Epic 14.4
Epic 14.4
FREE USA SHIPPING AND RETURNS, LIFETIME GUARANTEE
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Perfect for half-day rides to all-day epics and multi-day bikepacking excursions. Carry a lot without it feeling like you're carrying a lot. Click for Pinkbike and NSMB reviews. The Epic 14.4 now comes with a 4L hydrapak bladder, as shown in product photos.
Features
- 14 liters of total storage, 4 liter hydration capacity from included Hydrapak bladder.
- Low-profile lumbar design keeps the weight on your hips (and off your shoulders) and doesn't hit the back of your helmet while riding steep terrain or jumps.
- Industry-largest side pockets for easy one-handed access to ride essentials (phone, food, multi-tool, etc.) without removing the pack.
- Dual-purpose waist cinch secures the pack to your body and compresses pack contents for bounce-free descents.
- 3/4-zip large main compartment with separate area for hydration bladder makes stuffing oversize loads into the bottom of the pack easier.
- Top-zip secondary compartment for tool storage with divider and key clip. Large enough for high capacity MTB pumps and tubes.
- Low, wide, easy-fill Hydrapak hydration reservoir with quick-disconnect makes for easy cleaning, adding ice, etc.
- Magnet clip for securing bite valve to sternum strap.
- Minimalistic lash points on bottom of pack for extra storage.
- Helmet storage using shoulder straps.
- Open mesh shoulder straps for maximum breathability.
- Oversized, durable YKK zippers and 210D nylon construction meant to handle all the dirt, sweat, sun and neglect you can throw at it. Made in a top-shelf factory that also makes outdoor gear for first responders.
- 1.5" wide waist strap for less pressure on your stomach.
- Soft, protected, tech pocket for fragile/small items.
- Velcro webbing keepers to minimize flappy excess material.
- Covered by our lifetime True North guarantee.
Fit
Our packs typically fit folks between 5'4" and 6'5". Near or below 5'4", particularly if you have a smaller frame, you may run out of adjustment room on the shoulder straps. Users slightly over 6'5" may be ok, depending on other dimensions (chest/torso size, etc.). We are happy to send you a free return label if it doesn't fit.
If you're close to the ends of our adjustment range, we have detailed fit videos available to give you the best shot of our packs fitting you.
Note: We are actively developing smaller strap sizes to accommodate those below 5'4", launching late-2026.
Specs
- Main body dimensions: 12" x 12" x 6.5"
- Main material: 210D Ripstop Nylon
- Weight including bladder assembly: 1142g / 2.5lb
It was time to update my hydration pack and this was the one. Super happy with the fit and how it handles all the riding I have done.
The pack does what its supposed to — keep the weight low, off the shoulders and on the hips. My only observation is as I carry a fair amount of weight, the pack will ride up my back, regardless of how tight I adjust the the hip belt. Aside from that, I really like the pack.
Hey Adrian - thanks for the review. Happy to try and diagnose the issue if you want to email me at ken@arctospacks.com. You may already know this but it's just the first thing that came to mind: make sure the shoulder straps aren't too tight. If you're standing straight up, they should have enough slack in them that they can lift off your shoulders an inch or two without it raising the pack. When you're riding you should just barely feel them supporting the pack a little. Shoot me an email if that doesn't help, I'd love to see if we can make it not ride up. -Ken
I bought the 6.2 in February. Then I bought the 10.3, thinking I needed the extra space, but it wasn't really enough to make a difference for me so I returned that (super easy process by the way). Then, I went on a 30+mile bender and felt a bit under prepared. So, I bought the big dog 14.4 and it's been great. The extra size is minimally noticeable for me, but the extra space is fantastic. I think the pockets on this and the 10.3 are easier to use than the 6.2. I find that after unzipping the pockets on the 6.2, I miss the zipped pocket and wind up wrestling with the elasicated outer pocket on that model. These are just the zippered version and it's truly easy to get stuff in and out of while riding. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with any of the Arctos offerings. They are high quality, well designed pieces of gear. Almost all of my riding is in the high desert of the Southwestern United States and the breathability has been great for me. Even as our temps begin to climb into the unreasonable zone. For me, the Papa bear and Baby bear versions are just right for everything I want to get into.
After putting the Arctos Epic 14.4 through its paces on some MTB trails in the Black Hills of South Dakota, this pack has earned my trust. It nails the fundamentals and then adds a few thoughtful touches that make it stand out from other hydration packs in this size class.
The defining feature of the Epic 14.4 is how it rides. Instead of sitting high on the shoulders like a traditional hydration pack, it settles low on the back — right where a hip pack would normally sit. Paired with the shoulder and hip straps working together, the pack locks into place and doesn't shift, bounce, or wander during a ride. That low center of gravity makes a real difference over a long day in the saddle.
The 4L bladder is the headline number, and it earns its keep. For all-day rides where refill stops are scarce or non-existent, having that much water on board is a genuine game-changer. No more rationing sips or cutting routes short because the reservoir ran dry.
The hip strap side pockets are where the Epic 14.4 really separates itself. The side pockets are sized generously enough to swallow an iPhone 17 Pro Max — and that's not a small phone. Being able to stash and retrieve a large phone without taking the pack off is exactly the kind of detail that matters when you're riding. The zippers open and close cleanly with one hand, so grabbing the phone for a photo or a quick check is effortless.
The heavy-duty YKK zippers throughout the pack are buttery smooth. No catching, no resistance, no fighting with the pulls — they just glide. YKK is the gold standard for a reason, and Arctos clearly didn't cut corners here. This is the kind of hardware that holds up over years of abuse.
Low-riding stability, massive hydration capacity, phone-friendly side pockets, and premium zippers. The Arctos Epic 14.4 is a five-star pack for serious all-day riders who want a hydration pack that actually thinks through how it gets used on the trail.
Ken,
I have been using my epic 14.4 on my Search&Rescue team to carry rescue and medical supplies to subjects in our local mountains for the past 6 months or so. Comfortable, low CG and easy water availability. Best MTB pack I have ever owned. Will worth the price. Thanks for creating such a high quality product.