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I'm about to sign up to do MTB leadership award and I'm having a nosey at the kind of.kit needing to be carried and I'm clearly needing a new backpack as none I have will carry the kit!
So, I'm thinking I need something like a 20 litre carrying capacity, good sized water volume in a bladder, a few pockets to stash stuff like tools, keys, Garmin inreach, first aid as well as a main compartment for spare kit, food (and a shelter).
I'd also like something with a back protector.
So what are people using and would recommend? Ideally, I'm looking to buy it all together i.e. a backpack that comes with bladder and back protector. Having a nosey around and full price is a lot, so I'd prefer not to have to buy multiple items as cost goes up and I'm tightfisted!
Evoc fr Enduro here.
Mine is a 16l but it's great. Very comfortable. The Evocs are much lower profile on your back ime than other packs.
They seem to be longer and wider rather than sticky-outy turtle power.
Back protector is very nice to have.
They don't come with a bladder though which is shocking quite frankly for the money.
Other than that, I've not seen any other packs as nice as the Evocs.
Evoc Trail Blackline 20l here, it was just big enough to fit in all required kit for MBLA level 2 course.
Evoc trail blackline here too. Plenty of room for all sorts of gubbins. I think mine is 22 or 24 litres as it is an XL length version. Bought it probably about 8 years ago and us still going strong with use on pretty much every ride I do. Fantastic bit of kit but I still don't really know what the fluorescent yellow straps that live in the bottom of the bag are actually for.
Rich, I'll be carrying all my MTB Leadership stuff (minus group shelter which I've yet to get) in a 20L EVOC with back protector - although I take out the back protector for a bit more comfortable space when doing this leading. Already had the bag and use it for bigger MTB rides. My leadership-specific kit currently resides in a smaller Vaude Splash 20+5 bag but I know it'll be a tight fit once I add the group shelter in.
Fantastic bit of kit but I still don’t really know what the fluorescent yellow straps that live in the bottom of the bag are actually for.
If it's the same as the model I have, they're for carrying old-style knee/shin protectors across the way at the bottom of the pack.
Sounds like the consensus is the Evoc 20l pack...which is handy as I was looking at that one as one of the items to consider. Just annoying that the bladder needs to be bought separately, but I can find a suitable one from the large list of options.
Thanks for the info and @a11y, thanks for the confirmation of all the gear. I was considering the group shelter gets strapped underneath the pack, but I'll check how it all goes when I get it delivered.
I've not signed up yet (will be doing that in a few weeks time as I've another course to get started with) so I don't have the actual kit list but aware it is quite a ot of things.
If you're doing it with cyclewise at winlatter they give a discount at training for a shelter that's made locally, well they used to.
I did my training and assessment there as it was in a different country with weird access, so needed thinking about, and it was all new area so more of a challenge.
I know someone who was assessed in an area he was familiar with. Map skills are rubbish because he knew where he was
^^ camelbak 3l bladder works well in mine. The kit list is huge really, and I think varies depending on tutor. I did mine with Jules at CycleWild Scotland a few years ago - was really good and very informative
It was Jules at CycleWild Scotland that did my course too a month or so ago - really good teacher and a nice style. He had an enormous EVOC bag but his kit went over and above what ws necessary for the FUNdementals L1 Leadership course, but he's based around what he knows works for him. Really useful info. I'm awaiting a suitable first aid course before I'm fully let loose with the kids bike club.