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Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > Pacific Outdoor Equip Pneumo LTW Dry Bag > Heather Oakes Palmer > Long Term ReportLong Term Report Pneumo LTW Dry Bags August 22, 2006 Tester Information:
Name: Heather Oakes Palmer Backpacking Background: I consider myself an intermediate hiker and beginning backpacker for over five years; my longest backpacking trip being only three nights. Day hiking and weekend backpacking comprise most of my weekend warrior experience averaging one backpacking trip per month and two day hikes per month averaging between 10-15 miles (16.1- 24.2 km) per day. I tend to backpack in warm, humid climates, with a good amount of hiking in the southern Appalachian Mountains and I have rarely hiked in below freezing or snowy conditions yet. I am a lightweight backpacker and buy my gear accordingly, often splitting various objects and amounts of weight with my husband. Product Information:
Manufacturer: Pacific Outdoor Equipment Product Description: The Pneumo LTW is the lighter version of the dry bags made by Pacific Outdoor Equipment with the same basic structure; long rectangle shape with fabric that does not stretch very much, bright orange color, roll-top closure on the ‘top’ with plastic clip closure, valve on the ‘bottom’ for inflating and deflating, and slits on either side of the valve for putting rope or cord through. The outside of the bag is slightly transparent with little lines like a grid on it. From the website: “These lightweight dry bags feature: welded construction, roll top closure, compression purge/fill valve, and a 40Dx30D rip stop fabric and a refined closure.” The bags are meant for anyone who might need to keep gear or food dry from boaters to backpackers. Field Conditions: I tested the bag during day hikes, overnight backpacking trips in the Georgia and North Carolina Mountains and on one lone paddling trip near metro Atlanta. The average mountain elevations ranged from 2000 – 5500 ft (610-1676 m) and the average elevations of day hikes and paddling near Atlanta was 1400-1700 ft (427-518 m). The temperature has been anywhere from 60 F to the high 90’s F (15.5 C to 36.7 C) during the day and was as low as 43 F (6.11 C) one night with most nights in the mid 60’s F and mid 70’s F (18 C and 24 C). I have tested the bag in mostly forest and mountain trails, but I’ve also tested the bag on a gorge trip which involved wading through whitewater on an unmarked trail, and a short paddling trip down an urban waterway. Summary: Designed for primarily for backpacking, the Pneumo LTR dry bags are a great waterproof substitute for the ordinary stuff sack. Few things are more miserable than a chilly night wearing damp clothing; the Pneumo consistently kept my gear dry in light drizzles and heavy rains alike. Wading through waist deep water? Not only does the Pneumo float on the surface easily, but even being tossed in the current and held under water does not dampen the insides of this bag. The Pneumo has a simple, usable design with a roll-top closure, purge valve, and plastic locks to further seal the top closure area. While the stiff fabric is inflexible, the 25L (1526 cu in) size is easily big enough to hold clothing for any season and a lightweight sleeping bag. As I try to live the fantasy of being an ultra-lightweight backpacker; the benefits of the 6.3 oz (179 g) Pneumo far outweigh (pardon the pun) my inner gram-counters’ fear of extra weight. Keeps my stuff dry: check. Report: For more product information and initial impressions; please read my initial report. For more anecdotal information, please see my field report. As a lightweight backpacker I tended to pack my gear in either silnylon bags with a drawstring closure, or Ziploc baggies for those special waterproof needs. Regardless of never having used a dry bag, the Pneumo was easy to use from the valve to the roll-top. I used the purge/fill valve to remove air from the bag when I was packing down the gear, and the valve also served to help me get the air back in thereby making it easier for me to get my compacted gear out. I also discovered that the bag can not only be used to store water, but the valve can be used to pump it out. The roll-top closure was fairly self-explanatory; in order to keep moisture out I needed to roll the top down at least three times and once the bag was rolled down to the gear and compressed; I would clip together the plastic closures creating a circle. While opening and closing the bag is easy, both jobs are still two handed for me. I needed two hands to put gear into the bag and compress it down, and both hands to unclip the top and shake the bag out. Sometimes I would even need to release air back into the bag via the valve to create enough wiggle room for the gear to be able to move out. Due to the purge/fill valve, the Pneumo functions well as a compression sack in addition to its waterproofing abilities. I have been able hold various combinations of gear during different trips. On any given backpacking trip I carry clean, dry ‘sleep clothing’ consisting of a shirt, pants/shorts, clean underwear, and clean socks. In addition to my sleep clothing, I also carried my down sleeping bag and dry pack towel (just in case I do get wet plus its my pillow) in the Pneumo on all backpacking and some day hiking trips with plenty of room to spare in the bag.
The Pneumo uncompressed with average warm weather gearload
Compressed bag During a backpacking trip in late spring the cool temperatures prompted me to carry some extra light layers in addition to my customary ‘sleep clothing’; I also thought I’d be nice and carry my husband’s sleep clothing in case it rained. The Pneumo easily held both sets of clothing, a pack towel, and extra layer for me, and my down sleeping bag. I was unable to duplicate packing conditions that allowed me to pack my bulkier synthetic sleeping bag into the Pneumo as there is absolutely no give to the fabric. On day hiking trips during the testing period, I sometimes carried my full pack as if I was backpacking so the Pneumo has its average load of sleeping bag and clothing. During a paddling trip down the Chattahoochee River and on a couple of day hikes, I packed the Pneumo with all of my day activity needs such as: first aid kit, raingear, food, map, phone, and camera. I normally carry water in a hydration sleeve in my day pack or backpacking pack, and even though the Pneumo was not full, I was unable to carry the water reservoir in addition to all the other gear due to its size. While the dry bag can be carried alone, it was awkward to loop it to myself using the plastic clips to hike. It bounced around and hit me a bit too much so I’d only do that when I’m wading or swimming. While paddling, it was very easy for me to attach a rope to the bag either using the slots on the bottom near the valve, or the circle made by the closure area and the plastic clips. The Pneumo passed several tests of its waterproofing abilities in conditions ranging from a continuous light drizzle over the night, to full immersion in waist-high cold river water. During the test period, the normal heavy rains of summer never seemed to appear. Light rains overnight, and short moderate afternoon storms comprised the precipitation I encountered during the test period. A few river dunkings, including some dragging of the bag down a local river all resulted in dry gear inside the bag. While the bag consistently kept water out, close encounters with the river bottom got the bag just a bit dirty. Considering the waterproof rip-stop fabric, the bag’s cleaning instructions basically consisted of ‘wipe dirt off’. Most stains were rinsed off easily, but the bag does still retain some gray smudges from the rocky and slightly polluted river bottom.
With only one exception the Pneumo has continued to be durable after many openings and closings, being shoved in and out of packs, being pulled and pushed to get large items in, and surviving the outdoor elements. After struggles with the lack of fabric flexibility, the area around the roll-top closure is showing signs of stress. A corner of the top of the bag started to pull away from the seam near the actual opening.
Otherwise the seams held in all other places regardless of any strains placed on the bag. I also saw no effects from water temperatures, or pollution levels of the water. The valve and the plastic closure clips are all still in great condition at the conclusion of the test period. As advertised, this lightweight dry bag keeps the water out. The Pneumo is easy to use and other than some slight staining and the one rip near the closure, the bag is not indestructible but does seem to be of fair durability. Thanks to Pacific Outdoor Equipment and Backpackgeartest.org for allowing me to test this product.
Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > Pacific Outdoor Equip Pneumo LTW Dry Bag > Heather Oakes Palmer > Long Term Report | |||
