Combine Daypack and a Hydration System and Get EMS Waterslide Daypack
Written: Feb 07 '04 (Updated Nov 29 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fair Price, EMS Quality Workmanship, Removable Hydration System, Good Combination
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: The EMS Waterslide is an excellent daypack that combines the best of a pack and a hyrdation system and should be more than enough for most people
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| jps246's Full Review: Waterslide Hydration Pack |
The Waterslide is a convenient day pack that also includes platypus bladder so that your hydration system is one in the same with your daypack.
Holding 1,650 cubic inches of gear in the pack and a 100 fluid ounces in the bladder, the Waterslide combines an EMS daypack with a hydration system and the result is an excellent pack perfect for most day hiking adventures that you will have.
Pack Details
In addition to the 1,650 cubic inches of storage space inside the day pack and the hydration bladder that holds the 100 fluid ounces, the Waterslide includes a large exterior stash pocket, exterior webbing to hold large objects, compression straps and reflective stripes.
The Waterslide, with an empty hydration bladder weighs about 2 ½ pounds. With a full bladder the weight of the pack goes up to about 8 ½ pounds. The pack itself is roughly 13 inches by 16 inches by 6 inches in size. It is available in a red and a blue/green color (cloud).
The back of the pack and the shoulder straps is made up of a high-wicking (pulling moisture away from your skin) mesh that helps to keep your back and your shoulders drier than they would be with comparable backpacks without the mesh.
The Waterslide is available for both men and women – the only difference between the two models is that the hydration bladder in the women’s pack is slightly smaller than the men’s model. The women’s model holds 70 fluid ounces versus the 100 fluid ounces in the men’s version. This reduces the empty weight of the pack to 2 pounds and the weight of the pack with a full bladder to just over 8 pounds. The women’s packs are also available in a blue color that the male pack is not.
The platypus hydration system can be removed from the daypack and worn separately without the backpack. Something that is useful if you will be on a short hike or climb where you need the water, but you don’t really need a backpack for anything else.
Both models retail at EMS for $79.
My Experiences
While $79 might seem a bit pricey for a daypack (it isn’t honestly if you’ve ever been in an EMS or an REI), with the Waterslide you not only get the daypack, but you get the removable hydration system. This only is about a $40 to $50 value and so you can think that you’re only paying $30 for the daypack.
The Waterslide is comfortable and easy to wear. I’ve worn it on several hikes and a few cross-country ski trips. On both kinds of trips I did notice the difference the wicking mesh made on the straps and the back panel of the pack. The wetness from sweat that is common with most other packs is significantly reduced (not gone) with the Waterslide. This is nice in the winter so that the moisture doesn’t saturate the pack and make it cold and clammy to wear once you’ve stopped moving for any length of time.
Storage in the pack is about average among other packs. I can easily pack a shell jacket, a hat and gloves, lunch, and a few other odds and ends and still have some room left over. With the exterior webbing, I can tie up a shell, fleece or anything else that I’d like to. There are plenty of storage options on this pack.
I also like the fact that I can remove the hydration system and use is separately. Sometimes you’re going on a trip where you don’t need a backpack for anything more than carrying water and with the Waterslide this is easy. Just slide off the hydration system off the pack and voila you’re ready to go.
Final Thoughts
A great combination of a quality daypack from EMS and a hydration system, the EMS Waterslide is an excellent daypack that combines the best of both and should be more than enough for most people.
Recommended:
Yes
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