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Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
Initial Report – May 19, 2006
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc "at" hotmail "dot" com
City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, Washington, U. S.
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 17 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the Boy Scouts of America and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I am generally a lightweight hiker, but will carry extras to keep me comfortable. I have recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest and spend most of my time hiking and backpacking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, but I can be found exploring the other wild areas of Washington!
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Product Information:
Manufacturer: Sea to Summit
Model: Ultra Sil Dry Sack
Size: 13 L/ 793 cu in
Color: Lime Green (received), also available in blue or red
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL:www.seatosummit.com
Listed weight: 1.4 oz/40 g
Measured weight 1 oz/ 28 g
**Disclaimer: the closest my scale will measure is in whole ounces**
Listed Dimensions: 21” x 12”/53 cm x 31 cm with a round base.
Measured Dimensions: 20 ¼” x 7 ¾”/51 cm x 20 cm. I measured the round bottom seam and the bag seam length. I am not sure why my dimensions don't match Sea to Summit's. See pictures below.
Fabric Content: Siliconised Cordura
MSRP: Not listed on manufacturer’s website
Country of Manufacture: Made in China to Sea to Summit standards.
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Product Description:
The Ultra Sil Dry Sack is a dry sack with the following features:
Roll Top Buckle Closure
Fully Taped Interior Seams
Waterproof Coating
Initial Impressions/Use:
What a cool sack! The sack came rolled up inside of a slender plastic tube that is most likely how I would find it on a retailer’s shelf. Inside of the plastic cover was the sack and a small set of instructions for use in six different languages. The sack is much larger than I expected. 13 L/ 793 cu in is a lot of space. I believe I can easily fit my down sleeping bag plus some clothes into the sack. Of course Field testing will verify whether I can or not. I like the pleasant green color of the sack. It will make the bag easy to find inside of my pack.
One of the things that sets this bag apart from others in the Sea to Summit line up is the lightweight siliconised Cordura used as the sack’s material. The bag appears well made with no loose threads. All of the internal seams are taped except for the seam around the roll top closure. The roll top closure consists of a tunnel sewn into the fabric that holds a small plastic piece that runs the length of one side of the bag. The other half has a piece of reinforced fabric that I guess is the hypalon material that the buckles are attached to.
I have never used a dry sack so I am very interested in how this test goes. One of the things, I am not sure about currently is how to get all of the air out of the bag. To close the bag and make it watertight, the user is required to roll the top of the bag down at least three times, then buckle the clips. So I will have to make sure the air is removed before I roll. I picture in my mind that this may be a tricky procedure.
The enclosed instructions included care instructions. Sea to Summit recommends that the sack not be washed in detergent or hot water, and do not bleach or leave in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
Improvements:
None at the moment
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Expected Field Conditions:
Average temperatures range from highs in the 60’s F to 70’s F and lows in the 30’s F to 40’s F (16 C – 21 C highs and -1 C to 4 C lows). The average precipitation in May, June, July, and August for the Seattle area is 3+ inches per month (8 cm) and will take all forms, rain, snow, and sleet. Most of my trips during this time frame will be in the Mount Baker and Snoqualmie National Forest. Specifically in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 20 minutes from my house. Elevation may vary from sea level to around 10,000 ft (3048 m). My normal outdoor routine consists of at least two day hikes a month, and no less than 2 nights of backpacking a month. I do have several specific trips already penciled in this summer. I will be doing a summit attempt on Glacier Peak, WA in June, a 100 mile “Mountains to Sound” multi-sport relay race, and an eight day Big City Mountaineers trip in Yosemite National Park is scheduled for August.
Test Plan:
I will look for the following characteristics in the Ultra Sil Dry Sack:
Durable:
- How durable is the Siliconized Cordura® fabric?
- Can I stuff multiple things in the bag and not bust it?
- How strong are the double stitched and taped seams?
- Can I toss it into my pack or on the ground when I get to camp not worry about punctures?
- How durable are the mechanics of the bag, such as the closure?
- Sea to Summit recommends avoiding abrasion, does this mean inside of my pack too?
Usefulness:
- What can I get into the bag?
- I plan on putting at the very least my down sleeping bag in the sack, can I stuff more into the bag?
- I have never used a dry bag, how easy is it to compress?
- Is the sack actually waterproof?
- Sea to Summit recommends not washing the bag with detergent or hot water. Am I able to clean/remove smells from the sack if necessary?
- Does the sack lose its water resistance if it is washed?
Thank to Backpackgeartest.org and Sea to Summit for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Sea to Summit gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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