Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > Pacific Outdoor Equip Pneumo LTW Dry Bag > Kathryn Doiron > Initial Report

Pacific Outdoor Equipment 15 Liter Pneumo LTW - Initial Report

Product Information

Product Description: The Pneumo LTW dry bag is a light weight, roll-top bag with a valve located near the bottom of the bag to help aid in compression. The dry bag is only available in solar orange. The opening of the dry bag is located on the top short side making for a long, deep bag with a narrow opening. The bottom of the bag is seamed flat with reinforced corners that have slots cut into them. The actual seams of the bag are fused together. Black piping is stitched onto the outside edge of the fused seam. The opening has fused fabic located on either side of the opening that meet when closed and there is a flap to cover the opening. The top has black, stiff webbing with a clip on either side. The instructions say the bag must be rolled at least three times before clipping the clip together. The front of the bag has the logo and size printed in white ink. The clip must be clipped towards the back. The fabric has a mat finish on the outside and a smooth, slick surface on the inside. The bag is opaque. The purge valve is very similar to the valves found on self inflating or li-low air mattress, that twists open in one direction to release air then is twisted closed in the other direction.

Testing Arena:

I will be carrying this dry bag on all overnight trips. I expect to use it to contain mostly my clothes and sleeping bag. As my sleeping bag compresses down to about 8 x 7 in (18 x 20 cm) and I carry very few extra clothes, I expect everything to fit comfortably inside the dry bag. I also expect to use this dry bag while kayaking. Since I don't go on extended trips with the kayak, I only expect to have a small number of things in the bag, such as a camera, keys, food, and an extra shirt.

I expect to do most of my kayaking on either the Charles River in Boston, or on lakes in New Hampshire. I expect to get temperatures ranging from 60 - 75 F (15 - 24 C), I expect the water temperatures to be at least 10 - 15 F (9 - 12 C) degrees lower. My camping trips will take place in the White Mountains in New Hampshire and will include Mount Washington where the weather in unpredictable. I expect temperatures in the mountains to be between 55 - 70 F (13 - 21 C) with rain and possible flurries in the spring. I do not have a pack cover and as such, I will be depending on the dry bag to keep clothes, sleeping bag and electronics dry.

Testing Plan:

My main concern with this dry bag is whether I can trust that items will stay dry inside the bag. I feel that a big test of this will be to hang the bag from a tree in a downpour. I will look into how well it keeps items dry either hanging from both the top loop enclosure or from the bottom reinforced tabs slots.

I am also concerned with durability. While the fabric seems to be of good quality and has some heft to it, I am concerned that abrasions may weaken the fabric. I predominately expect to be using the dry bag inside my back, but in the course of hanging a bear bag, the dry bag may rub against the tree. Also, the inside of a pack can be quite abusive on gear, and the dry bag will have gear roughly stuffed inside it and roughly shoved around it inside the pack. How well will the material hold up to pack pressures.

Cleanability is important, especially if I am storing my sleeping bag inside this dry bag. I will look into how easy the dry bag is to clean should a spill happen. I will also look into possible alternate uses, such as a water sack to have a reservoir of water near camp for cleaning up with. Will the purge valve allow water to easily flow out of the bag or will water spray everywhere. I will look into how well it floats and possibly as a pillow. I would like to know if the slick inner surface helps with stuffing items in the bag. How easy is the purge feature to use. Will the material of the bag appreciate my sitting on it to purge air, or use as a soft seat on damp ground or rocks. Once the bag has been purged of air, how well does it maintain that vacuum sealed state.

This dry bag is very long and I am concerned with how well it will fit into my pack especially when stuffed full of gear. The purge valve sticks out 3/4 of an inch (2 cm) and I am concerned it will catch on the pack as I try to stuff it in. Is it possible for the purge valve to get gummed up and is it easy to clean. As the purge valve is similar to those found on a self-inflating or li-low air mattress (twist one way to open the valve, twist the other way to close the valve), if broken or gummed up, is it a standard size and easily replaceable.


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Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > Pacific Outdoor Equip Pneumo LTW Dry Bag > Kathryn Doiron > Initial Report