This year’s Outdoor Demo at Interbike was — to put it mildly — light on attendance, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. However, the lack of booths made it easier to find the few gems at the show. One company that caught my eye was called Henty, and they hail from Australia. Henty was displaying — and selling — their Enduro Backpack.
Essentially, the Henty Enduro Backpack is fanny pack/hip pack/bum bag/whatever you want to call it with shoulder straps. The idea isn’t new, as companies like Camelbak have offered similar packs in the past. What sets Henty’s bag apart is the smart design and low-key, tactical/military look.
Hip packs severely limit the amount of gear you can carry with you; typically it’s just the essentials and a little water. That’s not such a big deal for shorter rides close to home, but what about when you want to head out on rides lasting several hours? Often that means carrying a full-on hydration backpack. Not so with the Enduro Backpack.
There’s room for a 3L bladder, which is positioned right at the small of your back. Behind the reservoir there’s a large zippered pocket to stash your phone or other thin items. Going further out, you have a large flap that opens to expose numerous pockets for tools, spares, food… anything really. The waist belt is wide, with foam inserts near the kidneys to protect from impacts. As the belt wraps around your stomach, there are two zippered pockets on either side of the buckle for items you want to access quickly.
The shoulder straps have loops on either side to route the hose from the bladder to your desired location. Henty made the back panel out of mesh for breathability, but cleverly added another zippered pocket there. They suggest using that spot for a lightweight rain jacket.
I tried on a fully-loaded Enduro Backpack and was immediately impressed with how the weight disappears. Standard hip packs without shoulder straps are easier to access on the go, but they limit what you can carry. Hydration packs can carry more gear, but place the weight higher than is desirable. Henty’s Enduro Backpack looks to combine the benefits of both in one smart package.
Henty’s pack comes in either black Cordura for $110 or camo for $130 and can be ordered directly through their website.
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