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Leatt Hydration Core 2.0 Review

A functional hip pack with well-organized storage space that unfortunately suffers from some head-scratching quirks
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Leatt Hydration Core 2.0 Review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $85 List
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Manufacturer:   Leatt
By Pat Donahue ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 14, 2020

Our Verdict

The Leatt Hydration Core 2.0 is a comfortable hip pack with a decent amount of well-laid-out storage and a passable hydration system. The Core feels pleasant against the body and conforms well to the waist/hips. We found the hydration bladder/hose system relatively easy to use, and it's quite easy to fill up and keep clean. This hip pack has a generous amount of storage space given the average size of the pack. In addition, the storage space is well organized, making it a nice option for the OCD buyer. The Core is an average value — the price puts it just about in the middle of the pack for our review, and the on-trail performance is about average as well.
REASONS TO BUY
Well-organized storage area
Comfortable
Quick-connect bladder
REASONS TO AVOID
Funky system to attach hydration hose to waistband
Dealing with excess waistband straps is awkward

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Hyrdation Core 2.0 is a solid entry into the competitive market of mountain biking hip packs. This bag is totally functional and delivers a comfortable fit. That said, it does have its quirks, and it seems a little more complicated than some of the top options in our review. Comfort and ease of filling are two of the more impressive aspects of this pack. However, ease of drinking has some quirky design aspects that prevent it from competing with the top options.

Performance Comparison



leatt hydration core 2.0 - the valve is a unique shape but delivers a passable waterflow.
The valve is a unique shape but delivers a passable waterflow.

Ease of Drinking


The Hydration Core 2.0 has a, you guessed it, 2-liter hydration bladder. There is a hose that is of adequate length to reach the rider's mouth both in and out of the saddle. Even freakishly tall or long-torsoed riders will be satisfied with the length of the hose.

The hose exits the bottom of the bladder compartment and can be routed either to the left or right side of the pack through small loops. There is a sliding clip near the nozzle that attaches the hose to the waistband when not in use. This design takes some serious getting used to. Most hydration hoses have a magnet or a hook that allows you to stow the hose on the waistband quickly and easily. It is generally quite simple to unhook the hose, have a swig, and return it to its position. More importantly, it doesn't require the rider diverting too much attention from the trail. The clip-on design found on the Leatt, on the other hand, is easy enough to remove from your waistband, but it can be very difficult to return it to the storage position on the band… especially on choppy trails. The clip looks like an office supply binder clip and requires a bit of precision to accurately clip it in place. Mix in the fact that the clip is quite small and can be hard to handle, and you have an, at times, frustrating system. While the magnet design isn't perfect, it is far better than this.

leatt hydration core 2.0 - the hose clip is difficult to use on the fly. we prefer the magnetic...
The hose clip is difficult to use on the fly. We prefer the magnetic system other hip packs employ.

The bite valve also has a plastic cover on it, intended to keep dirt, pollen, or any other undesirable materials off your valve. Fair enough. The cover is easy enough to remove with your teeth or fingers. The bite valve itself is a circular design that allows for decent water flow. The shape is a little unusual, but it works just fine. Replacing the plastic cover is easy enough and can be done with one hand. That said, the valve cover seems unnecessary and only adds an additional step to an already complex process. None of the other hip packs in our review have this plastic cover feature.

leatt hydration core 2.0 - the bite valve has a plastic cover on it that adds an extra step...
The bite valve has a plastic cover on it that adds an extra step when taking a swig.

Ease of Filling


The Hydration Core 2.0 earns a respectable score in this metric. It uses a quick-connect design, which allows you to detach the hose completely from the bladder. This makes it super easy to leave the hose in the pack when pulling the bladder out for filling. This is quite important and cannot be understated. Other packs require you to pull the hose out from its routing if you want to pull the bladder out. The quick-connect feature is user-friendly and cuts down on the amount of time the process takes. Where the hose meets the bladder, there is a small red button. Upon pressing the button, you can pull the hose out of the bladder. To re-install the hose, simply push the nozzle back where it came from, and it will clip into place. Other hip packs in our review have a more dialed quick-connect system, but this one is functional.

Once the hose is disconnected and the bladder is removed, filling it is simple. A 3-inch gray clip slides off the top of the folded bladder easily. After removing the clip, you can unfold the top of the bladder and fill it with water. The opening of the bladder is smaller than all of the competition by a good margin. This is a nice touch, as it makes it significantly easier to handle. Once the bladder is full, re-install the gray clip on the track of the folded bladder to pinch shut.

leatt hydration core 2.0 - a quick-connect system makes cleaning and drying both the bladder...
A quick-connect system makes cleaning and drying both the bladder and hose slightly easier.
Credit: Pat Donahue

Comfort


The Hydration Core is a reasonably comfortable hip pack, as it conforms to the body quite well. The majority of the backing is covered with a dimpled screen material. The very center portion of the backing is more of a nylon-like material as opposed to a ventilated screen or mesh. When this hip pack is sitting in place, it feels great against the body. All of the contact points are soft, and there are no pinch zones or irritating areas. This is not the most breezy or well-ventilated hip pack we have tested though — on warmer rides, it definitely traps some heat and causes a good deal of sweat. Still, the pleasant feel against the back makes up for this.

On the trail, this pack stays in place nicely. It doesn't bounce or flop around incessantly. One strange quirk is that while the waistband adjustment is functional, it is difficult to deal with the excess straps. Leatt includes two velcro bands that are meant to secure the extra material by folding it a few times and then using the velcro band to hold this little bundle in place. You need to do this on either side of the buckle. This takes a little bit longer than it should. To strap down the excess band securely and neatly, it takes a minute or two. If you need to adjust the band significantly, such as when you are adding and subtracting layers or a rain shell, you may need to re-do this process.

leatt hydration core 2.0 - the straps can be a little unwieldy. the velcro bands meant to...
The straps can be a little unwieldy. The velcro bands meant to secure the excess straps are very difficult to work with.
Credit: Pat Donahue

Storage


The Hydration Core 2.0 has a decent amount of storage space: 5-liters to be precise. The system is fairly intuitive and more organized than much of the competition. If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder and want a clean pack that is well-laid-out, this could be a good option.

There is a large storage compartment at the very top of the pack that holds the hydration bladder, but the next compartment towards the front is the main event. A large zipped flap unfolds to expose this area where there are two zipped, mesh pockets. One of these pockets is cell phone-sized while the other is larger and is a good spot for a wallet and some snack bars. In the main storage portion, there are black, elastic loops that help secure items. C02 cartridges, a handpump, tire levers, a multi-tool, tire plugs, these can all be stuffed into these elastic loops to hold them in place. This is nice as it keeps items from clanking around and has a clean look to it.

There are also two pockets on the portion of the pack that wraps around the hips. We could call this part of the bag the wings. These pockets are great for items you need to get to on the fly like a Clif bar or a small GPS computer, though they won't fit a modern cell phone.

leatt hydration core 2.0 - this is one of the more organized hip packs in our review.
This is one of the more organized hip packs in our review.

Weight


The Leatt hip pack weighs 292-grams without the hydration bladder. That puts it on the lighter end of the spectrum. Weight isn't super important with a hip pack as the items you store inside have a much larger impact on total weight.

Ease of Cleaning


The Hydration Core posted a solid score here. If it gets soaked with sweat or your peanut butter and jelly sandwich explode, the materials are easy to wash in the sink or with a hose.

It is important to keep a hydration bladder clean. The quick-connect system that detaches the hose from the bladder makes it nice and simple to remove the bladder for thorough cleaning. This is important as the easier the bladder is to clean, the more likely users are to do so. The hose can be cleaned with a long pipe cleaner.

Value


The Hydration Core 2.0 is an average value. The price tag is in line with the majority of the packs in our review. We feel this bag delivers average or slightly above average performance, but it is a little overcomplicated. We think you can do better with your hard-earned money.

leatt hydration core 2.0 - this hip pack has somewhat of a bulbous appearance, but it is...
This hip pack has somewhat of a bulbous appearance, but it is exceptionally comfortable.

Conclusion


The Hydration Core 2.0 is a functional hip pack that does a handful of things well. The storage compartments are very well organized, the pack is comfortable, and the hydration system is decent. It could be a viable option for the hyper-organized rider, but we feel there are better options available for the masses. There are a few design quirks that really bog down the overall performance.

Pat Donahue