On trail with the Endura Singletrack hydration pack.
Endura is new to the world of hydration ready backpacks and recently introduced two packs – the MT500 Enduro pack that includes built in spine protection, and the more all-rounder Singletrack pack which is what we have here.
The Singletrack pack showed up just before my trip to Sedona for a press camp with the jolly folks at Magura USA, so with little more than a quick look, I packed if for the journey. I used it there for all the rides and have used it for every MTB ride since mid-May. Before I get to the results, let’s look at the features.
Endura calls this out as:
The 10-liter SingleTrack Backpack is a lightweight trail essential designed to carry just enough kit to keep you self- sufficient for a decent off road ride without weighing you down. The pack boasts an innovative, clip on helmet carrying system that can be removed if not required. The mesh covered SpinechillerTM back panel provides super light support and fantastic airflow stopping sweat build up when going hard. The carefully sculpted strap system locks the pack to the rider. The SingleTrack also comes complete with a removable tool roll and is available in striking green and blue colorways in addition to a stealth black option.
The 9-14L (cargo capacity in Liters) size in a hydration pack is very useful, carrying most everything one would need for a typical ride, even a multi hour one. A 9L pack would be smallish and simpler, and a 14L would offer more clothing space, so the 10L is right in the middle somewhere. Main storage with the Endura Singletrack is one big zipped compartment. The zipper flap stops at about the 75% down/open range, providing a ‘basement’ section that holds heavier things like spare tubes, shock pumps, etc. Then there are two netted pouches, one that held my Lezyne pump perfectly (and it is kind of a long thing). There is a key clip and leash in the main compartment too. The next pouch is where the tool roll pouch lives, although it could just as well be tucked into the bottom of the pack if you don’t mind unpacking to get to it. Behind that is the hydration compartment, which held a 2.5L reservoir with plenty of room. Hose routing is available on either the right of the left shoulder strap.
There are generous hip belt pouches on each side of the Endura Singletrack which zip completely closed. The waist belt itself is generously wide. There is a media/glasses pocket that is waterproof, something that is not always the case in other packs. It does not have a media port though. The front chest strap is height adjustable.
Love the waist belt hip pockets.
The front has a removable helmet holder ‘bra’ that expands enough to carry a full face helmet (claimed…not tested) and easily held my trailbike-ish Specialized helmet. It unclips at four points where loops are sewn into the pack. the Endura logo on the bottom rear of the pack is reflective in case you are out there at night but I see no Blinky loopy.
The back area of the Endura Singletrack has what they call the Spine Chiller, a mesh section over individual foam pads. The intent there is the movement of cooling air in the hot zone where the pack sits against you. The shoulder straps are vented/meshy as well.
It is a simple pack in many ways, but has worked well for me so far.
- The helmet holder…well, I never used it. I typically carry a gear bag when I head out in a vehicle, so the helmet lives in that till I need it. It does remove easily, and looks like it would stay in place if it was empty and you were riding, but you better pre-tension the four straps to where they are snug against the pack, or the empty holder could unclip and disappear on trail. I have to say that I think a solution like Osprey uses on many of their packs, the Lidlock, appeals to me more. It is not intrusive (you have to unclip the helmet holder on the Endura Singletrack in order to access the main compartment) and cannot be lost, although the Lidlock might not work with all helmet types either like the Endura Singletrack does. Likely you will know if this is for you or not, and if not, it can be left at home.
- Storage is pretty good, although the tool roll was never used. I keep a saddle based bag that travels from bike to bike. Still, it is there if you need it. One thing though…if you store it in the pack pouch it is intended to live in, the tool roll falls out very easily when you have the pack open on trail, like when you stop for a break. Ok…it IS bright green and it would be hard to miss laying there on the ground, but if that tool roll could be clipped in or held in…it would be better and would then double as a secure pouch for items like ID, money, CCards, and such what, because….
- There is no secure pocket for stuff like that in the pack.
- The idea of having the phone compartment water proof on the Endura Singletrack is brilliant. I have been on rides where, when it was wet out there, I had to move my phone out of a similar pouch on other packs, typically to a inner jersey pocket under a rain jacket.
- Love the hip belt pouches which open and close easily while riding with one hand, which also means…
- The big zipper pulls are excellent and the zips move easily and look rugged.
Wearing it across lots of summer condition rides, I have not felt hot in it. It’s light enough to not be a burden, and frankly I just don’t think about it when I have it on which is a high compliment for any hydration pack. The size is about right too. There are fancier packs out there and ones with more of a pedigree like Camelbak and Osprey, but for a first effort, it’s not bad at all.
At $99.00 suggested retail, it is not too badly priced, but that does not include a reservoir, so unless you have one from your last pack, then you would need to add the cost of that, typically $30.00 or so, into the total cost of the product. And that puts it into or above the price of something like a Camelbak MULE NV or an Osprey Raptor 10. I am not sure, faced with those choices, if the Endura Singletrak distinguishes itself against those well established, slightly more polished packs.
Note: The products shown here were provided at no cost to Twenty Nine Inches for test and review. We are not being paid, nor bribed for these reviews and we will strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
