The EVOC Hydro Pro 6 is the hydration vest you want for easy drinking and snacking on long rides without getting off your bike.

Words by Matt Miller

We often think that hydration bags for mountain biking have evolved into two distinctly different camps: the hip bag and full hydration pack. However the hydration vest proves that evolution hasn’t stopped, and there’s good reason to make room for a third option. Never mind chopping off the top half of a hydration pack to make it a hip pack; chopping off the lower half might be the better move.

On the trail

I really like full-size hydration packs on long rides where you need to pack everything in case of an emergency: rain jacket, tools, pump, snacks, and whatever else. As we know, they’re not always the most comfortable to lug around all day. 

Hip packs are great because they’re more comfortable, less sweaty, and generally, bounce around less than a full-size backpack (but not always). The bad thing about hip packs is that they can be hard to fit everything you need and many of them don’t stay where they need to and do bounce around on descents. 

EVOC’s Hydro Pro 6 combines the best attributes about both of these but in a different design. It has a slim profile, so it’s not the best pack if you’re looking to stuff a bunch of stuff into something. There is room for a small, packable layer on the inside, plus the 1.5L bladder, some small tools, and snacks can fit on your shoulder straps.

Bottom line

The EVOC Hydro Pro 6 hydration vest is a great pack option for riders who want a lightweight pack that doesn’t move around and has easy access to water and snacks.