USWE CORE 25 Daypack Review

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27 September 2022 | Alex Marsh | Gear

USWE Sports (pronounced “you-swii”) is known for its hydration packs and backpacks designed to stay in place no matter how rough the trail gets. Its goal with the CORE series of packs was to provide dual-sport and off-road riders the storage they need with smart features, but still keep to the brand’s commitment to proper fit and “No Dancing Monkey” ethos.

The CORE series of bags are offered in 16L and 25L options. The only difference is the volume; both packs share the same neat features and extras. I opted for the CORE 25 as I was looking to use the bag to haul a camera and video equipment on rides and needed the larger volume.

USWE Core25 Daypack Review 1

At first glance the bag looks like a pretty normal daypack; made of rugged material, with compression straps and webbing loops to lash items to the outside. There are clipped straps at the bottom that you could use to secure a rolled-up jacket or small tent bag. USWE also includes a few nice touches you don’t find with every other bag; a removable phone pouch, soft-lined goggle pocket, magnetic hydration tube clip, and a semi-rigid tool case. Also, every strap on the bag has an elastic keeper to prevent annoying flapping at speed. An included hydration bladder would be nice, but the provided pocket is large enough to accept the 3L HydraPak reservoir I already had.

The No Dancing Monkey 2.0 + Snug-Me harness system required a little setup, and it took me a while to get used to it. First, the shoulder straps are adjustable vertically via Velcro on the back plate; then, you put the pack on and secure the chest clip. Finally, to snug it all down, you pull the waist straps and then clip and tighten.

It’s a bit of faffing around, but it’s worth it. USWE’s system results in the most stable backpack I’ve ever ridden with on or off road. Even with 20+ lbs of cameras and lenses loaded, the pack doesn’t shift around, although I’ve found that once you get off the bike, the shoulder straps are able to loosen up if you unclip the waist straps, making it less comfortable.

If you’re in the market for a larger pack for day rides, a weekend of ultralight camping, or even commuting, the CORE 25 is a great option. USWE’s harness system is adjustable enough to make the weight sit exactly where you need and keeps the bag incredibly secure.

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