More Gear Reviews:
Adventure Racing Packs for 2004
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Designing the ultimate pack for adventure racing is no easy task. No other sport is as unforgiving or demanding on gear as adventure racing. Fortunately, both Dana Designs and New Sun have done their homework.
The result - new packs racers can only rave about. Dana Designs X-Racer
Upside: Great internal frame for longer races.
The life-saving feature for me was the waist belt, which is made of the same durability, thickness and strength as a regular multi-day backpack, unusual for an adventure race pack. As an added bonus, the waist belt features a small, zippered snack pocket on each side, a great place for sliced power bars or gel shots. Dana has also cleverly designed an innovative system for tighting the belt around your waist, with an easy pull on the straps inward instead of away. The front of the internal frame features a large zippered pocket, a good place to store often used items such as a pocket knife or your headlamp's battery pack. In front of the zippered pocket is a cavernous mesh pocket for stashing snacks and several water bottles. Incorporating a drybag in the pack is a simple and yet clever idea. All too often, everything gets wet during the paddle leg or in downpour. The drybag features an air compressor valve so it be easily and quickly collapsed. This pack is ideal for 24-hour or multi-day adventure races, suitable for 12-hours races, but would be overkill for shorter, six-hour races. It comes in two sizes - small and large. If you have a short torso, be sure to get the smaller sized pack, as the larger size, which is longer, may be uncomfortable when mountain biking. New Sun Enduro
Upside: Lowrider System helps ease back and neck pain during long rides
In addition to the Lowrider System, the 14" X 18.5", 300 - 1000 CU Enduro features thoughtful functionalities that even the most cynical racer will appreciate. The front of the pack has a well-thought out bungee design that will hold large items such as biking helmets, shoes and a PFD without the worry of losing the gear. On each side are large mesh pockets secured with bungee chords. The Enduro can hold up to a 3L hydration system, and the tube exits from the side, rather than out the top to keep it out of the way. The shoulder straps has a small mesh pocket as well as a quick release loop for attaching your compass. Inside the pack is a five-tool organizer. The only downside is those with narrow shoulders, particularly women, may have trouble getting the shoulder straps to fit properly. However, New Sun is planning to add three to five different design options for the straps, including a smaller strap for women, a navigator strap accommodating maps and compasses, and a beefy strap option for the person who ends up towing their teammates. The Enduro can't be beat for short races and will work well for 12 and 24-hour races. It comes in one size only. — Reviewed & Written by Natasha Nowakowski, MountainZone.com | |
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This innovative pack should be on every adventure racer's wish list. I say innovative because this is not an ordinary adventure racing pack. It's essentially an internal frame,
which supports a 25L drybag that comes included. I tested this 2lb-2oz, ultralight pack during the grueling 11-hour Big Blue advenure race in Lake Tahoe, where we spent at least
eight of those hours on the mountain bike. As the hours peeled by and fatigue set in, the pack still felt as light on my back as it did when we started, thanks to the sturdy
internal frame.
One of the most common complaints from adventure racers are sore backs and necks after spending hours gaining thousands of feet in elevation while on the saddle. This comes from
their packs sitting high on their backs. To remedy this problem, New Sun developed its unique Lowrider System for its Enduro pack, which allows the wearer to adjust (lower) the
pack to create a lower center of gravity, thus eliminating cantilevered weight on the upper back. This, in turn, creates better balance. My racing partner tried the pack's system
out during our weekly 30-mile mountain bike training rides, and was astonished at the difference of adjusting the pack lower on his back, especially during climbing. 