Velocio has held off the trap of bags and backpacks for fairly a while. As a substitute, the emblem has been that specialize in comfortable items, driving equipment, and outwear. In 2025 then again, it sort of feels the dam has damaged. Seeing the top class biking clothes corporate unlock 3 bag designs (thus far).
The most recent is a great minimalist, tremendous gentle (154g), race-focused hydration pack. This season, it is going to be at the most sensible listing for plenty of gravel, mountain motorcycle, and journey racers. We took it for a shake-out previous this month, and it’s just about all it’s cracked as much as be.
(Footage: Jordan Villella/BikeRumor.com)
Velocio Hydration Pack – What’s it?
Previous this yr, Velocio launched a commuter/shuttle Driving Pack and a Driving Duffel, breaking the seal on bag manufacturing. The driving pack and duffle are extra way of life items relatively than precise driving equipment. They’re each neatly crafted with the similar consideration to element we’ve come to be expecting from Velocio, however they aren’t “on the bike” equipment.
Photograph (c) 2024 Taylor Chase
www.chaseincolor.com
@chaseincolor
Velocio Shoot 2024
San Luis Obispo, CA
December 18, 2024
The brand new Hydration pack, then again, is solely on-the-bike-focused. The newly minted design appears to be like and feels extra like a path working pack than a work of biking package. The development is minimalist, with very skinny, ethereal cloth alternatives to stay airflow and reduce the “rider’s pack feel.” The pack is feather-weight, at 154g for the bag most effective (no bladder), however most effective 313g in overall with the whole thing incorporated (aside from water).
Why a Hydration Pack?
Velocios’ roster of athletes is rising and rising, particularly within the gravel and ultra-distance global. Just lately, Velocio signed the heavy-hitting htSQD consisting of Keegan Swenson, Alexis Skarda, Tobin Ortenblad, and Ruth Holcomb. This team of hitters is laser-focused at the Lifetime Grand Prix and different off-road racing years. They wanted a narrow, light-weight, race-focused hydration pack, and Velicio delivered.
“I’m super picky with hydration packs and have tried what feels like all of them, and this is the best I’ve used. The fabric allows it to be light and ventilated compared to other packs but avoids bouncing and movement that typically comes with light and well-ventilated packs. The cargo is awesome too. It fits a 2L bladder and still has room for extra snacks or a light jacket in the main pack, but the external pockets are super well organized too. It makes it easy to stow wrappers on the go without fear of falling out.”
Keegan Swenson
Designed to Disappear
Velocio says the brand new hydration pack is “designed to disappear.” That’s a tall process, making an allowance for the 1.5-2L of water that the pack holds. But it surely’s about weight distribution and location, and after dressed in it for a couple of weeks, we have a tendency to suppose they were given it proper.
Photograph (c) 2024 Taylor Chase
www.chaseincolor.com
@chaseincolor
Velocio Shoot 2024
San Luis Obispo, CA
December 18, 2024
The Velocio Hydration Pack sits prime at the mid-back. This functional design permits riders to simply get out and in in their jersey wallet and has much less total coated space on their again.
Vest Like Development
The development could be very strong but additionally is composed of a few very technical cloth. The material is most commonly tremendous skinny, light-weight, and with a prime elastane element. This is helping the pack succeed in its “not there” feeling whilst holding airflow prime. The one downside that I see is longevity, however let’s discuss that within the experience impressions.
Wallet For Your Stuff
The zippers are all YKK and really easy to get right of entry to. There are 3 zippered compartments at the Velocio Hydration Pack. Two are on each and every facet of the entrance, paired with an open jersey-like pocket, and one is extra outstanding at the again for gear, and so forth. The wallet at the entrance of the pack are easy to get right of entry to, and the pocket is beneficiant sufficient that no matter it’s maintaining remains in position and doesn’t shoot out when the zipper is open. The zippers have a easy string pull tab this is simple to make use of with gloves on and glides simply.
The zipperless wallet are great, and the development is extra like a jersey pocket than a pack taste. They’re skinny, with a small reflective piece at the lip, and curve clear of the frame. The tremendous skinny cloth (such a lot that it’s see-through) allows you to stuff the wallet with gels and meals.
Velocio Hydration Pack Key Options:
It comes with a 1.5L HydraPak reservoir and magnetic hose clasp
2d-skin have compatibility strikes with the frame and is just about weightless
The minimum design sits above jersey wallet for simple get right of entry to
Dimension-specific development gets rid of needless clasps and straps
Ultralight stretch-woven cloth again pocket is expandable whilst maintaining shipment shut and protected
Two entrance YKK zippered wallet stay necessities to hand whilst driving
Double chest straps alter to fine-tune have compatibility
House for a 2L bladder (arrives with 1.5L), plus gear, gels, and a tube
Sizes: S/M (36.25-40″) M/L (40-44.5″) chest measurement
Value: $169
Weight: 154g (pack most effective) 313g (overall)
First Impressions
Upon studying about Velocio signing the htSQD and freeing way of life packs, we knew one thing like a hydration pack used to be coming. I’m a large fan of the hydration pack for coaching all over the iciness in Pittsburgh. They’re a very easy method to stay your water unfrozen (when you put them on beneath your jacket) and no longer devour an excessive amount of salt. That stated, I in most cases ditch them all over the spring for water bottles and most effective spoil it out for lengthy mountain motorcycle, or gravel races. I additionally gravitate in opposition to race-focused tremendous minimum designs just like the EVOC Hydro Professional 1.5L or the USWE packs.
The Velocio Hydration Pack nestles proper within the combine with the entrance of the pack (zing!) however may additionally take the pole place. The particular sauce is the pack’s minimum design, shoulder, strap reduce, and jersey-like have compatibility.
Sizing and Have compatibility
The brand new Velocio Hydration pack is available in two sizes, S/M and M/L. I opted for the S/M (I in most cases put on a small or medium jersey), which goes me neatly. The strappings at the chest are simple to dial in for measurement and location. There are extra powerful elastic straps at the decrease facets of the pack, however there may be not anything to regulate the shoulders. I believed I might leave out this selection however by no means thought of it. The have compatibility is sort of a vest, much less like a pack, and it feels superb at the motorcycle.
At the Pack Garage
The garage is minimum. It’s no longer a multiday-stage race pack except you will have alternative ways to hold equipment. The facet gel and garage wallet are greater than sufficient for simple grab-and-go races. Plus, the way in which the pack suits, riders have extra get right of entry to to their jersey wallet than every other pack I’ve used.
Subject matter-wise, the tremendous skinny cloth may tear over the years, and I ponder concerning the elastane after being overwhelmed through UV rays and caustic sweat. However, this can be a race, minimum pack, and the ones are the tactics of features. I haven’t taken any falls with the pack on (fortunately), however I ponder concerning the subject material’s abrasion-resistant fabrics.
At the Motorbike Impressions
At the motorcycle, the Velocio Hydration pack disappears. The whole convenience is superb, and the have compatibility could be very great. The “pads” must be tremendous minimum and don’t be offering make stronger however balance. The trim is made out of a four-way stretch cloth and is helping cradle the pack at the rider’s again.
The ONLY piece that makes me marvel about lengthy, HOT summer season races is the colour selection. Sure, everyone knows, “there is no new black.” However I will’t lend a hand however consider the solar beating down on me on a gravel street, and I’ve this black pack on, identical to an ant beneath a magnifying glass… however we don’t get that a lot solar within the iciness in Pittsburgh, so search for that beneath my complete evaluation. I desire a colorway in the similar tan/sand colour as the brand new Velocio luggage.
How About Consuming?
The bladder and hose are from Hydrapak, with some cool Velocio customizations. They’re simple to make use of, blank, and drink from. The magnetic clip could also be simple to dial in for what you want at the motorcycle. The usual hose period is lengthy, and for the ones having a look to get each little bit of place dialed on their gravel motorcycle, I like to recommend trimming the hose for much less fuss whilst within the drops or tucked in.
Lasting Impressions
Thus far, the Velocio Hydration pack is my new go-to for coaching and racing. The design is minimum, and I like that. It’s tremendous simple to wash, identical to a work of biking package (no warmth within the washing machine, no dryer). The fabric is top of the range, and the associated fee isn’t outlandish. Velocio has a winner right here.
Velocio.cc
