MEC Provincial Packs: A Collection of Surprises

I remember purchasing my first MEC (Mountain Equipment Company) panniers about 32 years ago. They were eggplant purple with bright orange reflectors and took a real beating as I explored my way into the bike touring and MTB world. I couldn't have been happier bouncing around the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and BC with these bags bungeed tightly to my mountain bike, loaded to the brim with heavy camping gear.

Times have changed. Now, as a father of two growing boys eager to join me on bikepacking adventures, I find myself searching for their first bikepacking gear. But gone are the days of clunky panniers. The bikepacking world has now kicked things into high gear with durable, sleek-looking, performance-oriented bags featuring a long list of details. Still, searching for new gear for people just starting can be expensive and daunting.

This brings me to the MEC Provincial bike bag collection. Since its inception, MEC gear has always been well-regarded for its quality, functionality, and value for different outdoor needs. The Provincial bike bag collection is no exception.

MEC: A Canadian Cornerstone ...Again.

In 1971, a small member-owned Vancouver collective known as Mountain Equipment Co-Op was created by climbers and skiers who wanted affordable, reliable gear. The co-op model shaped MEC's culture for decades: a one-time membership bought you a vote in the business, profit sharing and access to gear designed for Canada's rugged landscapes.

Early on, MEC earned a reputation not only as a retailer but also as a maker of well-built house-brand packs, tents, sleeping bags, and cycling apparel that stood shoulder to shoulder with established outdoor names. Before long, MEC's green-label gear was almost a rite of Canadian passage for anyone heading into the mountains.

MEC also staked its reputation on values. It poured millions into conservation projects, promoted ethical supply chains, and became a gathering point for anyone who believed outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship went hand in hand. However, in 2020 and in deep financial trouble, MEC was sold to Los Angeles-based Kingswood Capital, altering the name to Company from Co-Op, sparking a backlash from MEC loyalists.

Five years later, the brand is back under Canadian control thanks to a private group of Canadian investors led by Canadian textile executive Tim Gu known for championing 'Made in Canada' with iconic brands such as Canada Goose, Tilley, and Roots. He aims to re-establish MEC as a cornerstone of Canada's outdoor culture. CEO Peter Hlynsky and Chief Merchandising Officer Chris Speyer, both longtime MEC members, are focused on reconnecting with the brand's roots, emphasizing community engagement and environmental stewardship. Together, the team is committed to making MEC not just a provider of quality outdoor gear but an integral part of Canadians' outdoor lifestyles and heritage.

Straightforward Bags, Simple Installation

Those early days of chunky panniers and ill-fitting rack systems are over. Modern bikepacking frame bags are easy to mount on most bikes, allow you to be as compact or generous as you need to be, and provide a much more balanced ride.

At first glance, the bags look great as a bikepacking system and play well together or by themselves. Even when my son tried attaching them to his bike for the first time, no instructions were needed, and everything seemed intuitive and straightforward. All the straps seemed sturdy and robust, with no faffing about to get everything packed and ready to go. Once everything was attached, only minor adjustments were needed. Once at camp, the bags were effortlessly unpacked and even removed easily to bring into the tent or get locked up in raccoon-proof bins.

Quality Construction

From a more technical perspective, the range of the Provincial series of bike bags are all waterproof, made from durable TPU materials with welded seams and water-resistant zippers or easily sealed roll top systems that keep the rain out and fun in, even in heavy downpours. The collection features reflective details in a sleek and subtle design. Overall, the bags are designed to be waterproof and durable, user-friendly, with a focus on reasonable prices, and offer exceptional value.

Let's take a closer look at our complete Provincial bag setups.

Saddle Pack

At an affordable $149 CDN price, the roomy Provincial Saddle Pack weatherproof seat pack provides 12L of volume for carrying whatever you stuff in. Constructed with recycled and highly water-resistant materials, MEC has designed a roll-top closure for ultimate weatherproofing. They also employed a secure mounting system with webbing straps through seat rails and hook-and-loop straps around your seat post. The addition of an adjustable elastic cord system on top allows you to easily stow a rain jacket, sandals, or store extra water bottles. Finally, the simple webbing and velcro attachment system provides exceptional security even on rough roads and doesn't require extreme dexterity to adjust.

One thing that we noticed was that the contents of the bag needed to be balanced when tightening everything up; otherwise, it would bulge or sag. As a little extra, there is even a light loop for mounting your rear flashing light. We were able to fit a sleeping bag, extra clothes, a food bag, and spare tools and tubes. The packing volume is very generous on this bag, but can easily be adjusted for smaller cargo.

Top Tube Frame Pack

The bag's low central mounting is ideal for heavier items. The elastic cord and velcro attachment system provides a secure fit and can be quickly positioned to accommodate various frames. This halft-frame pack also has a webbing daisy chain that goes completely around the bag, giving you space to add other accessories or mounting hardware.

Available in two sizes (4L and 6L), from $69.95 CDN, the Provincial Top Tube Frame Pack is a great choice for good looks and wet weather. We were able to carry our stoves, pots, utensils, headlamps, tools, snacks for the day, glasses and gloves, and everything else that needed to be reached while on the trail. It also kept its slender shape once everything was packed in and didn't rub our legs while pedalling. On a funny note, it was robust enough to be raccoon-proof.

Handlebar Roll

As with all the other bags, the $119.95 CND MEC Provincial Handlebar Roll is modestly priced and made with a combination of rugged weather-protective materials like TPU-coated 200 and 300-denier polyester, further enhanced by smart details like the roll-top closure and welded seams. Speaking of smart details, MEC has employed an aluminum core stiffener for the rubber TPU straps attachment point, which provides a more secure mounting and reduces bag sag.

On the outside, the roll has an elastic cargo strap that is perfect for keeping light, compressible items like a jacket or fishing rod accessible while riding. There is also a waterproof zippered pocket, but unfortunately, we did find it too stiff and tight to fit anything other than a small map. Perhaps the addition of an expandable material would help this pocket be more useful. This roomy handlebar bag is best suited for all your storage for light, bulky gear.

We found it best to carry our puffy jackets, sleeping bag liners, sleeping pads, and tent footprint in here. Plus, on the lower back of the Roll, there are 2 more compression straps to cinch down, perfect for attaching our tent poles. Little touches like that make packing more intuitive for beginners and pros alike.

Everything Rack & Odyssey Dry Bag

Made of 6061 aluminum, the MEC Fork Mount Anything Rack provides light yet strong attachment points and 4kg load capacity for $59.95 CND each. Odyssey Dry Bags with welded and taped seams were great for this trip, and they were probably the most voluminous bags of the whole setup. Made from 420-denier recycled nylon ripstop with a super-durable ether-based TPU coating inside and out, these bags contain no PVC, so it has a lower environmental impact than traditional PVC dry bags. They also have four lash points for secure attachment. I've used the smaller 3-litre version of these bags for hauling extra water or food, but the 5-litre bags boost the amount of gear I can carry on longer trips at an affordable $35.95 CND each.

Normally, I would carry a bivvy bag system when going solo, but because there were two of us, we wanted to bring a roomier two-person tent. We were able to jam in a tent and even extra clothes with room to spare. Even with the extra bulk of the tent, the bags were super secure, and I didn't feel any difference in handling the bike on rough terrain.

One thing I did notice was the actual size of the fork rack. They are on the large size compared to other competitors, but they were secure and supported the large bags accordingly. They also come with their own strap system, but I would prefer to use the Voile strap system for ease of use and reliability.

Wrapping It All Up

After a few weeks and multiple trips on the trails, my son and I were very pleased with how these bags held up. Through rain and dust, they always kept our gear secure and dry. On the road, we rarely had to adjust the packs, and they were easy to take off or on at camp.

For his first time using these bags, my son was super happy with how much gear he could carry without having to sacrifice comfort on bikepacking trips. On top of all that, the bags are made with robust and recycled materials, ensuring repeat usage while being easy on the planet.

Leave it to MEC to make bikepacking adventures more accessible and affordable for cyclists. Overall, I can see these packs as versatile pieces that could be used on daily commutes, as well as on gravel grinds and bikepacking adventures. Use one pack alone, or use them all, for a complete pack system.

It's hard to think that only yesterday my son was riding along in a baby seat with me. Suddenly, he's starting to anticipate the next trip where we can escape on our multiday bikepacking adventures. Now I just have to learn how to keep up with him on the hills.

Check out the MEC Provincial Collection here.

Get the Provincial Packs

Mountain Equipment Company