2019 Evoc Neo 16L Grey Size S/M – Long-Term review

After 4 years of use it was time to retire it in 2022.

I decided to try the Neo 16L S/M backpack.

I think I went for the right size, the size of the backpack is quite similar, but fit is improved, more comfortable at the collarbone.

First ride with new backpack.

I can definitely feel some more cooling in the back.

The new chest strap can be closed and opened with one hand.

The magnetic hose thing is nice feature.

A Peak Design Travel Tripod fits, But a full frame camera barely fit’s it’s too snug.

The waist belt is thinner, and more breathable.

The Neo backpack has a mesh pocket on the left, without any zipper which previous packs did not have. this could be idea for a snack, temporarily store gloves, or packaging from food you ate.

The backpack stays in place more for sure. There is a hole for a cable at the phone, lens compartment, so you can connect a charger, nice feature to have, now I can keep my phone there, and charge it instead of putting it at top and it possibly shifting and disconnecting.

As my previous backpack Evoc Freeride Enduro Team 16L it has a small strap for mounting a rear light.

The Phone Compartment:

It has a port for cable for charging you phone, my Gopro 4 session also fits there on top the the phone screen, So I can charge one att the time or both.

Here you can see an example of what fits inside.
it will fit a usual sized wallet, passport, a big smartphone like Sony XZ premium with Love Mei case, and a Go Pro 4 session. So I can charge the camera or the phone with cable that comes ut of a hole, same type as the water hose comes out of but it’s for charging cables and it comes it’s in the compartment, I have a battery bank hanging off the same strap that holds the bladder.

,

drinking hose port

Cat S50 inside the side pocket

The Rain cover:

The rain cover goes in here.

This backpack does not have straps for Knee pad hidden in the pocket, it only houses the rain cover. I don’t know why Evoc decided to not include this feature.

Evoc Neo 16L the magnet clip comes off way too easily, So make sure to not have tthe hose too tight it might pull the clip out. I think this solution is too flimsy,

The compartment can be open fully and flat,

The backpack in use.

Long term use wear:

The wear is the same as FR Enduro 16L and other Evoc products, apart from the the holes where the back protector sits, this wears faster. But as for the worse wear on the bottom, it might just be due to me putting the backpack on the ground more.

Taken on 29 October 2022

Taken 29 October 2022
In 2022 the outer left layer wore out, it started tearing, so I could rip it apart more if I wanted to, but after some use it got so bad I decided to retire it, but in 2023 I tool a look at it, and noticed it was worse than I thought, as there was wear trough the second layer, and the plastic parts holding the back protector has worn the seams around the hole and wore the material, it too started tearing.

Taken 29 October 2022

In 2022 I Had to retire this backpack, I have used it 4 years. As the back pack was worn out at the bottom I had to retire it. While the rest of it is in great shape. In 2023 I took some picture, so here they are:

I might take more pictures later.

Photo album

Pros

• The backpack shoulder straps work decently with a neck brace and torso protector. It does not get in the way, no need to readjust the straps, nor readjust the neck brace to make sure it’s not getting pushed down to the chest like with USWE Patriot 15. But the newer Explorer Pro backpacks work even better.

• Proper tool compartment, could have been bigger, but it does fit a lot, As you can see it fits the Fumpa inflator well in the large mesh pocket, the shock pump, and the handpump, but that lock is pushing it to the limit so I put it in the bottom of the mail compartment.

• As Fr Enduro 16L it has a crash whistle.
• It has a rain cover, so water won’t come trough the gap between the zipper gliders.

• Comfy waist belt, easy to adjust.

• The soft compartment has enough room for a passport, a wallet, Gopro Hero 7 Black, and a phone.
• The soft compartment has a port for charging cable.

Cons:

• The back protector wears holes in the seams and eventually tears the material.
• If you plan to carry a full frame camera with you, it’s too snug for that. Get the larger backpacks, Might as well go all in with largest they offer, and just tighten the straps.
• The zipper pulling handles are plastic and eventually fail.

• Only one zipped side pocket

I guess you can use it to put a snack or your gloves if you take them off.

• Side pocket doesn’t fit a smartphone.
• The hose holder detaches often, and easily, no matter where I put it.

Photo Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEmFtz4

some other reviews & info:

https://www.mtb-news.de/news/2018/10/22/evoc-neo_16l_rucksack-test/

EVOC NEO 16 l – Elegant backpack with a revolutionary back protector

https://enduro-mtb.com/en/evoc-neo-16/

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/eurobike-2018-evocs-newest-neo-protection-pack.html

https://reviews.mtbr.com/evoc-neo-16l-backpack-launched

Videos in German:

Product Page: https://www.evocsports.com/products/backpacks/neo-16l

Leatt AirFlex Knee & Elbow pads crash tested, short-term review – Not got the gnar, only for light crashes – Updated review new pictures, noticed cracks

I wanted breathable knee and elbow pads so I tried these, they sure are breathable, but not as breathable as Pearl Izumi Elevate, as those the D3O pad lifts off the leg, when knee is straight, so that gives extra air flow.

Kneepads

Album

Here you can see the pads in use with the Poc Resistance Strong shorts Credits:
Picture taken by Samir Tawfiq
Edited by me

As the elbow pads they are quite easy to put on once you use the right technique, but it’s a tight fit, but that means it will fit more securely.

Also at the warmest of days the pads are warm, but definitely a lot cooler and and less sweaty. The difference was huge from my previous pads which were Poc VPD2.0 DH long, those I got soaked in sweat and the past years I always got a rash when wearing them. But with the Leatt pads I no longer have this issue.

The knee pads in use

Pros

• Very airy/breathable, I don’t feel them, unless its a very warm day, then I can feel the heat, butt if there is wind or I am rolling fast I can feel the breeze.
• Light weight.
• the mesh pad is very robust, it handled an hard impact well, it does not even have any marks.

Cons

• Could have more coverage and thicker pads, I managed to hit my knee so hard going over the bar, I hit my knee where the mesh pad was yet it hurt badly and it swelled up all around the kneecap. Maybe the pad moved i am not sure, but I doubt that, as it was properly placed when I looked at it.

I took pictures of the injury

After I came home from the crash, Taken on July 14, 2022

July 29, 2022

July 29, 2022

July 29, 2022

Taken on July 29, 2022

• Leaves deep grooves in the skin that lasts until the next morning, or for longer.

• Comes with very long, unnecessary labels, but at least they are easy to tear off one by one, but doing so leaves white powder everywhere.
• On the warmest days I sweat so much the sleeves slide down at the top and up at the bottom despite the very grippy grippers, and the sleeves being tight fit. If I down sweat that much or get very wet they stay put better. But this is an issue that possibly can’t be solved, as it will happen with any pads. Sometimes the the grippers fold over at the thighs. Butt the issue does not seem to be too bad, if you check the pads from time to time.

• the coverage around the knee is not great, and there are big gaps between the pads.
• Comfort issues if not worn perfectly. Make sure the hole under the knee is centred, the end of the sleeve is not too low on the leg or it can hurt, same with upper part, too high and it can hurt, but make sure the pad sits securely so don’t go too low on top and too high and at the bottom.
• Bit baggy mesh at the sides especially when knees, the side pads look bit awkward.

So so I guess if you have quite wide knees these pads would fit too.

Elbow Pads

Album

Quite easy to put on once you use the right technique, but it’s a tight fit, but that means it will fit securely. I have to make sure to not have the bottom sleeve too high or it will be painful, I could feel it in my lower am to my wrist, so I had to make sure it was as low as it could be. As these pads have a sleeve design you might need to align the pads, so check if they are on properly.

Pros

• Very airy/breathable
• breathable mesh on inside of arm.

• Light weight.

Cons:

• Same cons as the knee pads

Verdict for both knee and elbow pads

As I mentioned in the after with the pads laying on a shelf noticed the pads had cracks at the flat areas of the pads, both the knee and elbow pads and both pads of each. I don’t know if that was due to the crash or if they the pads are just slowly tearing apart. But in any case this is a bad sign. It’s unacceptable for pads to fail like this.

First impressions were like these were breathable pads suitable for light cross-country, or trail riding, where it does not get gnarly, these pads are for when you want to avoid cuts, and protect against small falls, just falling over. But not falling from heights.

I can’t recommend them as Pearl Izumi Elevate has a thicker pack, is at least as breathable, much more comfortable.

I got a refund from Bikeshop.no So at least I did not waste money on it.