I am traveling from the USA to AUSTRALIA and then domestically within AUSTRALIA. I have done TONS of research on soft vs hard cases, baggage fee’s/sizes.
I am deciding between the EVOC and the TriAll3 Velo Safe
I am leaning towards the EVOC for these reasons
-Good reviews on bike protection
-Airlines tend to treat soft bags with more care than hard cases
-Easy to wheel around airport
-Easy to fit into taxi or rental car
-Stores easily
-easy to pack
-LIGHT weight and within dimensions and weight of most airport regulations (thus, should be able to check as regular luggage without extra charges)
The downfall I see to the EVOC is that there is not extra room to store a helmet or equipment, only 1 set of wheels, some believe soft cases do not protect the bike as well
The TriAll3 Velo Safe is good for all the same reasons as the EVOC, plus it offers better protection and you can store extra equipment. The downside to the Triall 3 is that it is bulky for bringing into a taxi and storing at the hotel. Also, it is significantly heavier than the EVOC, and when traveling internationally, you are often charged per extra kg.
I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with either case as it relates to bike protection and airline fees.
I used the EVOC for a trip earlier this year and it worked great. You can definitely pack more into the case than just the bike. I fit a helmet and a lot of bike clothes when I flew with it with no issue. Just be cautious of how much you load into it or else you might trigger some additional fees (beyond the bike check fee). Only complaint would be that it doesn’t pack down all that small when not in use.
I bought an EVOC case over a year ago, did a few international trips with it but just sold it.
Too big and bulky for conventional bikes. It is made to also fit 29ers mountain bikes.
Not light at over 20 lbs empty
Was starting to fall apart. The inner liner is not sturdy enough to resist tearing from cranks (edit: chainring). On the bottom of the case one of the railing giving rigidity to the case was starting to get loose.
Poor customer service. I sent an email with pictures, they told me they couldnt do anything and I should speak to my lbs
That being said, if you end up buying one I still have the assorted fork protector up for sale
Was your bike always safe?
Have you found a case that is less bulky?
EVOC description says 18lbs. From my research, it seems that is light in comparison to the triall3 which weight 38 pounds! yikes.
What box are you using now?
I took my EVOC to NZ from the US this winter with my 58 cm Road Bike. It worked well. Nothing damaged, easy to haul around. Used my wetsuit to further pad things in lieu of bubble wrap.
Do a search on the forum for the evoc. A very recent thread of someones bike getting destroyed while traveling and the airline not providing any compensation.
I’ve got a Biknd. Used it for 3 years and never had a problem. But I also go to extra lengths when packing it up doing my best to ensure that everything is well packed/not moving.
Yes, I saw that post with the EVOC and United. I have heard good things about the Helium BikND as well! However, I also read that with the BikND, air has been known to comeout during travel, leaving the bike un-protected. Have you heard of this happening?
Never happened to me. But regardless, even if it does, then it simply becomes the evoc bag. The bladders are just added protection. I always pack 4 wheels no matter where I’m flying/what I need because the wheels are what protect the frame (usually my race wheels and then training wheels).
Additionally, I always watch TSA open/inspect my bag and step in if they seem to not be able to figure things out. And always am extra nice while doing so. Just for good measure.
I looked at the EVOC case while at Eurobike. Having traveled extensively with my bike with the semi-singular goal of avoiding bike fees, I simply can’t see one succeeding much with avoiding fees with this case. It LOOKS like a bike case (breaking rule #1) and it’s heavy as folks noted (20 pounds empty).
In my opinion you’ve got two lines of thinking for bike travel:
Suck it up and pay the fees
Try and skate by without fees.
If your plan is #1, then why mess around with cases that will incur fees 80-90% of the time but have far less padding than? In other words, just go in and buy a fully protective case and suck it up on the fees.
If your plan is #2, then pick a case that’s known to skate by most of the time (I’m probably about 17-18 out of 20 times) with the realization that eventually it may catch up with you (in terms of damage). Given how much I save on bike transport, this makes sense for me. I know how to pack it to protect it the best (hint, don’t put much in there).
It’s a balance, but I’d encourage anyone looking at cases to clearly figure out which side you’re on before you buy a case.
I like how you bulleted the two different trains of thought. That being said, what would your Reccomendations be then for both train of thought #1 and #2? What case do you use?
blah-blah… semi-singular goal of avoiding bike feesYeap, it is big and bulky and you are not ever likely to avoid bike fees with an EVOC but I think that is best discussed in the airline fees thread.
Too big and bulky for conventional bikes. It is made to also fit 29ers mountain bikes.Conversely, the size of the Evoc has allowed me to pack a size large Giant TCR Advanced SL, a size 54 Ridley X-Night (both w/integrated seat masts), as well as a size 56 cyclocross bike with traditional seat post and none required removal of the seat post/mast topper/saddle.
Was starting to fall apart. The inner liner is not sturdy enough to resist tearing from cranks.This is also puzzling as there is a 2-3 cm space between the crank arms and the walls of the case. In fact, I was able to capitalize on that ‘dead’ space to carry an extra set of cyclocross race tubulars inside the case when flying out of state for cyclocross races.
Ah, now that makes sense. I have not seen that issue with our cases but it may be due to the fact that I use a chain condom which covers the chainrings and derailleurs and really cinch donw on the straps holding down the rear stays which seems to prevent that kind of wear.
Ah, now that makes sense. I have not seen that issue with our cases but it may be due to the fact that I use a chain condom which covers the chainrings and derailleurs and really cinch donw on the straps holding down the rear stays which seems to prevent that kind of wear.
That’s pretty cool. It doesn’t really seem like that would work though once the rear wheel is attached, correct?
I like how you bulleted the two different trains of thought. That being said, what would your Reccomendations be then for both train of thought #1 and #2? What case do you use?
I’d say that for #1 (avoid fees) to look at the various Aerus cases (now replaced by a few others that are basically identical).
For #2, I’d look at either a true hard-shell case, or at the Biknd case - both of which provide far more protection than a typical soft-shell bag.
My EVOC bag has been to Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Hawaii. No problems, works great for both my road bike (Scott Addict) and my Tri bike (Shiv). Wouldn’t agree with the heavy comment listed here by someone, I find it pretty easy to lug around. I just got this insert as well http://www.evocusa.com/collections/accessories/products/evoc-road-bike-aluminum-stand The bikes fit pretty good without it but this make sit super quick and easy to secure them. I liked mine some much I bought my girlfriend the same bag with the stand. Her Speed Concept made it to Kona and back without issue as well. I borrowed a Tri All 3 box a few years ago and that thing weighed a ton. According to a friend at the airport the hard cases get worked over a little more than soft cases too.
That’s pretty cool. It doesn’t really seem like that would work though once the rear wheel is attached, correct?I dont think so as there is no hole for the cassette. but the upper seam of the chain condom has full length velcro so I guess you could modify it to work with the wheel attached.
Fwiw, I’ve been travelling with the pica bag for several years now. Never a problem, if anything I was surprised to see several other athletes on the same flight in 2009 on trip to Perth with hard shell cases experiencing damage to case or worse, my softbag and contents were fine. Plenty of space for extra gear. Bit of a drag to carry it around (no wheels), but absence of damage is worth it, imo. Travel has been within US, to Australia and Europe. YMMV.
