I received this a few days ago but haven't had a chance to try it out yet on the trail which is why I'm rating it 4-stars at this time.

I love the overall capacity of it, as well as all the pockets. I think it will be a perfect bag for day hikes without being too big. I tested the hydration bladder for leaks and there were none. Yes it gives water that "plastic-y" taste initially, but I did clean it with a bit of dish soap, rinsed well, and let it air dry for 2-3 days and that took care of the weird taste. Also there are two outer side pockets that each fit a standard 16-ounce water bottle but they seem like they will fit larger bottles too.

The shoulder straps are a perfect fit for me. I was concerned they might be too wide and uncomfortable, or hit in the wrong places based on what a few other reviewers with similar physical dimensions stated. Also the sternum strap and waist strap are adjustable and fit comfortably (for reference I am 5'3, 135, 36C).

The medium size pocket in the lower middle section of the bag with the logo on it has three small buckle straps - one at the top of it as well as one on either side (see pics) so it can be unhinged. I wasn't sure what the purpose is but my husband suggested it can be used to hold a jacket or blanket, or anything else along those lines.

This backpack looks and feels like very good quality and I can't wait to load it up and take it out on some Fall hikes.

UPDATE 10-22-23:

This is now officially a 5-Star backpack. I used it for the first time yesterday on a 14-mile hike and it was perfect! It was fully loaded and comfortable for the whole trek.

I started out with the hydration pack full - no leaks, and the bite valve worked great. This is my first hydration pack and I sure appreciated the convenience of being able to drink water without having to stop during those times when I was only thirsty but not needing to stop. (now comes the fun part of cleaning the thing lol - but I bought a cleaning kit and some fizzy tablets, so we'll see how that goes!)

The backpack held everything I bring on a day hike, though I can see where the bigger 22-liter one wouldn't be bad either for hikes in colder weather when I bring a heavier jacket, a few other light layers, and more food items. I actually might get one in that size too if I can get it at a good sale price.

This is definitely a great pack from my experience with it so far, and I'd say get it if you're on the fence.

We bought two of these hiking backpacks 18L and they were so perfect for our road trip to Iceland! We packed them for the day with camera gear and personal essentials as well as some water and a couple of snack bars. It was just big enough to hold what we needed (great use of pockets) and small enough to be totally ignorable on our backs. We needed the incorporated waterproof cover many times and it was so easy to take out or put away (and remains attached by a cord so you can't lose it). The water pockets held even thick water bottles without strain. A lot of our items (boots, clothing) got dirty or muddy from our adventures, the bags remained pristine due to the fabric not picking up a lot of dust/dirt (and easy to wipe if it did). I don't bother doing review soften, but I can't say enough about how well these bags these bags did during our 12 day rough travel. Note that we did not use the water bladder (as we opted to just take water bottles with us), but they seem like they would do well (that'll have to be for someone else to review). We are planning to buy a larger size of this for other adventures and foresee using them all for years to come (longevity review also pending, as we got it right before our trip so i look forward to seeing how they do over time). Definitely get this! I almost spent too much money on an REI hiking bag (and I do love REI) but it's not necessary, this is top notch quality.

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 purchased this backpack to use for day hikes when my running vest is not spacious enough. I have no complaints on the quality of the pack itself. It seems to be well made and has held up to being overstuffed and scuffed around. I can fit my 12.9" iPad Pro in the back section, which makes it convenient for travel as well. The bungies and straps are extremely convenient for locking in jackets, hiking poles, and even water bottles on the outside pockets (essential for steep hikes/climbing.) My only complaint is that the shoulder straps are quite wide, making it uncomfortable to wear if you have a smaller frame. I no longer use it for this reason. The placement of the chest strap is also not ideal for female anatomy. Overall it's a good quality pack for its price; I'd suggest smaller framed women consider a pack designed more specifically for their body type. (I'll be upgrading to an Osprey Daylite).

Truthful review from a long distance runner.

I have used this hydration pack for 5 to 10 runs now. They are 10 to 13 miles in distance. I have read many of the reviews and am posting an honest review to rebuttle many of the complaints or give advice / better options for this pack.

First of all, when full, it weighs a little bit. Of course it does, your carrying water on your back. The good thing about carrying the weight is... If your race is going to have hydration stations you won't need the pack, this means you trained at a heavier weight than you will race at. That's a plus.

When filling the pack, the large spout is great, it allows you to easily add electrolyte supplements through the opening. Once the pack is full, make sure to turn it upside down and suck all the air / bubbles out of the bladder and hose. This prevents the noisey sloshing and help prevent ingestion of air.

When putting the bladder into the pack, obviously the lid to the bladder and the hose should always face away from your back. Unless you want some irritating things poking into your back the entire time. Make sure to use the Velcro holder to suspend the bladder bag while you are using it. If the bladder falls into the bottom of the pack, it's going to swing around more and become more uncomfortable.

The straps are fine, they need to be adjusted to slightly snug. The top strap has elasticity to help prevent restriction while breathing. The bottom strap should go around your belly under your ribs and be just tight enough to stop the pack from bouncing but not too tight to prevent deep breathing.

The mouthpiece is pretty terrible and takes a hard bite and while running, causes a lot of ingestion of air. If you spit out the first draw of water, the second mouthful is usually a lot less air. But, the solution to this is replacing the mouthpiece. Today I ran for the first time with a replacement ( Osprey Hydraulics Bite Valve , Black https://a.co/d/jjWqwNo ) this thing makes 100% increase is the usability of this pack. Well with the little more cost for the mouthpiece upgrade. Makes the pack even more with the price. To see the type clamp I used, look at the pictures.

The hose wasn't hard to insert in the bladder as long as you read the instructions. I don't remove the hose every time I clean the bladder because I don't want to damage the oring. I do blow air through the hose when I drain the bladder.

The pouch on the front is great for a UCan Gel and 2 protein bars. I've also used the bungee lines on the back to hold long sleeve shirts when the temperatures rise and I need to dress down a little.

The material dries quickly and is soft and padded. I use anti chafe when I run, I did have one time that my underarm got chafed from rubbing against the strap from the pack, I think this would happen with any hydration pack, all I do now is put anti chafe on my underarms and this hasn't been an issue again.

I'll prob buy another one of these packs if this one ever breaks. I'm that happy with the results for the price.

The backpack part is well made and well designed. Love the color. The waterbag’s fill opening is kind of small. I would substitute a better one like a replacement for a camelback if you want a large fill.

I like the Teton brand . I have a few pieces of gear from them. This day pack is fine. The water bladder is pretty flimsy and was replaced immediately. The storage capacity is a bit wonky when the water bladder is full. So if you are one of those who likes to carry a lot when back packing this pack might not be the one for you.

It’s comfortable , it does its job .

Bought this for my boys 4'7" and 5'2". Fit my taller boy great, the younger/shorter one it kept sliding off his shoulders. But he will grow into it soon enough.

Easy to use. Both my sons are medically complex but very active. I attached a laminated packing checklist to the zipper and they are able to get themselves ready for hike days now!

Feels well made and sturdy.

Easy to use and set up hydration pack.

Took my kid with more significant learning delays longer to understand how to consistently get the water through the "straw" to drink. But I think that would've been true for any hydration pack.

Plenty of room to store things for a day hike.

I havent seen any leaking issues.

I would consider it lightweight, but I've had lighter hydration packs in the past. But not by a ton.

For special needs kids, this pack can be very handy for a variety of settings. Especially for those with executive functioning impacts. We use ours for all kinds of outings (zoo, botanical gardens, even long medical appointment days).

tiene el tamaño óptimo para llevar lo mínimo en largas caminatas (50 km o mas) y costo inmejoable para la calidad y peso de los materiales de construcción. Diseño ergonómico sin lastimaduras de espalda ni hombros. Mi experiencia y de mi esposa: Camino de Santiago!!

Produit de qualité

I purchased it for my Spiti Vally riding and I used it for 14 days continuously.It is very comfortable and having enough space for your things go for 22 it’s size is very good 18L is little small in size

Es perfecta. Buen tamaño para recorridos cortos

Overall a great product and I like how compact it is. It is a shame that one of the side straps tore off from the seams even though it isn't heavy used.