-style pouch on the waist strap that I will use for keys;
- other little zips and pockets for bits and bobs;
Preliminary verdict:
Wow. It's rare I am genuinely impressed with a bag I buy, but I would say that this bag upon initial impressions seems actually worth the high price they charge for it. The quality of the workmanship seems extremely high and there is a lot of thought that has gone into the design, with so many convenient bits of storage that at the moment I can't think of anything I am missing.
When I have used it for a while and done some more/longer rides then I will update the review . In the meantime, if you have any questions fire away.
