The smallest pack in EVOC’s Hydro Pro range, the Hydro Pro 1.5l hydration pack, is all about upping fluid-carrying capacity while boasting extra space for only the bare essentials. Whether used as part of a bikepacking setup or to carry water during shorter rides, this pack is stable, comfortable, and surprisingly roomy. However, its form-fitting build can get warm and it would be great to see a little more organisation in its main compartment.
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EVOC Hydro Pro 1.5L + Hydration Bladder 1.5 - Technical details
The Hydro Pro 1.5L hydration pack joins a range with two others and is designed to be the most lightweight in the range, this model is also the smallest with a 1.5L carrying capacity. Included in the price is a 1.5L EVOC bladder, which is great to see.
With an emphasis on minimalism, there’s not too much in the way of pockets or organisers. The main body of the bag is one big pocket with an internal pouch for the bladder. This is accessible through one zipped door that opens up a big ol’ flap that allows access deep into each corner of that main pocket.
At the front of the pack or the chest, there’s one zipped pocket and two elasticated mesh pockets that EVOC calls ‘nutrition compartments’. As their name suggests, they make for great places to store food or anything that needs quick and easy access.
For stability, the straps can be clipped together at two points, one magnetically and the other using a clip. Hydration hose management is well covered, too, with a hose clip on one side and a magnet near the mouthpiece end.
As for construction, the 1.5L Hydro Pro is built from the brand’s Airo Flex fabric said to be breathable and credited for good load distribution. At the inside surface of the bag – the bit that contacts your back - there’s an open mesh structure to encourage a bit of airflow and ventilation.
Unlike other low-profile backpacks like this, there’s only one fit size.
EVOC Hydro Pro 1.5L + Hydration Bladder 1.5 - Performance
I don’t tend to carry all that much when riding my bike. Most of it’s either integrated onto my bike or easy enough to slip into a pocket. However, when it comes to bigger rides, that often means I’m reaching for a larger backpack, which is overkill. This is where the Hydro Pro 1.5L has stepped in to expand and complement my kit-carrying capacity rather than take over completely.
It is a small bag, admittedly, and when its 1.5L capacity is mostly filled with its 1.5L hydration bladder, there’s not much space to play with. However, I found the leftover room more than enough to carry a small outer layer, a tube, tyre levers, and a pump.
That is only its main compartment though, and the bag’s chest pockets open storage opportunities up further, where a multi-tool and phone have become a mainstay in the zipped pocket, and snacks have found an easily accessed home in the elasticated mesh pouches that line the out of each chest panel. So despite the bag being small, it can still carry the bulk of tools on the bike as standard. That said, it’s more than capable of carrying the essentials and then some.
Even when fully loaded, the Hydro Pro is a fairly comfortable pack. It hugs the body and conforms to any curves. There is no hardback protector which is a pro and a con - it’s more likely to be perfectly comfortable but it has to be run with at least a semi-filled reservoir to keep sharp tools from poking you in the back.
But with its heavily elasticated side straps and dual chest clips, it confidently stays put, even when navigating the roughest terrain. It just doesn’t move, which is a real string to its bow, given that larger and lesser secured packs can knock on the back of a helmet when tackling steep tracks, or getting airborne.
I’m a fan of the Hydro Pro’s hydration hose clips. They work to keep the hose well out of the way when riding and do an excellent job keeping it in place. They also wrap the hose neatly around chest-mounted action cameras, so there’s no stray hose flapping in your footage.
Although there’s a lot to like about this pack, it’s not without a couple of downsides. Firstly, it would be good to see an organiser in the main compartment, to keep any spares in one place. Although it’s a small bag, I have found myself fishing around for that one thing I need. It would be a simple addition too.
Secondly, the bag can get warm. Even though EVOC has built-in air-flow encouraging tech, because it sits so close to the body, it’s not long before sweat patches become present. Generally, the bag flies under the radar and it’s easily forgotten about, it can just get a little toasty underneath.
EVOC Hydro Pro 1.5L + Hydration Bladder 1.5 - Verdict
This type of low-profile, small-capacity backpack has become fairly popular in gravel and enduro mountain biking – and there are now many options around. One of which is Uswe’s Outlander Pro 2L Hydration Pack. It’s a slim, Cape Epic-capable pack boasting the brand’s No Dancing Monkey design for security and stability. It comes with a bladder included too and will set you back £94.95.
Restrap’s Race Hydration Vest also fits into this genre of backpack. At nearly £145 it’s pricey but larger, with a 2L bladder included and an expandable lining that allows the pack to hold up to 7.5L in total.
POC’s Column VPD vest uses a similar build and it is worth considering if you’re looking for back protection, that’ll set you back £160 and there’s Apidura’s Racing Hydration Vest at £143 which provides more storage with a similar build.
If it is more capacity you’re after, EVOC offers the 6L Hydro Pro for £140, so the value is certainly competitive.
While small in carrying capacity, the EVOC Hydro Pro 1.5L and its 1.5L bladder make for an excellent pack that compliments an existing bikepacking or on-bike tool-carrying system. It’s comfortable, sand table and its compartments are easy to access on the move.