Teton Sports Oasis Review

The Teton Sports Oasis is one of the least expensive packs we tested, but that doesn't mean that it's lacking in great features. The pack has serious storage and some features that are typically only found on higher-priced packs, such as an integrated whistle and rain cover. However, its hydration system leaves us wanting. The bladder is difficult to fill and clean and the bite valve is difficult to drink from.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Drinking

The bite valve on the Teton Sports Oasis continually frustrated our testers. To open the bite valve you pull on it and you push on it to close it. During our testing, we found the bite valve difficult to drink from. We had to bite the valve at just the right spot and suck hard to get water, which then often caused the bite valve to close as we were drinking.

The hydration system's hose is long and the shoulder straps lack any hose retainer, allowing the hose to just hang and dangle unless we threaded it through the loop on the sternum strap — which then made drinking from it more difficult. After a few weeks of use, we noticed our water had an awful taste when we used the Oasis, so much so that we resorted to using the water bottle on our bike instead of sipping from the bladder.

Ease of Filling

The Teton Sports Oasis has a 2-liter bladder with a small, screw top opening. The bladder lacks a handle and therefore is challenging to fill. Our testers ended up putting a finger through the hole where the bladder attaches to the pack to hold it while filling, which is definitely not ideal.

Accessing the bladder and sliding it in and out of its pocket is quite easy, and the pocket is large enough to accept a full bladder with no difficulties. While the pack comes with a 2-liter bladder there is plenty of space in the pocket to use a 3-liter bladder instead.

Comfort

The back panel of the Oasis is made of ripstop polyester with two mesh padded strips to aid in breathability. The pack sits close to the body and offers minimal ventilation, making it best suited for cooler weather and activities with lighter exertion.

Overall, our testers found the pack's fit reasonably comfortable and highly adjustable. The shoulder straps are contoured and there is enough webbing and adjustability to fit testers with small and large torsos alike. All of the straps also have elastic retainers on them to keep loose ends tidy.

Storage

The Oasis has 18 liters of storage with options to increase its capacity through bungee cords and side mesh pockets. Although some of this pack's features lack the refinement found in other packs, its storage impressed our testers. There are two smaller zippered pockets on the front of the pack. The top pocket lacks internal organizing pockets while the bottom has two mesh pockets and a clip. These pockets are easy to access, have two-way zippers with large pulls, and are built to stick out from the pack. They are both spacious and can hold quite a bit. These two pockets work well for storing smaller items like keys, snacks, and wallets.

The main compartment is one large pocket that also has two-way zippers with large pulls, making them easy to use, even with gloves on. This compartment is large enough to hold a sizeable first aid kit plus extra layers, with room to spare. There are side compression straps for tightening down full loads and two mesh pockets on the sides that easily fit a standard-sized water bottle. There is also a bungee strap on the front of the Oasis and a kangaroo-style pocket can be formed by stowing a jacket or helmet between the lower front pocket and the main body of the bag. It even has a built-in rain cover.

Weight

At 32 ounces on our scale, the Oasis is about average among contenders in our review when it comes to weight. However, it is the heaviest pack with just a 2-liter bladder. Yet, in terms of storage capacity, its weight is comparable to some of the other 3-liter packs in our review that have slightly less storage.

Ease of Cleaning

Cleaning the Teton Sports Oasis bladder requires a small-diameter, long-handled brush. The bladder has a hose quick disconnect at the base, but the screw top opening is only 2" wide, making it too small for an adult hand to fit into. Our testers have an assortment of brushes and found that only a brush with a smaller diameter round head fits into this bladder for cleaning.

Should You Buy the Teton Sports Oasis?

It's hard to ignore the Oasis' attractive price point and storage, however, the hydration system, including the bladder and bite valve left our testers desiring more. Our testing team remarked that if they owned the Oasis, they would switch out the bladder for a different brand. If you are someone who uses a hydration pack on occasion, the Oasis might be a good fit for you, however given its sub-par hydration system and the funky water taste we experienced, we would recommend considering some of the other packs in our review.

What Other Hydration Pack Should You Consider?

If you're looking for something similar to the Oasis in capacity but with a better hydration system, we recommend the Deuter Compact EXP 14, whose storage capacity expands to 19 liters. The EXP 14 comes with a 3-liter bladder and is incredibly versatile and comfortable to wear. Another large-capacity pack to consider is the Gregory Endo 15, which has slightly less storage but features Gregory's highly rated 3-liter 3D bladder. The Endo also has a very breathable and supportive back panel, making it a great choice for heavier loads and warmer weather.