Steve Tam

Just picked up a new set of the Red, White, and Blue stickers and was disappointed at how thin/flimsy they are (the previous generation of these heritage stickers were thick). These stickers remind me of the those cheap foil stickers I got from a 10 cent dispenser at the grocery store as a kid. For $20 they should be the same quality as the stickers that come stock on your Fox Fork. You also get an entire sheet of rear shock stickers that you probably won't end up using. It would be great if they came as fork only decals.

I like this stand but there are a few things I don't like about it as well. It gets the job done holding your bike up and allows you to complete some light maintenance on your steed if need be. When my stand arrived the paint was chipping off and there was no hardware to keep the plastic sleeves on the arm. There are two end caps, on the stand legs, that fall off everytime I move the stand. I had to put some tape, on the inside of the stand, to prevent them from falling out. Nice to have if I need to hold my bike up without leaning on the something in the garage but don't think I would purchase this again.

Both my kids use this helmet. Fit is great and the bright colors help them be seen. The coverage is great as it protects more of the back of the head than a lot of other options. Would love to see the addition of MIPS in the child size.

First off, the LR rides really well on your back. On longer rides I didn't notice the weight like I have on other packs. It sits comfortably and is not restrictive.

Putting the LR reservoir into the pack is a different story. When full, the reservoir is difficult to fit into the zippered pocket...even when the pack is completely empty and the compression straps are all loose. You really have to push the reservoir down hard for it to get into the spot it needs to be. Once there is wont' move so there is one benefit to the inconvenience. The only thing worse than the super tight fitting reservoir is routing the hose through the bag. There is one loop you have to thread the hose through in the reservoir compartment. Then you have to route the hose out of the reservoir compartment into the main storage pocket. Then from there you finally externally route the hose out of the main storage pocket. The last opening is small. So small that you can barely push the mouthpiece through without wanting to rip the pack to shreds. You can disconnect the hose from the reservoir and thread it through reverse to the hydration pack but since doing that I've had issues with it coming detached from the reservoir. Either way it's more work than one should have to do to go for a ride. I've had people tell me to just leave the hose in and only remove the reservoir to refill every ride. Well that's all fine and dandy if you like nasty dirt caked lip scum mouthpiece to drink from. Personally I like to wash the mouthpiece and the hose after a ride.

There is plenty of storage room in the pack and can fit more than enough gear in the pockets. There is a main storage pocket, a intermediate pocket that houses the included tool pouch (nice touch), and a lined pocket for your phone or glasses (both will not fit at the same time). There are also two hip strap pockets that allow for quick access to items without having to take your pack off.

There are plenty of compression straps to prevent the pack from moving and they do their job. There are two straps that compress the reservoir area but I haven't had to use them because the pack stays in place. These straps have sewn in loop on the end and are pretty long but so far I have not snagged any branches with them.

You can route the hydration hose out the left side of the pack but you will lose the ability to use the magnetic retention system. The magnetic/plastic piece can be removed and there are two sections of strap (only on the right shoulder strap) that you can choose to have it on. These straps are not mirrored on the left shoulder strap so if you like to route your hydration hose down the left shoulder strap just be aware that you will not be able to use the magnetic retention device on that side.

Ventilation is better on this pack than previous LR models but it still gets quite warm.

I would love to see some side external pockets to hold items like bear spray (if you live in those areas). Overall this pack will get the job done and carry your water more comfortably. Camelbak has a good LR system here and hopefully they keep refining the design of the remainder of the pack.

I can only comment on sizing because my hands would not fit through the wrist opening. I wear a Large TLD XC Glove and love them but these looked really small and tight.

The new A2 is a fantastic progression from the A1. For me it fit better (I have a roundish profile head) and the vents are much nicer. It fits better with my Oakley sunglasses and the added protection from the MIPS helps keep you safe. The rear dial allows easy on the fly adjustments. The large visor keeps the sun out of your eyes and the aluminum visor bolts are such a nice touch to finish off this stellar looking helmet. Well done TLD!