SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING

Specification

 Leatt state that the Hydradri 5.0 brings you their highest level of waterproof performance along with rugged durability and trail ready features. The latter may not grab the attention of lesser mortals like me, but experience has convinced me that touring may be more sedate than single-tracking, but benefits from some of the same features.

 

However, let us start with fundamentals. This is a three-layer garment with 30 000mm of waterproofing. That is about as good as it gets. Breathability is rated at 30 000mm/g2. This should ensure that sweat, heat etc., are driven out. Remember that it is, fundamentally, body heat that creates the imbalance between temperature inside the jacket and outside the jacket that drives the moisture out.

 

Hard-working hill/climbers and heavily/loaded tourers have a lot in common in that context. Bear in mind that breathability can be personal and can be rated higher than you require. However, in the context of this garment and its target audience, the rating is perfect - it is just about as good as it gets.

 

The fabric has four-way stretch, great for long days in the saddle, adjusting position on tricky tracks or to manoeuvre a laden bike - and, of course, shifting position for fast trail work. There is really good “deflexion” reinforcement at contact points. Add well-baffled YKK zips, a DWR coating and articulated closures To keep the weather out. The waist and cuffs are adjustable for a comfortable fit. The inner layer is tactile, there are leg vents for climate control, pockets and a phone sleeve.

 

To Brits the word “pants” may seem confusing. Yet these are not just overtrousers in disguise. They can be used as overtrousers in cold weather - but can also be worn standalone (more about underwear in the breathability section).

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Size and fit 4.5/5

 

Size runs from small to XXL. Ours were the XL. The size chart seems to be pretty much spot on. Consult it and measure up would be my advice for something at this price point, unless you can get to try them on. I’d add that at first sight I. Wondered if I’d gone a size too small. I was, happily, wrong. The adjustment in the waist dealt well with s slightly bulky rider setting off on three months of cycle touring, and a moderately slim one at the end of the tour.

 

Given that serious off-roaders shift about in the saddle and out of it, you’d really expect these to allow for a lot of movement. They do. This tourer may move slower than a single-track speedster, but a heavily-laden bike in a rough section of trail still requires rapid changes of position. Moreover, churning away for hours is definitely a jollier experience if you can move comfortably, especially in the saddle and around the knees. Frankly, the Leatt Hydradri 5.0 fit the bill for all if that. The ‘stretch’ enables the pants to look good off the bike, too.

 

The only gripe is that the calf zippers are a tad on the short side, in my opinion. No doubt there’s good reason behind this. However, I only have 9.5 UK sized shoes and they took careful, gentle persuasion to ease the pants over them. Not difficult, just requiring longer than some might like in a sudden downpour. Minor point, and one not helped by a left leg that does not bend as well as it did all those years ago. Practice and get the knack. On a connected note, the ankle fits snuggly to keep spray at bay.

 

Waterproofing 5/5

 

The enemy failed to pierce the defences at any point. These pants have been put in all kinds of weather now; warm and wet, cold and wet, protracted drizzle, five hours of heavy rain on the way south into Stockholm, the most biblical of downpours in the Ruhr, and good-old steady English precipitation of the kin d that we are told is ideal for dealing with the drought. there isn’t really much more to say. Just to add, that I have combined them with overshoes whenever things have got heavy or prolonged.

 

Breathability 5/5

Breathability is, simply, very, very good.

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I don’t often discuss my undergarments in public. However, distasteful though it is, this is an exception. Funkier padded inner, civvie underpants, shorts, longs and thermals have all been tried out, depending on temperature and circumstance. In all cases breathability has been top-notch. I have felt no unpleasant clamminess, although faster riders on long climbs may be better able to push this to the limits than I. Point is, any moisture disappears rapidly.

 

The vents are helpful here. There’s a nice flow of fresh air. They are easy to open, too.

 Wearing them over padded undershorts has not clammed things up too much on warm, wet rides. Equally, unless I am camping that night and am going to be out all day, I prefer to let my legs and shorts get wet. However, they served well as ovetrousers, too, on a ninety-miler on a heavily-loaded tourer (worn over Showers Pass touring shorts and Funkier padded undershorts.

 

 Comfort and agility 5/5

Once again, this is top-notch. I’d say the best I have experienced - mind you, I have not tested them all. Point is that movement on the bike is easy and comfortable: no pinching or tightness. This is true when performing stretches after many hours in the saddle or when there taking on sharp bends or technical surfaces. Put that last bit in the context of my being a tourer with more occasional MTB excursions. Even so, there can be some highly variable touring cycle route surfaces which do require some added agility.

 

Care and durability 4.5/5

The usual precautions apply. Cool wash - 30C max - drip-dry out of direct sunlight, keep away from bleach, the tumble dryer, radiators (the one in the photo was not on, but was the best place to hang wet garments in a hotel room). Best use a technical wash or very mild soap flakes. Every now and again, things may need reproofing. Follow the instructions on the bottle.

 

These take a good while to dry after a full wash. Think several hours on the clothes line on a decent drying day. things can be accelerated by turning inside out during after they have been on the line for a bit.

 

After a downpour, they can often just be worn as they dry, but as the temperature rose, I have had to strap them to the rear rack to dry - folded up. With regular rotation they were effectively dry after about three hours - but that, of course, depend how wet they got. Overall, they won’t dry as quickly as lighter garments, especially those designed purely as overtrousers.

 

After off-roading, a wipe over with damp cloth has been pretty effective. Dirt removed, breathability will be more effective and, actually, you can get away with these off the bike for a post ride cuppa or something stronger.

 

Value 4.5/5

Given the range of contexts these work well-in, value should be considered carefully. For me, they are ideal for off-roading on day rides when you want a bit more warmth, but need great temperature control; likewise, when you head off on a long tour and need something good for the backwoods, but adaptable to different situations. Care for them, get many years of use, and your couple of hundred quid is well spent.

 

Of course, a simple pair of overtrousers, even one with some very useful features can be obtained for less, much less. For example, Endura’s Humvee Transit Waterproof Trousers come in at £75 and have some neat features - especially the calf zips. Equally, in my opinion, overtrousers of this type are less tactile and less suitable for wearing directly over your underwear, Likewise, they are more obviously waterproof cycling wear if you you want to go into stealth mode off the bike.

 

Talking of waterproof pants (not incontinence products) as opposed to overtrousers, Endura, again, offer several models from £100-£145. At £200 they offer waterproof bib-longs.

 

Fox Defend Pants have an rrp of £145, are four way stretch, DWR coated, have a a number of pockets for stowing stuff. The latter may or may not be something you appreciate, but they are a clear competitor for your money. RAB Cinder Kinetic Waterproof Biking Pants, are slightly pricier than the Leatt. They boast a soft fabric, which many will find attractive. how it compares to the Leatt, I cannot say as i have not tried a pair.

 

Fact is there is plenty of competition. However, Leatt’s Hydradri 5.0 Waterproof MTB Pants take performance to a very high level and are well-worth considering, even if they come at a slightly higher price than some. At this level, £200 is very much the price point.

Summary

Robust, comfortable, top-notch pants that do well in numerous contexts.

 

Verdict 4.75/5 Top-notch pants for tough conditions.

 

Steve Dyster

 

https://mtb.leatt.uk

https://zyrofisher.co.uk/