Why the High Above Cascadia hip pack falls just short of perfection [Review]

Does the perfect hip pack exist? It seems that I’ve been on a quest for the last several years to find just that — the perfect hip pack. Well, the perfect one for me— based on the features and fit I prioritize — may not rank the same as others. And the High Above Cascadia is very close to being just that, if only it had one additional feature.

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High Above Cascadia key specs

• 1.5L bladder / 2.5L storage / 4L total
• Reinforced back panel
• Proprietary M200 molecular construction
• Magnetic buckle
• Lifetime warranty
• Price: $169.99
• Buy from High Above

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High Above designed the Cascadia to lock into place

All brands use some marketing jargon about how their hip pack “doesn’t move” or is “locked in place.” Those claims are mostly false in my experience. Seldom have I used a hip pack that didn’t slouch, flop around, or shift one way or another.

The Cascadia, however, really does stay put. Even when I max out the 4L of available space and have a relatively heavy pack, it’s stable. Considering all the packs I have used over the years, I can say that the Cascadia locks solidly in place with minimal, if any, movement or flopping.

High Above says the minimal movement is due to a few factors. The Cascadia stays locked so well, in part, because of the oversized back panel that accommodates extra foam, adding security and comfort. The oversized nature and foam extend to the large hip wings, allowing the pack to cinch down quite a bit without the waist strap digging in uncomfortably.

The Cascadia also features double-baffle construction on the large bladder pocket, securing the bladder as close to the back panel as possible. The pocket and the way the bladder is secured prevent it from flopping around on rough, rowdy descents — a common reason hip packs can move. High Above claims that the pack was designed around the bladder, rather than designing a pack and then adding a hydration system.

The only “hip pack” I’ve tested that is more secure is the Arctos Swift (didn’t move at all), thanks to its backpack straps. But that comparison is cheating.

Sometimes a simple design is the best design

The High Above Cascadia is relatively simple. Aside from the bladder compartment, the inside of the pack features one large zipper pocket and two smaller mesh pockets. The hip wings have two smaller mesh stash pockets, perfect for quick snacks.

And that is it, which I appreciate. I’ve used certain hip packs that feel like a Swiss Army knife — there are 24 different tools, but I only use three. I like having a space, like the larger zipper compartment, to hold the tools that will live in my hip pack. Maybe I’ll put my wallet in one of the mesh pockets, a snack in the hip pocket, but other than that, I’m okay with having things “loose” in the large main compartment.

I absolutely like the addition of the bungee webbing on the outside of the Cascadia. While I can usually fit everything I need inside the back, the option to secure a jacket on the outside is nice.

One potential design hiccup is how the hydration hose secures to the pack. The hose wraps around my waist, securing via a magnetic lock at my left hip. At times, that magnetic lock can be difficult to find and to secure the hose in place accurately. This caused me to stop several times and give securing the hose my full attention. I later found that due to the placement of the magnetic lock, a piece of fabric from the wing stash pocket can get in the way.

The material looks robust, but is the Cascadia waterproof?

The material is certainly robust. High Above uses its proprietary blend of woven ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and nylon, which they claim is “40% lighter.” Now, what is it 40% lighter than? I’m not sure, but it only has a claimed weight of 565g for a pack that feels like it can take a beating.

High Above also claims that the Cascadia is “4x more abrasion resistant.” Again, I’m not sure what the comparison is, but the pack certainly holds up well in rough terrain. While I didn’t have any significant crashes or get it snagged in a tree during my test time, the Cascadia M200 material feels stout, and I have no doubt it will last a very long time.

The material also feels very much like it is waterproof. While High Above makes no claim of this as a fact, they do use a “waterproof exterior zipper.” But after using the Cascadia on two pretty wet rides, I can say it is pretty damn waterproof. It got to the point on the first of the two wet rides where I was thinking, “I hope my phone isn’t getting wet.” Upon checking a couple of times, and lastly when I got back to my car, everything inside was bone dry.

The Cascadia is a little spendy, but listen to the warranty

I’m not going to lie, $170 is more than I want to spend on a hip pack. However, there are a few things that make me drop that sort of coin.

First, is it solidly made? As for the High Above Cascadia hip pack, the answer to that is a resounding “Yes.” The material is durable, the stitching is clean and robust, and nothing feels cheap.

Second, if I’m dropping $170, the company had better have pretty good support. And, High above does. Their warranty, which they don’t hide on their website, reads: “Lifetime Guarantee — we’ll repair or replace it, no questions asked.”

Okay, but why isn’t the Cascadia your perfect hip pack?

Just about everything checks out for me on the Cascadia. Is it secure? Yes, more so than every other hip pack I’ve used. Is it comfortable? Yes, I can easily wear it all day. Is it durable? Absolutely, I think it might stop a bullet.

Can I carry two water bottles? Errr — uh, no.

I mentioned this in my review of the Arctos Swift, another pack without water bottle sleeves. I don’t prefer hydration packs. Personally, when I’m huffing and puffing, I don’t enjoy having to suck water through a hose. I understand the convenience of drinking on the go, but I don’t mind stopping to take in the scenery.

If the Cascadia also had water bottle holders, I likely would have ditched the bladder altogether, really taking advantage of the 4L of cargo space. With the bladder, it would be the ultimate backcountry pack.

I will note that High Above does sell bottle holder attachments. Unfortunately, these aren’t compatible with the Cascadia.

Pros and cons of High Above Cascadia

Pros

• Durable / waterproof(?)
• Does it move at all?
• Comfortable
• Simplicity
• No-nonsense warranty

Cons

• No water bottle holders
• $170 is a lot
• Fiddling with the magnetic hose lock

Bottom line

I wish more brands made hydration packs with standard water bottle holders. In my opinion, High Above got everything right with the Cascadia hip pack, but they missed that one aspect. My perfect hip pack? Almost.

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