Skip to main content

Shimano Unzen U2 hydration pack


SO GOOD... There’s impressive attention to detail here. The harness is adjustable to fit your back, there are tabs for goggles and straps for leg armour. The fit is superb and a clever alloy hook makes it easy to get the pack on and off quickly. We liked the inclusion of a detachable waist strap but never needed it. The 2l Hydrapak bladder is easy to clean.

NO GOOD... The Unzen’s Achilles heel is the fact that the main pocket is only accessible from the side. There’s enough room for an emergency layer but add anything else and you’ll have to drag everything out to find it.

Price 75$

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

COMMENCAL EL CAMINO 3

Commencal are going from strength to strength at the moment and they’ve taken their tough trail hardtail bang up to date with 650b wheels. With its skinny rims, crankset and fork, the El Camino certainly isn’t perfect and it’s the least hardcore bike here. The handling, smoothness, speed and all-round agility of the basic bike still make it a real blast for technical trail riding though, and it’s a great base for upgrading over time.

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

Axiom Annihilateair G200A track pump

THE AXIOM ANNIHILATEAIR may seem crazily expensive, but this pump is certainly built to last. The sturdy metal base has metal pins to grip your shoes and a large, accurate pressure gauge.

Shimano Saint CD50 Chain Guide

SO GOOD: There’s no doubting the solid, high-end build quality of this device. The sprung lower guide moves on impact, is silent and causes very little chain drag.