Road Bike Bag Pro

I have three (even four) different bike cases and my two favorite ones are this EVOC and the bomb proof Bike Box Alan. I have travelled with this EVOC case all over Europe, the U.S. and Japan and it has not disappointed me. I am not going to go into all the other positives that other reviewers have made, except for one that has not been mentioned, but let me start with an bit of an intro…

The biggest issue with large cases like this and the BB Alan, is finding a way to fit it into rental vehicles. They fit into my truck / SUV on the way to the airport but once you get into your destination, the challenge begins. I have had to deal with extra charges for taxis and Ubers once they saw the bike cases, and I have had to rent vans and large SUVs to get to my destination (I travel with my wife and a couple of grown up children sometimes.)

The advantage of the EVOC over the BB Alan, is the ability to remove the frame / wheels, fold the case (removing all the supporting stuff) and then stuff the folded case, bike, wheels and other stuff into a smaller overall size than just putting the entire case into a very large trunk. That is something that I cannot do with the BB Alan but I have done multiple times with the EVOC.

The disadvantage of the EVOC over the BB Alan is when the TSA inspects it. I have witnessed from two feet away how a TSA agent at the JFK airport tried to open the EVOC clamshell without pulling out the external supporting brackets holding the case upright. I had to tell him that in order for the clamshell to fully open he had to pull out the brackets by a few inches. I was lucky to be there because for other instances, I cannot picture how a clueless TSA again will open this without breaking those external brackets. Unfortunately, because EVOC does not sell replacement brackets (I think), I have had to place instructions outside the case stating “To open clamshell, please pull out brackets by two inches.”

Another somewhat negative I can point is that for a large bike (mine is a 56 Madone), I need to remove the crankset so the fork and rear axles can be placed lower and the saddle is not too high. I cannot imagine how size 58 or bigger frames will fit inside this without having to remove the crankset.

As for the rest of the other points, I guess everyone knows those already.

Overall, I prefer the BB Alan in terms of protection. I can literally put that case on its side and stand on top of it, something I would not dare to do with the EVOC. But if I know my car rental on my destination is a smaller vehicle (or wagon) or that I have to take an inter country train, then I bring my EVOC.

Short review - I am happy with this bag. It was hard to pay the substantial cost, but it was the best quality I could find.
Longer review - With cargo straps, shoes and helmet this weighed 53 lbs. It is big… but compared to the ICON bag it is the same height and width but about a foot longer. I left the derailleur on and felt like it was pretty well protected; The bike is as well protected as any bag I have seen YMMV. With practice, packing and unpacking takes about a half hour. Rolling it around is like butter, then it folds down reasonably small.
Negative - The buckles for the tie down straps are wimpy and not easily replaceable. I predict a problem.

Recently bought this case recommended by my local bike shop. Traveled to Puerto Rico on Delta from Atlanta. My bike is all carbon with carbon fiber wheels too. Initially, the bike shop helps me with how to put the case together and quick tutorials on how to pack the bike. Only thing that I had to do was removed the wheels. I got some pipe foam from Walmart to put around the rear derailuer. I strapped my hand pump to the bottom tube between fork and pedals. I removed the pedals too. Put and another small bag with my ratchets in the case. All weighed 54lbs at the checkin counter. Went and came with no damage to the bike

The Evoc Pro is the perfect size for my travels. Not having to disassemble my TT bike is a huge plus, and the premium materials, including the hard services protecting the handlebars/cockpit area give me the confidence I need to ship my bike. My new model also has reinforcements around the corners to protect the zipper as well. I'm super happy with this bag and can't wait to use it on my next events!

This bag hit the sweet spot for me by being large enough not to have to disassemble the bike completely (especially integrated bar and fork) and being collapsible and not too huge to store (like a hard shell). Of course I requires careful packing and frame protection that is not included (eg, frame kit from another bag maker). That said, the airline gods need to smile on you. Also you need to prepare to have a big vehicle at your destination.