I am quite new to backpacking. My experience lies mostly as a canoe guide. My inspiration to get more into this sport/hobby was a backpack trip to Thailand in 2005. Due to my experience I am fond of lightweight, waterproof quality gear. I backpack in mainly hilly forested areas and of course near rivers and streams. I also do a lot of backpack traveling to other countries. I am a 3-season backpacker. Every year I spend time in the Ozarks in Missouri and in Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. I'd love to explore Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Sea to Summit USA
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.seatosummit.com
MSRP: N/A
Listed Weight: 3.7 oz (105 g)
Measured Weight: 3.6 oz (102 g)
Other details: The sack reviewed is size XS. Sea to Summit has 5 sizes of this sack available: XS, S, M, L, and XL.

Dimensions listed on the packaging of the bag are 6 in x 14 in (15 cm x 36 cm). The bag measures to approximately those dimensions when stuffed full; however, the bag's size can vary due to the compression feature. The sack has a black lid made out of 100 D nylon and is attached by 4 nylon compression straps. By adjusting the straps the bag compresses to save space.
BEFORE

AFTER

The orange fabric in the pictures is eVent fabric, that allows air to be forced out of it while compressing, and is impermeable to water. It also has a 100 D nylon body & lid, gray fabric in the pictures, and double stitched and tape sealed waterproof seams.
The sack's lid covers a roll top closure method, common in most dry bags. The Sea to Summit eVent sack's closing system is high quality and lightweight. The manufacturer's website boasts it as a "Roll top Hypalon closure" which I believe is a fancy way to describe the common feature. The only difference I see in the feature, as compared to other manufacturers', is the lightweight piece of plastic that holds the fabric around it when rolling. It is a thinner piece of plastic and surprisingly sturdy.

ROLL-TOP CLOSURE

The sack has a black handle sewn over the eVent base. The handle is decorated by the eVent fabric logo.

FIELD USE

The sack has seen many trips, day hikes, and types of terrain. I have used the sack on a canoe trip to the Current River in Missouri. While there, we do many exploring day hikes and also a 20 mi (32 km) section of the Ozark Trail. Terrain consists of limestone bluffs lined in forest and gravel bars with a spring fed river winding through it all. As the river winds through the mountains, its elevations recede from 852 ft (260 m) above sea level down to 570 ft (174 m). When on the trail elevations reached 870 ft (265 m). The trail's terrain was dirt or gravel trail through dense forests primed with hungry deer flies ready to bite and annoy us. Temperatures scorched to a recorded 113 degrees F (45 C) dropping to a comfortable 72 degrees F (22 C) at night.
The Current River

The sack has also been used in the back woods of Lake Kabetogama in Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park twice. This trip was spent with my fiancée's family. We canoed Lake Kabetogama, setting up three different base camps and heading out on numerous day hikes to do some exploring. The terrain is rocky shores covered in grass and moss, some sandy beaches, and dense north woods forests containing pines, poplars, and quaking aspen. Elevations stayed pretty constant between 1100 -1200 ft (335-366 m) above sea level. Temperatures were between 85-89 degrees F (29-32 C) during the sunny days, and got down to almost 60 degrees F (16 C) at night.
Lake Kabetogama

The sack has been with me on an overnight trip to Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin where it has seen the dowsing from a morning rain and 22 miles (35.4 km) of meadow lands, marsh, and pine forests. The temperatures were approximately 65-70 degrees F (18-21 C).

I primarily use the sack to house my sleeping bag. The bag is a lightweight, compressible, synthetic sleeping bag and fits perfectly inside. The above pictures do not have the mentioned bag inside. These pictures were taken to show its features.

The sack's waterproof feature is by far my favorite feature of the dry sack. I usually strap the sack to the outside of my pack, allowing me to fit more in my slender pack. I usually complete this by strapping the lid closure strap on my pack through the compression straps of the Sea to Summit sack.
The fabric used in the sack is amazing. The tough 100 D nylon is extremely waterproof. It has withstood rain and dunkings. The bag has been submerged. The inside of the lid has instructions on closing the sack and mentions not to submerge the drysack. For a brief dunking the sack has not exhibited any signs of moisture or leakage.

DUNKED!

The eVent fabric bewilders me. I am a man of science and figure that the laws of Physics apply to all. The fabric seems to ignore them. The fabric beads off the water very well, as shown in the picture below, and allows air to escape through it. The exterior of the fabric looks like it has a soft Cordura type knit to it. The other side of the fabric resembles nothing I've seen before. It seems to be similar to nylon with a soft nap to it, similar to what you may find used as a liner inside a light jacket (see below). I am pleased with its performance. While in Kettle Moraine State Park I experienced a morning shower on my return hike that soaked my pack. The one thing untouched by the rain was the sleeping bag housed in the sack. While canoeing the Current River the bag did not house its normal contents but was used to store a fleece, that I never needed, and my shorts and cotton shirt I used to sleep in. I also didn't strap it to anything and sure enough the sack found its way to the bottom of the canoe in a puddle, and twice overboard into the cool waters of the Current. The bag performed consistently and the contents were always dry.

WATER BEADING ON THE FABRIC

THE BAG INSIDE OUT

SUMMARY

The Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack is a perfect addition to my hiking ensemble. It is versatile and its waterproof technology fits my outdoor lifestyle in various ways.

THINGS I LIKE

The eVent fabric allows for great compression while still remaining waterproof.

My sleeping bag fits perfectly inside and the dry sack's design allows it to be strapped to the outside of my pack.

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

I will have to say this dry sack fits perfectly for what I intend it to do. I am pleased with it so far and it has held up for over 9 months of use. I have nothing bad to report about it.

SIGNATURE

Mike J. Daurio Jr.

Owner Review by Mike Daurio Jr.

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