EVOC HYDRO PRO 3 PACK REVIEW

Words and Photos by Cole Gregg

At the end of 2023 we did our yearly gear round up, and one of the products that stood out to me was the Evoc Hydro Pro 3 Pack. I recently came to realize I never did a proper write up on why I like this so much and how I use it on my rides. In short, I won’t ever willingly go back to a hip pack…

ABOUT THE EVOC HYDRO PRO 3 PACK

The Hydro Pro 3 is at its core a way for you to transport water on bike rides. It has 3 liters of total capacity as the name might suggest, in which sits the included 1.5 liter water bladder. In the main large compartment of the pack, there’s a dedicated pouch for that 1.5L bladder to sit in, leaving some extra space for essential items. On the opening flap there is a zippered pouch, which extends all the way to the base of the bag.

The front of the pack features two mesh pockets aimed for quick access while pedaling. The external pocket can fit a 150 ml water pouch or your favorite snack bar/gel. Behind each external pocket is zippered storage. The left side has one large internal mesh divider, while the right side has the same size divider but split into two compartments (good for keeping bars or C02 canisters from wiggling around), as well as a key clip.

Keeping the pack secure through the roughest terrain is a cinch strap, with a classic buckle on the bottom and another cinch strap with magnetic closure up top. The upper strap has a magnet, which is designed to keep the hydration hose secure but easy to access. On the right side there is a simple clip for hose management as well. The side elastic bands are fixed in length, but have an adjustment strap to find your appropriate tightness based on what layers you are running under the pack.

THE DIRT

To start off, I wanted to mention the only thing I think the Evoc HYDRO PRO 3 pack is missing. While this is aimed at being a slim compact way to transport water, tools and snacks, there is almost enough room to fit a rain jacket in the main compartment, but not quite. My only gripe is that there is not an easy way to store a jacket in this pack. With the bladder filled, I am able to fit a very lightweight windbreaker in there, which is fine. However, I’d love to see some sort of external strap or netting on the back of the back, allowing you to secure a jacket. In my eyes, this would make the Evoc pack essentially perfect.

As far as how I use this pack, it really is my daily driver, even for short simple laps. The only thing that changes for longer rides is how many snacks I jam into it. One thing I always do is have my phone in the left hand side pocket, and a multi tool on the right. Having the phone in the bag rather than a leg pocket is my preferred method. It is still easy to snap a picture on the climbs or charge ahead and get your friends being idiots rallying down a trail blind, but prevents it getting in the way of pedaling or being quite so susceptible to damage in a crash.

I am a big fan of hydration, and especially supplementing my hydration. For longer days I will mix in two scoops of Redmond Real Salt ReLyte and 4 scoops of Ryno Power Carbo-Fuel. The 1.5l capacity with that mix keeps me going for 3K – 4k feet of climbing. I will also have two carb gels, a few fruit bars, and maybe a party size snickers bar in the chest pockets. In the zippered storage compartment within the main bag I keep my “fix a flat” kit; zip ties; a spare AXS battery, and sometimes larger protein bars if I have a light food day prior to the ride.

When it comes to how the pack feels on trail I am very happy with the fit. I nabbed Drew’s old USWE pack before purchasing this one, and that pack was a great start, but had some hot spots under my arms and on my neck. The thicker straps on the Evoc may not be as breathable as some others out there, but they offer the most comfortable feel. That thicker strap also has more surface area on your gear, which I think helps keep it feeling more secure through rough sections. The ability to tighten all 4 zones on the pack really makes a big difference in finding the right balance of comfort and security. If we have a big sustained climb, I will loosen everything up just to maximize comfort, but for your normal day on the trails I leave it cinched down as tight as it will go.

I even converted my partner Emma to the dark side, and she also is a fan. I do have to say with her smaller frame getting it completely wiggle free is not the easiest. She runs her straps almost as tight as they can go, especially during the summer months where we are not layered up braving the sub freezing temps of the Inland Northwest.

Lastly, I have found this to be an awesome trail building pack. If you dig, you know how easy it is to get 2 hours into something and realize you have not touched your water bottle, which is now a half mile up the trail. I have even used it on some infrequent hikes. It really is a solid bit of kit all around!

The Wolf’s Last Word

If you are like me and place high importance on staying hydrated and fed on rides while still having all sorts of necessities with you on the trail, I truly think you should reconsider dropping that hip pack and giving the Evoc Hydro Pro 3 a whirl. While it may take a few rides to get used to, it by no means has the same feeling as a traditional backpack. It will most likely carry forward onto my 2024 list of goodies I loved, too.

Price: $140
Website: evocsports.us

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