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Review
Comments:
Overview:
I purchased my Sea to Summit Sn240 Ultra-Light Stuff
Sacks in combination with some Sea to Summit
Ultra-Sil Dry Sacks as I need to change my packing style when I started
testing the
Granite Gear Stratus Latitude pack. I have used stuff sacks and dry bags
for a number of years so I am familiar with using them. The difference with
these stuff sacks is their light weight and their material.
Sea to Summit do make various sizes, ranging from XXS to
XXL. I only use a extra small (XS) and small (S) sized stuff sack so my
comments are in the main respective of these sizes. The Sn240 Ultra-Light
Stuff Sacks are according to Sea to Summit made of a "30 denier ripstop
Siliconised [sic] Cordura material." Sea to Summit describe the stuff
sacks as having "high tear strength," and a "slippery finish for easy
packing." The stuff sacks are cylindrical in shape with a grab handle sewn
on the bottom and a draw-cord at the open end.
Field Conditions:
As I mentioned early I have used stuff sacks and dry
sacks for a number of years. I started using the Sn240 Ultra-Light Stuff
Sacks in April 2006. I have used the stuff sacks on my eight day walk of the
Fitzgerald River National Park, on weekend backpacks in the Yanchep National
Park and St John's Brook Conservation Park and on a day walk.
Field Experience:
 My
primary use of the stuff sacks is to hold my first aid kit which is a loose
assortment of various items, some other assorted personal gear, literally
stuffed into the sack. All my gear is stored in either stuff sacks
or dry bags within my pack. Depending on the walk my pack can be
packed to its maximum capacity or with some spare capacity. On the
Fitzgerald River walk my pack was pushed to its limit so stuff sacks were
literally stuffed into the pack for pretty much all of the eight days, as
even as the food was eaten the freed up space was taken up by gear from coming
in from the cold.
My comments above lead me to the slippery finish of the
stuff sacks and to some extent their apparent high tear strength. I have
mixed feelings on the slipperiness of the material. On the one hand when
getting the stuff sack into a tight spot or trying to compress it around
things the slipperiness is an advantage in my experience. I found it really
good when I was top down packing my pack. However, when I used the Stratus
Latitude more as a "travel pack", that is opening up the whole pack and
packing it sort of like a suitcase, the slipperiness became a pain as it
became harder to keep the stuff sacks in place whilst adding other gear
before partially closing up the pack and therefore "locking in" so to speak
the sacks packed up to that point. What this means is that I have found the
stuff sack slipperiness great when either I packed my pack from the top to
bottom but not so hot when I took a suitcase approach.
In respect of the durability and tear strength of the
material, my usage to date has not result in any damage to the sacks
material. My initial impression of the material had me a little concerned
about its durability such that I have continued to store my gas stove in a
thicker material stuff sack. Having now used the Sn240 stuff sacks for
awhile I am ready to try using one to store my stove and accessories.
I also have found that the sacks do not appear to take up
dirt easily so I have not bothered to wash mine yet. Similar usage of my nylon
stuff sacks would have seen me washing them after each trip.
On the negative side I have managed to break the cord
lock on the small sack. I do feel that the cord lock are not as substantive
as I would like. The lock on the small sack went within a few days of
purchase. It has not been a major hassle but still it would be nice if the
cord lock where more substantial in my view.
The other feature I like about the stuff sacks is the
grab handle on the bottom of the sack. This can make it just that bit easier
to get the gear out of the sack, especially when it is stuffed in tight. A
handy feature in my view.
So in summary I am pretty happy with the Sea to Summit
Sn240 Ultra-Light Stuff Sacks and will
continue to use them as my stuff sacks. I can live with the slipperiness of
the material but would like to see the cord locks being of a more
substantial material.
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