Athletes & Ambassadors

Pro Athlete Review: Tracy Moseley on Escapist Velocity

Tried, tested and adopted, Tracy tells us what she loves the most about this vest-style biking hydration pack, designed for trail enthusiasts.

4 min read

Pro Athlete Review: Tracy Moseley on Escapist Velocity

I rarely get on a bike without a backpack. Ever since racing the Mountain Bike Enduro World Series in 2013, wearing a pack meant I was prepared for anything those races threw my way.

Fast forward a few years and my love for racing bikes still burns bright and my backpack is still my best riding buddy. In July 2024, ready for a change of pack and pace, I did one of my bucket list events, the BC Bike Race. A 7-day cross country stage race on Vancouver Island, Canada, it was the ideal challenge to put myself and my newly acquired Escapist Velocity 3 hydration bike pack to the test.

Tracy Moseley shedding the BC Bike Race trails.

With stages from 2 to 4 hours long, it wasn’t the same all-day enduro racing I was used to, but long enough to need to carry food, water and tools, without bulging pockets swinging about. Choosing the right backpack was absolutely essential for comfort and practicality – and my Escapist Velocity 3 stomped it on both counts.

When I’m out on the trails, whether it’s a for a race, fitness or sheer pleasure, there are a few non-negotiable must-haves I expect from a backpack and my Escapist Velocity delivered brilliantly:

Comfort and stability

From day 1, this pack felt great. No matter how many layers of clothing I was wearing (BC weather was very unpredictable), its easy adjustability always made for a comfy, bounce-free fit; never cramping my style or putting me off balance.

Tracy Moseley rides bounce-free with the Escapist Velocity 3

Space for biking essentials

Although the Escapist Velocity 3 is compact, it offered plenty of carry space for my racing necessities. Apart from snacks and water, it easily held an extra set of clothes, Co2 cartridges, tyre plugs, a battery, a pressure gauge and lip balm with room to spare.

Easy access to nutrition and water

Speeding around trails on daily races against the clock, I needed to keep my body fuelled and hydrated without losing precious seconds fumbling around for food and drink. The beauty of this pack is that it keeps everything at the tip of your fingers. From the front-facing zip and mesh pockets for carrying snacks to the little magnet for securing the 1.5l reservoir hose to your chest, readily available, quick and easy to reach.

Loaded with hydration and nutrition — every pocket of the Escapist Velocity 3 has a purpose.

I was so happy with this pack that I decided to check it out for versatility at the World E bike Enduro World Championships a few months later. I wasn’t disappointed. A one-day race, the pack fitted over my back protector and was compatible with my full-face helmet, never interfering with any head movement. I still had the same secure fit and comfort, this time carrying essential spares to get me through the day, extra clothing for high mountain weather and lots of snacks.

The Escapist Velocity 3 checked all the boxes for both events. Tries, tested and adopted, it's my new got-to-pack for hitting the trails!