SEAL LINE BLOCKER LITE DRY
SACKS TEST SERIES BY NANCY
GRIFFITH INITIAL REPORT
July 15, 2017
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME:
|
Nancy
Griffith |
EMAIL:
|
bkpkrgirlATyahooDOTcom |
AGE:
|
51
|
LOCATION:
|
Northern
California, USA |
GENDER:
|
F
|
HEIGHT:
|
5' 6" (1.68
m) |
WEIGHT:
|
128 lb (58.10
kg) |
My outdoor experience began in
high school with a canoeing/camping group which made a 10-day voyage through the
Quebec wilds. I've been backpacking since my college days in Pennsylvania. I
have hiked all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, Tennessee and North
Carolina. My typical trip now is in the Sierra Nevada in California and is from
a few days to a few weeks long. Over the past few years I have lowered my pack
weight to a lightweight base weight of 15 lb (6.8 kg) while still using a tent,
stove and quilt.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION &
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Cascade Designs, Inc.
Year
of Manufacture: 2017
Manufacturer's Websitehttp://www.seallinegear.com/
MSRP:
2.5L: $15.95 5L: $18.95 10L: $21.95 15L: $23.95 20L: $26.95
Listed Weight: --------------------Measured Weight: 2.5L: 1 oz (28
g) ------------------1.0 oz (27 g) 5L: 1.2 oz (33 g) ------------------1.2
oz (34 g) 10L: 1.6 oz (44 g) ----------------1.5 oz (43 g) 15L: 1.8 oz
(52 g) ----------------1.8 oz (51 g) 20L: 2.1 oz (59 g) ----------------2.0
oz (57 g)
Sizes (W x L x H): 2.5L: 2.8 in x 5.3 in x 9.5 in (7 cm x
13.5 cm x 24 cm) 5L: 3.4 in x 6.5 in x 12 in (9 cm x 16.5 cm x 30 cm)
10L: 4.4 in x 8.3 in x 14 in (11 cm x 21 cm x 36 cm) 15L: 4.9 in x 9.3 in
x 16 in (12 cm x 23.5 cm x 41 cm) 20L: 5.5 in x 10.4 in x 19 in (14 cm x
26.5 cm x 48 cm)
Colors Available: Blue, Coral, Orange, Yellow Colors
Tested: Blue (20L), Coral (2.5 and 5L), Orange (10L), Yellow (15L)
Made
in China
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The Seal Line Blocker Lite Dry Sacks are
ultralight, waterproof dry sacks with a rectangular shape to help make packing
more efficient. They are made from PVC-free material of 20D Silicone
Polyurethane-coated nylon and have a roll-top closure that buckles.
The
top of the closure is quite stiff on both sides for a tight double seal. The
seams are fully-welded with no-stitch seams that are claimed to be 50% stronger
than sewn seams.
Each size of the dry sacks comes in a variety of four
different bright colors with a large SealLine logo near the bottom of the sack.
There is a tag inside the sack that notes the size of the sack.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS &
TRYING THEM OUT
My initial impression was that
the dry sacks seemed much as I expected based on the website. I received a
variety of colors but with four colors available and five dry sacks, my smallest
two sizes are the same color. So, for the most part, it will be easy for me to
identify which sack is which size just based on the color. Nice.
Each sack came in a cardboard sleeve with an
ingenious leash to hold the sack to the packaging until purchase. Rolled up in
each sack was an instruction leaflet in four languages.
Next I noticed
just how light these sacks are. The top closure is substantial and seems
heavy-duty but the sack fabric is so lightweight that the overall sack is really
light.
I really like the bright colors that won't tend to blend in with
the colors in nature. That way I'll be able to easily find the sacks both in
camp and in my backpack.
The sizes seem to provide options for my
backpacking needs. The smallest sack would be nice for my phone, headlamp, note
pad and other small items. The 5L sack would fit my kitchen cookset and stove
nicely. The 10L sack is just right for my double-wide quilt and two pillows and
as luck would have it, the sack matches my quilt color. That will make it easy
to remember. The 15L sack will fit plenty of clothing and can be rolled down if
it is too large. And the 20L sack should fit our double-wide winter sleeping
bag which happens to be the same color as the sack too!
I don't like to
use pack covers so having waterproof sacks inside my backpack is for me the best
way to protect my gear.
The sacks seem to be round based on my being
used to round stuff sacks, but when I examine the bottom closely it is a
rectangular shape which should make my gear want to fit in that way too. We'll
see how that works once I get packing.
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
The instruction leaflet gives instructions on how to
properly close the sack by closing the top, rolling it over three times and
snapping the buckle.
The care and use instructions say that the sacks
should be cleaned and aired out after each use. They are to be stored dry,
inside and out. Life of the sack can be extended by padding any sharp corners
to minimize wear of the fabric. Insect repellents and solvents are bad news for
the fabric and should be kept away.
The roll-down closure is not
guaranteed to remain waterproof if the sack is submerged so sensitive electronic
equipment, cameras, etc. need to be stored in a more sealed case for this
environment. They are intended for rain, splash and spray and not for
submersion.
Lastly, there is a limited warranty for life against
manufacturer's defects in materials and workmanship.
SUMMARY
The Seal Line Blocker Lite Dry Sacks are ultralight,
waterproof dry sacks in varying sizes that are rectangular for efficient
packing.
Initial Likes: Light weight Variety of
colors Waterproof
Initial Questions: Interested to see how these
pack as rectangles
This concludes my Initial Report. Please check back
in two months to find out how these sacks are doing in the field. Thanks to
Cascade Designs and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test these
sacks. This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org
Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.
Read more reviews of Cascade Designs gear
Read more gear reviews by Nancy Griffith
|