USWE F6 Pro Pack – Review
The Scandinavian USWE F6 Pro pack has had a tough time, check out Tom’s review of this innovative riding bag.
The F6 Pro is the biggest of the USWE range at 15L and has become my go-to for any ride where I want to take a bag. I’d always been a fan of being properly prepared, riding with increasingly overloaded bags full of bits of everything. The issue with that is when a bag gets fuller you have to strap it down harder and harder to stop it jumping about, restricting your shoulders and upper body. A few brands have been working to combat this by moving straps, making fanny-packs, or just going a bit weird.
- NDMT™ (PAT.PEND) 4-point suspension harness
- Multi size adjustable straps for individual fit
- Mesh ventilated ergonomic shoulder straps
- Airstrips back panel
- 3.0 litre (100oz) Shape-Shift™ Bladder
- Big flow 45 degree bite valve
- Internal organizer pocket
- Padded media pocket
- Full face helmet carry
- Trail helmet carry
- Hydration tube clip
- Volume: 15 litres
- Hydration capacity: 3.0 litres (100oz)
- Weight: 929g *Inc. bladder
- Dimensions: L 52cm x W 38cm x H 8cm
- Sizing: M-XL (one size), multi size adjustment
On the outside the bright yellow has stood up to a near constant caking in mud, grit and rain with little in the way of care. The reinforced bottom works wonders and slowing spray soaking through, and protecting the bag from long term wear and tear. The rest of the bag has held up well, all of the buckles and zips are working as perfectly as when it first arrived. The two buckles on the back let you carry a full facer or half facer, for the Enduro racer who wants to swap helmets for different parts of the race, and also provides somewhere to stuff inner-tubes plucked from trailside trees (What the funk is wrong with people!?).
Inside the pack the various organiser compartments have been spot on for holding a few tools and spares, and the little pouch at the top for keys lets you develop a system to make sure you have everything. The 15L is plenty big enough for full days out on the hill, and even when full of warm layers, chocolate and camera stuff it holds a good shape.
The big single buckle on the sternum brings together the broad shoulder straps, removing the need for a seperate sternum strap, and within the straps there are sections of elastic that add a tiny bit of give letting you set it up tightly without being restrictive. The straps come over the shoulders quite close to the neck, leaving the shoulder joint free. Not having a waist belt to wrap round your belly/sixpack leaves you feeling really free when you put the pack on, and once you’ve made use of the different strapping length options to get your fit just right, you don’t need to think again – sling it on, click, and you are ready to go.
The hydration bladder holds 3 litres, enough for a long sweaty time, and kept in a reasonable shape by a big central baffle inside it. The roll-top means you can clean it out easily, and the detachable hose makes it super easy to fill without having to hold your muddy riding pack in the sink/a stream/the water-trough by Super-Morzine keeping your wife/sheep/the locals happy and mud-free.
Riding in the F6 is great, I’ve been really impressed with how well it sits on my back and doesn’t go anywhere – uphill, downhill, rough, crashing, whatever, it lives up to its name of “No Dancing Monkey”. When stuffed to the brim for a big day out it performs just as well as when only carrying a minimum of stuff (never compromise on the chocolate orange though), and is made to last. I’d recommend this bag for enduro racers who want to be well equipped and bike riders who like to take more than just a spare tube and a phone alike.
I have a lot of packs from a lot of manufacturers, many making a lot of claims about comfort and carrying power, but USWE are some of the first bike guys to come up with the goods with their different take on how a backpack can work. More and more brands are ditching the lower belt in favour of a system higher up the chest, I’d recommend giving one a go, it’ll save you having to wear a bum-bag for your enduro racing.
