As part of the Diamondback Mountain Team, Eric Porter stays awfully busy as a brand ambassador for them, Hayes, Camelbak, and the rest of his sponsors. He’s also a great all ’round guy that’s fun to ride with and has the most amazing backyard pump track you’ll ever see. Seriously, it has a launch ramp that starts from the second story of his garage! As such, we’re stoked for him to be our inaugural rider in our new Every Day Carry series, where we show you what the pros bring along in their packs, pockets, and saddlebags when they ride…
Up top is the Kali Maya enduro helmet.
Porter carries his gear in a Camelbak KUDU enduro hydration pack with integrated back protection.
The waist belt pockets hold his Lezyne Multitool and a few gels. He uses the bigger multitool, always one with a blade because you never know. The elastic pocket is used for the empty wrappers.
The main compartment houses a lot of stuff, more than most, but he’s also out on the bike for more hours and days than most of us, too.
In addition to the gels on the side pocket, the upper zipper pouch holds more food. “I eat a lot,” Porter says, “but some days we’re out there for hours doing filming. Sometimes I’ll bring bread and cheese to make a sandwich with the Clif pizza squeeze.”
The rest of the bag’s contents include a rain jacket, GoPro with chest mount, spare tube (sometimes multiple tubes in different sizes), hand warmers heat packs, headlight, and…
An oversized hand pump and mini shock pump from Lezyne handle inflation.
Gorilla tape is wrapped around the pump for emergency repairs. Paracord and…
…dental floss, which is basically Goretex string. He’s used that to fix things, like stitching ripped clothing back together by using the point on a multi-tool to make holes. Next to it in the baggie is toilet paper, matches and a lighter. Again, because you never know.
Camelbak’s tool roll is used to hold extra bolts and parts, including numerous replacement derailleur hangers for the various bikes he rides. Other bits have come in handy for crazy backcountry repairs, like using a GoPro mount bolt to replace a Reverb seat clamp bolt. Or combining washers and a long bolt to make a front brake mount adapter that lasted another two days after the original bottom bolt fell out and the caliper ended up getting flipped back and up and destroyed the spacer (above).
Thick mastic-like tape is there to silence noisy parts or chainslap. Mainly used to keep that stuff quiet during filming, but says he’s used it more on friends’ bikes than his own. Other stuff includes extra valve stems, tire levers, and a Rockshox Reverb travel limiter clamp.
If you want to be really safe out in the backcountry, Eric brings along a first aid kit, emergency bivy, and a Spot beacon.
The sunglasses pocket is used for just that. Porter says he always rides with shades, even if they’re clear for night riding, because he’s had stuff fly into his eyes and that’s no fun.
While we had him, we also checked out the spec on his Diamondback Release, a 130mm all mountain bike with 150mm fork up front. He’s using the Answer SL carbon handlebar and ultra short 30mm AME stem.
Grips are Answer’s beer Stein pattern lock ons, followed by Hayes Prime brakes.
Front suspension is the Manitou Mattoc that’s been upgraded with their Infinite Rate Tune dual air main spring that lets you adjust initial and total shock rates independently. Out back is the McLeod air shock.
Porter just got a new set of HT pedals, opting for the middle sized platform rather than the full sized flats.
A carbon rail SDG saddle sits on the Reverb.
Wheels are Sun-Ringle Helix with various versions of the Kenda Honey Badger providing grip.
A SRAM 1×11 drivetrain rounds out the build. All parts on his bike come from sponsors, and the Kelly McGarry sticker is in remembrance of his friend.
Big thanks to Eric for showing us what’s in his pack!
