High Sierra Wave 70 Hydration Pack
The High Sierra Wave 70 Hydration Pack is a basic, inexpensive water pack built for durability without all the hassles and weight of extra pockets or features.
Ease of Use, Performance: 20/25
Look & Feel: 21/25
Features 20/25
How much I enjoy 20/25
Total: 81/100
The High Sierra Wave 70 Hydration Pack is a simple and inexpensive water backpack that has a sturdy interior flexible water reservoir inside the heavy duty breathable fabric. The water reservoir inside is made of durable materials but I am not sure what it is, the seams are well heat sealed though.
The Wave 70 is a simple hydration pack with the interior water reservoir and the outer pack made from Vapel mesh and has an insulated water tube. The water tube has a decent enough mouth pressure valve that works when you bite it but is a bit different from other brands.
I compared the mouth valve with the Camelback brand and they are definitely a different type between the brands and the main difference is the plastic parts inside. The High Sierra mouth valve is round and has a piece of plastic inside, when you bite down to get water you have a piece of round plastic right near the tip of the valve.
While I found this odd it works well and when compared to the valve that Camelback uses, it is just different, not really better or worse. I think it is mainly what you become used to and if you go from one brand to another the next brand will feel odd just because it is not what you are used to.
The Wave 70 has a 2 litter capacity as well as a nice large opening to fill that water reservoir that you can easily fill without having to remove the water reservoir from the pack. The reservoir goes into the pack easily and is held in place by the large threaded cap that screws onto the opening.
The Wave 70 is compatible with many with many brands of water filtration systems that have a water bottle cap or uses a tube system for filling. You can simply use the large cap that is the same size as common water bottles like those Neoprene ones. You can also take the water tube off the mouth piece and use a filtration system that uses the common 1/4 inch tube size as another way to fill the reservoir of the Wave 70.
If you don't use a filter system in the field you can just unscrew the cap and fill from a tap or faucet and if you lose the cap you can easily use a water bottle cap that are the same size. Filling the pack on a daily basis is simple and over the last month or so I have been using the pack off and on when biking and exercising.
The High Sierra Wave 70 make a nice, simple hydration pack with the two shoulder straps having two loops each for the drinking tube so you can use it on either strap. The Wave 70 would have been a little more comfortable with a chest strap between the two shoulder straps but other than that comfort is just fine.
The padded shoulder straps and general padded area that rests against your back makes the hydration pack comfortable to wear, especially when full. The shoulder straps have a wide range of adjustment for the wide variety of people interested in this pack and I am sure it will fit just about anybody.
The Wave 70 has a top loop for easy hanging on a coat rack or other hook type point and has a small loop on the bottom for use of a bike reflector on the back. The small zippered compartment is useful for items like a wallet, cell phone, glass case or keys so you can carry a couple of important items while out on the trail or bike path.
The water reservoir fits into the pack through a slot on the top back and is secured closed with a Velcro patch and stays in place using the reservoir cap through the back of the pack. The hole the reservoir cap goes through has a nice plastic reinforcement so the durability around the cap is ensured.
The High Sierra Wave 70 Hydration Pack makes a nice and simple way to get water in you while out on the bike path, trail or wherever you are exercising. I had no problems with the Wave 70 and found it a handy and useful hydration pack that doesn't have any fancy features but only costs about $30.
I highly recommend the High Sierra Hydration Pack as a simple and affordable water pack that is available at many sporting goods stores as well as online.