Wingnut Enduro || A Five Year Review!

Back in March of 2013, I wrote about my then-new Wingnut Enduro pack. Now, over five years later, I think it's time to offer a more comprehensive, long-term review of the pack.

Note: I purchased this pack myself, and this review is based on my personal experience with it.

The Wingnut Enduro is a hydration-focused guide pack designed to hold a 3L bladder. Weighing in at just 20 oz and offering 1200 cubic inches of storage, this pack is equipped with two side wing pockets, along with mesh details on the outside for added ventilation. On the outside of the main compartment features a mesh pocket with an elastic drawcord system for easy access to smaller items.

Typically, I ride with bottles on my local trails, but I intended to use this pack for longer rides and bikepacking adventures. I’ve also used it extensively during orienteering events, trail maintenance workdays, and even a few day hikes.

It wasn't until I used the pack on a particularly hot trail maintenance day that I fully appreciated the design of the lowrider system. While working on a small section of trail, I found myself bent over for extended periods. Thanks to the lowrider design, the weight of the pack stayed off my upper back, offering me greater freedom of movement. I hardly noticed the pack at all.

For those who’ve spent time doing trail maintenance, you’ll recognize that the movements involved are similar to those of a wildland firefighter. If you research wildland firefighter packs, you’ll find they also utilize a similar "lowrider system" to distribute weight and improve mobility.

I use a Source hydration bladder with my Wingnut Enduro pack, although the Wingnut website recommends a Platypus bladder, which may be the model the pack was originally designed for. With that in mind, I wish the bladder pocket were about 1/2" to 1" taller to better accommodate the bladders. The pocket also includes a small plastic clip to hold the bladder in place, but I would prefer a small D-ring instead for added security and ease of use. In short: a slightly taller bladder pocket and replacing the plastic clip with a D-ring would improve the design.

As the saying goes, "One is none, and two is one." I’ve experienced bladder failure before, and when it happens, it’s usually the bite valve that gives out. Once a bladder fails, there’s not much you can do to salvage it, which is why I’m a bit old school—I still prefer carrying a Nalgene bottle as a backup. However, the Nalgene takes up a lot of space in the 1200 cubic inches of the pack!

While writing this review, I decided to experiment with the wing pockets. Each side has a mesh pocket, and while a standard 32 oz Nalgene bottle is too tall for the pocket, a 32 oz Nalgene canteen fits perfectly. I'll be doing another day hike in two weeks and plan to field test the canteens then.

Update: Field Trial – In the photo below, you can see that I placed the Nalgene Oasis Canteen in the left mesh pocket. I was really impressed with how well the canteen fit. It stayed securely in place until I reached for it, and I had no trouble putting it back in the pocket. In fact, I was able to do so one-handed with ease.

When I use my Wingnut Enduro on local mountain bike trails, I typically carry around 2 liters of water, a Gerber hand saw, a bicycle repair kit, a small first aid kit, and a mini pump. Even with all that, the pack still isn’t close to full!

However, on an epic mountain bike ride or a day hike where you need to carry more gear, the 1200 cubic inches of space can feel a bit limiting. That said, it’s important to remember that this is a hydration pack, not a 2400 cubic inch day pack. This is where packing smart and knowing your gear really makes a difference. Whether I’m riding or hiking, I always carry the same essentials—except for the bike repair kit when I’m on the bike, of course.

The elastic compression system on the back is perfect for stashing a layer when you heat up from activity. The only downside is that it can catch on the front of your saddle when getting on the bike.

While no pack is perfect for every situation, I can confidently say that the Wingnut Enduro checks all the boxes for me. I haven’t encountered any major issues with it. The wing pockets are easily accessible without having to take the pack off, and it offers a great center of gravity, making it feel balanced while riding or crossing streams. It encourages you to pack only what you truly need!

That’s my take on it! If you have any questions I didn’t address, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to answer.