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

2015 Evoc Freeride Enduro Team 16L backpack ca 3,5 years review

04.10.2019 I revised the review, improved some things.

The straps are fatiguing shoulder & neck area with heavier loads, But as long as don’t stuff the backpack full with heavy stuff, it’s fine.

Pros:

• Durable
• The pack got a lot of room for everything you really need for a ride plus more, if you want to use it for grocery shopping you can, I can fit 2 cola bottles or 2 1,5 milk cartons,3 1 L cartons
• upper pocket got 2 Compartments with an elastic band which is perfect for a wallet and a helmet light battery charger, I sue one for Gemini Xera light battery charger and the other one for my wallet. And it’s perfect a smartphone & Go Pro mounts, small chargers.

• the top pocket got keyholder
• soft material inside the pocket so you don’t scratch your camera lens smartphone, I can fit a Sony experia XZ Premium smartphone in the pocket but any bigger phone won’t fit, but I prefer to have it in  short pocket instead.

The Velcro transparent pocket is nice for storing food that was in a plastic bag you have opened, for example, trail mix.

in the top pockets, I got Lezyne SV10 multi-tool, 2 Co2 cartridges, Dynaplug, the big mesh pocket can fit 2 29er tubes.  the narrower higher pocket fits a shock pump & tyre pump. in the outer pokets, I got Shopping bags & a lock.

in the big mesh pocket, I keep cables, tyre lever.

back protector comes at 145 grams with feels like nothing

side pockets with elastic band, which is great if you forgot to fill up the Hydrapak and just wants to buy a bottle of juice or soda or to keep shopping bags i

no matter how aggressive riding I did, jumping, riding in stairs, the zippers staid in place

Side waist pocket, which is perfect for rubber gloves or a small snack

Snapped zipper slider, but this is not a surprise, zippers eventually fail, So it’s great that Evoc decided on dual zippers.

March 2018

the plastic zipper extension failed.

The Velcro got work out, it was not gripping.

The belt keeps the backpack from bouncing. The Velcro got worn out worn after about 2 years of use, so it did not stay in place by itself, but with buckle strap, it stays in place still after 3 years. But if you need new Velcro straps you can buy new and sew them on, so that’s not really an issue. The buckle & the other plastic parts still work great.

27 march 2018 it snapped, which is not surprising at all. But not too bad.

eventually the other snapped few months later.

I fixed it with a zip ties.

It has a strap for mounting rear light.

The helmet holder is also nice for securing toilet paper or anything similar when you are grocery shopping.

March 21, 2019

the zipper failed during a ride.

I stopped to take take my phone out, and it failed, good I did that, cus it might have fallen out out if I did not, I knew it showed signs of wear, but it failed eventually not a surprise, the zipper is sliding on the stitching until destruction.

It was time for a new backpack.

Some wear at the bottom of the pack.

The tool pockets have damage after 3,5 years of use.

The buckles and straps were still in great condition.

This hook is permanently secured and secures the drinking hose.

This is where the back protector plate is secured.

As wide it would open.

Discoloration, I did not manage to get all of it off.

Cons:

• the logos will start to peel off after one season of use.
• The zipper gets cough on this spot so I had to use my fingers to move this bump out of the way.

Tips:

• if you use the helmet holder for an xc or trail helmet, make sure you get the front down and all the way in otherwise it will be too loose
• you have to have the zippers on the side or it will take in water because of the gap in the 2 step zipper
• to get most comfortable fit, loosen all straps, let the back pack sag down, until it bottom outs, it will bottom out somewhere with the stomach belt under the navel, then tighten the bottom straps where you feel right, and then the chest strap, it’s not perfect comfort at all times, but it will result in the most comfortable fit possible with this back pack.

   

Verdict:

After 3 years it it shows signs of wear.

And I bought a Neo 16 L backpack.

Flickr Album: https://wp.me/p60aTF-u3