REVIEW
Hip Packs from Yeti (Turq) and Thule
Thule Rail 0L (.5 actually) Hip Pack
What can half a litre of storage do for you? Quite a lot actually.
Hip packs are my preferred way to schlep extras around while I'm riding, assuming I need a pack at all. My preference is to go bag-free but that's not always wise or possible. If I just need to carry a few items, this bag from Thule does a nice job. It's compact and has a foam liner to give it some shape and protect your gear. This compromises capacity slightly but it's a worthy tradeoff. There is an outboard pocket for your phone (padded) and two small quick-deploy pockets on the belt.
There is a side pocket on either side that closes with Velcro. They are large enough to be very useful, each easily carrying the heftiest multi tool and some keys, or a single modestly sized tube. The main compartment zips from the left side.
Here you can see the zipper for the phone sleeve. The idea is that it can be accessed with one hand while pedalling along. The foam liner that gives the pack shape is doubled up, protecting your advanced telecommunication device from what's outside and also from what's inside your pack.
Features (info provided by Thule)
- One-handed, behind the back access to phone in soft, structured pocket
- Ride in comfort and descend with confidence with superior stability and breathable materials
- Quickly access nutrition with side jersey pockets
- Keep tools and accessories organized in dedicated internal pockets
- Stay visible with reflective details and a light attachment loop
- Volume 0.5 litres
The back panel is ribbed for... ventilation. It doesn't get too sweaty and this is likely why.
There are no rules against using the padded phone sleeve for other stuff. It is lined with soft, terry-like material to prevent scratches. My phone usually goes in my pocket but the largest phones I know of will slide in easily.
The bright yellow lining makes it easy to locate what you've got stashed.
Top of the line zipper pulls. .
The buckle system is simple and effective. One of my favourite features is the hook and loop on the overlapping belt that lets you establish how tight you'd like it to fit before you attach or adjust your buckle. it also frees both hands for this process.
I've used this wee pack far more than anticipated. It's a great size for bike park days or any time there are just a few things you'd like to bring along. Having a smaller, lighter pack (320g) has real advantages on days when the riding will be intense, but you don't need much space. Would recommend. The structure along with pockets and loops inside will keep small tools organized and prevent everything from flailing and getting in the way of your ride. If you are looking for more space, Thule also sells two and four litre versions of this pack. The largest version includes a 1.5l hydration bladder.
Thule Rail 0 Hip Pack - 70 CAD/60 USD*
*It seems this is currently on sale in Canada for 56 CAD
A small, lower volume pack moves around much less. Yeti's Lenawee also fits that bill but with significantly more space and storage options.
Turq (by Yeti) Lenawee Hip Pack
The Slogan on the product page for this fanny bag is "Because backpacks are the worst." I didn't realize how much wearing a pack messed with my riding until I gave them up, virtually for good. On steep terrain they were always banging into my helmet and when things got really rowdy they would try and pass me, deking left and then bolting to the right. As bonuses they were sweaty and often uncomfortable. Hip packs, when properly designed and cinched snugly, generally only move with your body and don't interfere with your high level performance.
This holds a deceptive amount of gear, despite weighing only 230g, thanks to all metal buckles being made of alumin(i)um.
Most hip packs, and even many backpacks, won't accommodate the most common digital shock pump (sold by both RockShox and Fox). It's quite long, but it fits in here without pushing out the sides.
Key Features (provided by Yeti)
- Rip-stop recycled nylon main fabric with stretch woven panels
- Corrugated back panel with air mesh underside wings
- Half-liter main storage size
- Multiple internal divider pockets for ride essentials
- Two external water bottle sleeves
- Two side wing pockets for quick access items, one zipper secured
- External lash straps to secure loads.
- Wide waist strap with no-slip tilt head aircraft grade aluminum buckle, side placement for comfort
- Weighs only 230g
I generally try and avoid riding with water on my hips, but this pack will carry a full sized bottle on each side. For times when you've got a long inferno of a climb, emptying it on the way up could be a good strategy. The compression straps wrap around, keeping the bottles from swinging too much or falling out. You could also pack an ultra light wind breaker in either of the bottle sleeves.
Exterior straps are a nice touch for overflow gear. One side pocket is open and one has a zipper, but both are quite small to accommodate the bottle carries on each side.
The same jacket, a light waterproof from 7Mesh, fits easily in the main compartment. It would be a tight squeeze for the Thule.
There is a decent amount of pockets inside to keep your spares and tools organized and well contained when the riding gets rambunctious.
Having the buckle off to the side feels great against your belly, but it comes at a cost.
The interlocking buckle is tricky to fasten but only because it ends up almost on your hip bone. Small multi tools or keys work fine in the small side pockets (one with zip, one open) but not much else. Luckily interior organizers, including another zip pocket, take up the slack.
The buckle is two metal pieces. One slides into a slot in the other and then locks when under a little pressure. This system keeps the buckle to one side so there is only a wide smooth belt across your middle. The downside to this is that the offset buckle is a little tricky to secure because of where it sits. The answer is to spin the pack so the buckle is centred, to get it attached, and then re-align it for use.
Quality materials and excellent design make this another winner for me. Despite its modest main pocket, it holds a deceptive amount of gear in a well organized layout, and even up to two water bottles. While having less structure than the Thule, a ribbed foam back panel does double duty as a frame and helps air flow. Compression straps finish the job and keep everything secure. All this in an incredibly light 230g package.
Yeti Tenawassee Hip Pack 100 USD
The Lenawee is suitable for rough play.
Turq (Yeti) Apex Gear Belt
If you are the ultimate minimalist on your rides, lacking even pockets in your shorts or pants, this might help you out with your phone and keys or some other small items. You'll be able to get an ultra light windbreaker in there as well.
The Turq Apex Gear Belt doesn't have much volume but it'll carry your bare essentials close to your body.
The body of this pack, which isn't much bigger than the money belts we wore travelling in the 90s, is a stretchy mesh material or, more accurately, "double-woven stretch air-mesh." Yeti recommends it for a mini pump (very mini), some small tools and/or a C02 cartridge.
The closure system is similar to the Lenawee, so you might need to rotate everything to centre to help get the buckle buckled up.
Having the buckle away from your belly button zone is worth the somewhat tricky strapping in process for me.
Wing pockets are unsecured but good for trail snacks.
Turq Apex Gear Belt Features (from Yeti)
- Durable double-woven air-mesh main fabric
- Zipper secured expanding main pocket with attached key clip
- Padded back for rider comfort
- Two side wing pockets for quick access items
- Wide waist strap with no-slip tilt head aircraft grade aluminum buckle, side placement for comfort
- Silicone print on back helps keep belt in place
The back panel has some padding and a silicone gripper to keep it in place.
Full disclosure here; this pack is of no use to me. When I carry a pump, I like a useful one that will deal with higher volumes, and one of those won't fit in here. And with our weather, if I really need a jacket, it's going to be one that won't fit in here if it gets too hot. I also choose shorts and pants with at least three pockets, which provide as much or more space than the Apex. But that's just me. My wife, who is a rider and a runner, loves this for trail running and tells me it's comfortable and useful. If it works for running, it'll be great for your minimalist riders.
Comments
Allen Lloyd
1 week, 1 day ago
I have been going for shorter rides with no pack and have found the move from hip to no pack is as freeing as the move from back to hip pack. Wouldn't do it for backcountry riding, but for a 2 hour ride near home it is really nice.
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Cam McRae
1 week, 1 day ago
I manage it with on bike tools and pump, good pockets and tire inserts I can ride out on in a pinch. Like you, for anything big, or further afield, I like to be prepared.
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Allen Lloyd
1 week, 1 day ago
On the Yeti bags, do they maintain tension when rotated? The issue I have with that process is every fanny pack I have lossens up when I spin it around my waist.
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Cam McRae
1 week, 1 day ago
I'll give that some attention on tomorrow's ride. I have the same issue with many shorts and pants. Well, not when rotated! They simply loosen up easily from the inevitable movements of mountain biking.
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Allen Lloyd
4 days, 16 hours ago
I find that my pack pulls my shorts down. I don't wear a pack when riding park and noticed I wasn't pulling my shorts up at every break, that was what pushed me to do other rides without a pack.
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Jotegir
1 week, 1 day ago
Yeti's Turq branding is funny. I don't see the word Turq anywhere on those packs, just Yeti Cycles. It's like if Trek were to write (by Trek) after all Bontrager stuff. Why can't they just say it's a Yeti hip pack? They aren't going to significantly break into the aftermarket sales market for non-Yeti dealers by naming it like this while keeping it so closely associated with their main brand. Even Trek is slowly moving away from the Bontrager brand for lots of their P&A.
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Cam McRae
1 week, 1 day ago
Shrug emoji.
Brands often try to separate lines from their bike brand so riders of other bikes will be okay riding their stuff. Reserve wheels (Santa Cruz's brand) are a rare success in that effort.
Any of that marketing stuff is useless if the product isn't up to the task but Yeti's clothing, and now their bags, are really well done. The design and execution is up there with the big players so maybe it doesn't matter how they stamp it?
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Jotegir
1 week, 1 day ago
I hear you on the separate lines for other brand riders thing, but it kinda defeats the purpose when it just says YETI on the bag and not Turq, which makes it stranger than Bontrager, Reserve, etc.
Yeah, it seems like a good product and honestly those exterior straps put it a cut above my EVOC bag - a gamechanger for those of us who want a real jacket AND hip pack at the same time. I'm in the interior so it's a rare day I pack the jacket but on the days that I do there's usually a 5 minute parking lot re-jig of the bag to make the jacket (sort of) fit properly. For better or worse the EVOC bag is probably going to last another 5 years but if it ever gives up the ghost, I'll look at this thing if the upper straps continue to be less than common.
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Zero-cool
6 days, 11 hours ago
I assume because they want non-Yeti riders to buy it as well
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ReformedRoadie
4 days, 9 hours ago
This. All of the Yeti clothes I own are top notch, I will continue to wear even on my non-Yeti bikes.
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Zero-cool
6 days, 11 hours ago
I’d quite like a pack exactly like the Thule 0L but with 2 external straps or bungees to tie down a gillet or lightweight jacket. That would be spot on for me. I guess I might buy it and just add them
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jessec
3 days, 7 hours ago
I've been using the Thule Rail 0L for a couple years now, and love it for exactly what it's meant for. Usually thin wallet, snack (bar or dried mango), flat multi-tool, car key and phone.
Lets me carry just enough to be useful, keep the phone out of my pocket to avoid banging around, fall damage, sweat, etc.. and the pocket is a bit protected and super easy to access for quick photos/videos, even while pedalling on a climb where a side pocket isn't as easy unless you stop moving your leg.
I never feel it there, stays solid in place.
I just wish more packs (hip or backpack) came with such an accessible phone pocket accessed from the side like that and separated from other contents that can scratch or damage the screen. I find it infinitely useful for access and more protected. Unfortunately I ride with a full pack half the time and end up having it in a pocket or inaccessible instead.
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