Teton Oasis 22L Hydration Pack - Olive

bigexplorer#10 Great product and fits the need

Teton Oasis 22 vs 18 ... get the 22! They are almost the same size, but the 22 is a bit wider and has a more useful storage profile. You can't tell the difference between the packs when wearing them, except at the 22 really does fit more. Also, the 22 comes with a 3 gallon water bladder instead of 2 gallon. Background: I own expensive packs from Osprey, The North Face, Camelback, Gregory, etc. Oasis Teton is the best value price pack I own, for the money. For $60 you have features that are very comparable to $150+ pack, with a very high quality, construction and tremendous thought put into usability and comfort. Add US based awesome customer service = no brainer PROs: - Comfort back & shoulder padding. Allows ventilation, sweat, breathability. - removable rainfly cover included. This means that if you end up in a heavy rainstorm, you can keep your pack completely dry! - Pack is already water resistant - excellent US based customer service. I called to find out. Answer on a few rings, ready to do whatever is needed to maintain your satisfaction. - well thought out compartments - water compartment/laptop compartment - includes 3 gallon water bladder (untested by me) - Quality/reinforced construction - this pack easily withstood wear and tear on wet, muddy adventures with sharp rocks. In comparison, no namebrand Costco backpacks have torn under similar circumstances, but the material of this pack was significantly better. No tears and any dirt wiped up very easily. - good looking colors - could replace water bladder with a 13.3" or 14" laptop (but not room for both) - waist straps can tuck up into the side elastic pouches, if desired CONS: - A trade-off in waist/belt comfort (compared to market leader Osprey) - A very small trade-off in quality (compared to market leader Osprey) - debatable if there is much difference - I did not test the water bladder, which will be a significant variable for many people I used this pack for a weeklong vacation in Hawaii. I brought it the following: - clipboard with maps, park entrance passes, etc - rain jacket - flip flops - change of shorts and shirt - bug spray & sunblock - sun hat - journal + book + Bible + highlights - Mavic Mini - selfie stick/tripod - A little bit of room to spare for specifics needed for each adventure (hiking in the mountains, beaches, snorkeling) Bottom line: - it's hard to find a better pack for the price. For most people, this is a very high-quality pack that will provide minimal sweat, comfort, plenty of storage, and look good. - For outdoor obsessed people, consider an upgrade to Osprey or Gregory for better waist weight bearing straps. - I love this pack and I continue to use it for mountain biking, day hikes, and even some study sessions at work w/my laptop