Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Compression Sacks > Granite Gear Air Compressor Stuff Sack > Shandra Hunt > Long Term Report

Granite Gear Air Compressor Stuff Sack- Long Term Report

Name: Shandra Hunt

Age: 26

Gender: female

Height: 5' 3"(1.6 m)

Weight: 145 lbs.(66 kg)

Location: Ben Lomond,California

Email: jns170@yahoo.com

Date: 11/12/04

Biography:

            Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, I have always been an avid hiker and camper. Only recently however, I have evolved into a backpacker. I started backpacking about two years ago. Since then I have done many trips throughout California and I spent five days packing in the Grand Canyon, which fueled my love for the sport even more. I try to backpack as often as possible, I think I may be addicted, and I am constantly looking for more efficient and lightweight alternatives for the gear that I own.

Product Information:

URL: www.granitegear.com/

Manufacturer: Granite Gear

Year of manufacture: 2004

Measured weight: 3.5 oz (100 g)

Listed weight: 3.4 oz (96 g)

MSRP: $26 (U.S.)

Size: Medium (8 in x 18.5 in) (20.3 x 47 cm)

Color: Black and white

Test results:

The Granite Gear Air Compressor sack has proven to be a useful piece of gear. I have used the Granite Gear sack on several overnight trips but I find it is most useful for extended trips. I used the Compressor sack on a four day trip to Hetch Hetchy Valley near Yosemite. I used the Compressor sack to store all of my clothing and my jacket on this trip. The compressor sack condensed my clothing to half of its bulk and kept everything dry when it rained. The diameter of the Compressor Sack produces a problem. While the vertical dimension of the sack compresses very well, the diameter does not change, producing a fat, short shape that is hard to pack in certain parts of my pack. The Air Compressor sack was useful on a ten day trip I took to Zion and Bryce Canyon National parks. I didn't use the Compressor sack to its full capacity on the trip to Utah but it still worked well and it kept my clothing and camera dry. I find that using the Granite Gear sack to store my clothing makes everything easy to find. I have been using this sack to store and waterproof my clothes, camera and anything else that needs to be dry in my tent at night.

The Granite Gear Air Compressor sack seems to be durable. I have not noticed any of the straps fraying or any of the stitching coming undone. The 30D Sil Cordura nylon stuff sack does not show any signs of wear even though I have stuffed it to capacity several times. The Compressor sack continues to hold its original shape and I do not notice that it has stretched at all after repeated use.

The Compressor sack has not been easy for me to use. I find that the straps tangle and twist up too easily, and it is frustrating to try to get them all to work straight and properly. The end caps and straps have to be evenly positioned and cinched down, otherwise the sack ends up in the shape of a lopsided egg, making it hard to pack.

This Granite Gear sack is a valuable piece of gear to have if pack space and weight are a concern. The Compressor sack is light enough that I do not mind adding it to my pack. This sack condenses even the bulkiest items down to a manageable size. This compression sack can be used to pack a wide variety of items, from clothing, to a sleeping bag, to even a tent. The Air Compressor sack is lightweight, durable and provides water resistant storage for important items. The only major drawback I find in this compression sack is how easily the straps and end caps become tangled. This is frustrating when trying to pack this sack and it takes a lot of time to untangle it. The Granite Gear Air Compressor sack makes up for being hard to use by increasing pack space and by being lightweight.

Would I buy this compression sack? That is a tough question to answer, but I probably would not buy this. I have never really used a compression sack besides the one that comes with my sleeping bag. If I picked this compression sack up in the store my initial response would be to put it back because of the previously mentioned tangle problem. I tend to go for easy to use equipment. I would, however, consider buying this sack to keep my clothing and other important items dry. I like the extra room in my pack that using the Air Compressor sack provides, which is why I will continue to use it.

Good Things:

> Lightweight

> Durable

> Keeps gear dry

Bad Things:

> Hard to use - tangles easily

> Bulky in diameter (hard to pack in certain circumstances)

Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Compression Sacks > Granite Gear Air Compressor Stuff Sack > Shandra Hunt > Long Term Report