High Sierra Gulp 1.5 Liter Hydration Pack

Owner Review

Samson Phan

Tester Bio

Name: Samson Phan

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Height: 5' 10" (1.52 m)

Weight: 145 lbs (66 kg)

Email address: Sphan@stanford.edu

City: Stanford

State: California

Country: USA

Date: September 13, 2006

Backpacking background:  I used to help guide trips with a

student group at my school, usually on weekends.  I've had a

number of longer excursions, but never for more than a week. We are the type of hikers who brought just about everything with us. I do a lot of car camping, taking hikes from base camp (my car).

Product Information

Manufacturer:  High Sierra Sport Company

Year of Manufacturer: 2004

URL: http://www.highsierrasport.com

Weight as delivered: 1 lb 12.5 oz. (0.804 kg)

    The main compartment holds a 1.5-liter (51 flow oz) water reservoir. Features include a water reservoir pressure bite valve for hands free use. The insulated water tube cover prevents damage from abrasion of the 2 ft long tube and supposedly prevents freezing. The elastic shock cord allows for attaching extra gear on the outside. A special material called “Vapel Mesh” pads the back and shoulder straps and allows for circulation. Elsewhere, 600-denier Duralite material is used. The pack measures 13" x 8" (33 cm x 20.32 cm). It comes in a variety of colors (Mine is black, the colored ones have

some highly reflective trim).

The bladder is made of polyurethane. The reservoir opening is large (about the size of a typical Nalgene opening) and is sized to fit filters. The bladder is light blue, in case anyone is wondering.

Field information

      I have used this pack snowshoeing, hiking, and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada. I usually hike mountainous terrain and high elevation 6000-8000 ft (1800 – 2400 m) ASL. The Sierra Nevada, when I hike, can range from the upper 90s (30 C)F to below freezing. I bought this pack because I wanted a way to carry water without having to lug a bottle in my hand and without the bulk of a full size backpack.  The internal compartment’s volume is taken up completely by the reservoir when the bladder is full.  Some other packs in the same niche have a zipper pocket to hold small items (keys, bars etc.). This pack does not. The external shock cord holds my light jacket very securely. 

Since my 5000+ (82 L) cubic inch backpack doesn’t have a detachable pack, I use this hydration pack when I’m in the backcountry and just want to do short hikes away from my campsite.  During the big hike in and out, I use the pack as a protective covering for the bladder, much needed as the bladder material is very vulnerable to punctures. The pack’s weight is comparable to the protective covering found on other bladders.

While filtering water always seems to need one more hand than I have, the large reservoir opening makes for easier filling with filters that have Nalgene adaptors.  The bite valve seems flimsier than models made by other manufacturers and seemed more prone to leakage. 

I like how the pack fits between the shoulder blades and hugs the body.  I use it a lot for trail running. When running, it seems to be the optimal place for a pack to reduce the amount of swaying. To further reduce the amount of swaying, I added a sternum strap. When full, it does have a few pressure points, namely right on the spine. As I drink, though, it becomes more form fitting.

I used the pack extensively when snowshoeing in the Sierra Nevada. On one particular winter hike, I noticed that I couldn’t feel the pressure points anymore, probably as a result of the few layers. The neoprene tube covering delayed the onset of freezing on most trips. 

Fast forward a few months. During another snowshoe trip, I found that it had sprung a leak at the juncture of the tube and the reservoir.  Closer inspection revealed that the plastic fitting that connects the tube and the bladder had a crack in it. Because the surrounding material is highly flexible, fatigue of the material wasn’t the cause of the leak.  While the temperature was below freezing, I don’t believe ice had formed and ruptured the joint from the inside because the water remained liquid throughout the trip and had flowed out. The leak was probably as a result of a manufacturing defect. Fortunately, the pack is warranted against manufacturing defects for the life of the product. I sent the damaged bladder back to the manufacturer; two weeks later, I received a new reservoir. While it is unfortunate that it had sprung a leak during my trip, the warranty process was very quick and painless.

In summary, the Gulp is a great when all I want to carry is a hydration bladder.  I liked the large reservoir opening, the inclusion of a tube cover, and the lifetime warranty. The negatives include a lack of a pocket, a flimsy bite valve and the occurrence of a leak.