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Granite Gear Air Compressor
| Long Term Report |
November 16, 2004 |
Personal Biographical Information
Name:
Michael Herman
Age: 20
Gender:
Male
Height:
5' 11'' (1.8 m)
Weight:
195 lb (89 kg)
Email: Backpackman (at) mailbolt (dot) com
Location:
Northwest, Indiana
Backpacking
Background
I am an semi ultra-light backpacker, but I do not go to the extremes. I
always attempt bring the necessities but cut down on weight in other ways. I
also feel strongly that backpackers should always have good food. I have camped
all my life and backpacked regularly for 3 years. I backpack year round but not
so often in the winter months with snow. I also participate in other activities
such as adventure racing, kayaking, and caving.
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Product Information
Product: Air Compressor
Manufacture: Granite Gear
Year of
Manufacturer: 2004
URL: http://www.granitegear.com
Size: Large 9.5x20 in (24x51 cm)
Listed Weight: 4.0 oz (113 g)
Measured Weight: 4.1 oz (116 g)
Description: A light stuff sack with 4 compression straps on the side and
a draw string opening.
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Long Term Report
After testing this stuff sack
for 6 months I have enjoyed the ability to pack more items in a smaller area. It
has allowed me to minimize the space my sleeping bag, tent and some clothes take
in my bag allowing me to either pack more or use a smaller bag. With these
advantages have come some disadvantages.
The construction of the compression sack
has proven to be exceptional. It has accompanied me on 10 trips in the past 6
months plus it was used in my suitcase for 3 trips. The stitching has held up
well and I have not seen any place where it looks worn. This is quite impressive
because I throw the bag on the ground often and to test the construction and
material I used my foot to rub the sack in the dirt to see if it would tear or
rip any of the stitching. No visible effects were seen in the stitching or the
bag after doing this. The compression straps have also shown no wear after being
under a lot of pressure while being cinched tight. The thin rope used for the
draw sting has also shown no sign of wear. This was the first part of the stuff
sack that I thought might go; however, it still looks good and strong.
The volume that this stuff sack can hold is almost too much. If the stuff sack
isn't at least a third full before I begin to compress the sack the compression
won't work properly. I have put a variety of items in the stuff sack over the
past 6 months, including my tent, sleeping bag, food, clothes and combinations
of these. Since I have a large I need to put quite a bit in it to get the full
compression out of things. My favorite thing to use it for now is my sleeping
bag, tent and clothes. This is what I have mostly done on my trips since my
Field Report. I have explained the different combinations and how they
worked in my field report. Part of the problem of it being so large is that the
diameter, 9.5 in (24cm), is rather large so it is hard to pack in my backpack. I
would have preferred the height to have been taller and the diameter smaller,
giving the bag a more log shape instead of a disc. These may not be problems
with the medium and small compression sacks.
This compression sack has seen about 5 days of rain in the past four months. The
sack is waterproof as long as it is tightly compressed. I have noticed that when
not completely compressed, most likely because not enough is in the bag to
compress fully, that water could leak in through the top. This is because the
top is sealed by a draw sting. There is a flap sewed next to the opening so one
is able to put it under the opening when the drawstring is closed to make the
bag more waterproof; however, if there is not much in the stuff sack it is hard
to get the flap to work effectively because nothing will hold it in place. This is part of the
reason I like to store my tent, sleeping bag and clothes in this stuff sack
because then I can compress it tightly and it will be completely waterproof. I
have even thrown it in a puddle, by accident, and not realized till ten minutes
later and although the bag was muddy the contents were completely dry. This bag
also has a strap on the bottom that I have found to be nice to tie a rope to and
bear hang the pack. I feel safe doing this without worry that my food will be
soaked in the morning if it rains.
As reported in my field report this sack was tough getting used to. The straps
often tangled and it was hard for me to use at night. Since then I have gotten
better at using it at night. I always try to store that bag nicely so that it
won't tangle. If the bag is not tangled I can quickly pack it in the dark;
however, if it is tangled I need my headlamp to untangle it.
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Likes and Dislikes
Likes
-
The sack is very waterproof as long
as there is enough stuff in it to be compressed tightly.
-
Very easy to compress things and requires
little strength.
-
It is a good pillow.
-
Can be used for many different items.
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Construction has proven to be rugged.
Dislikes
-
The diameter could be smaller and
the bag taller so that it can tightly compress smaller loads.
-
Hard to operate if tangled in darkness.
-
Not completely waterproof when not tightly
compressed.
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