SEALLINE STORM SACK 20 L
Initial Report
July 14, 2006

Authored by

Andrew Priest
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
aushiker@yahoo.com.au

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Product Details and Specifications
• Tester's Details
  • Personal Biography
  • Testing Playground
  • Testing Environment
• Initial Report
  • Item Receipt
  • First Impressions
  • Testing Strategy

Andrew, the tester:

I am a 46 year old male, 180 cm (5' 11") in height, I weigh 104 kg (229 lbs). I have been bushwalking in Western Australia for approximately five years. For the past four years I have been regularly walking and leading on and off-track pack carries with the Perth Bushwalkers Club. I have also got into geocaching. I consider myself as moving towards being a lightweight tent-carrying bushwalker with my pack base weight in the 8 to 12 kg (18 to 26 lb) range. I have completed my End to End of the Bibbulmun Track (2003), the Cape to Cape Track (Nov 2001), the Coastal Plains Walk Track (numerous times), the Larapinta Trail (July 2005) and Fitzgerald River National Park (April 2006).

I have experience with dry bag type stuff sacks, having being a user of Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Sacks since 2001 and more recently I have started using Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sacks.

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Andrew's testing playground:

The bushwalking environment of the south-west of Western Australia allows for bushwalks and backpacking from coastal plains to forest. Elevation ranges from 0 to 585 metres (0 to 1,920 feet). Within this region, I walk in varying conditions from forestry roads, to sandy tracks to single-purpose walking trails, to rock hopping, to beach walking to completely off-track walking through open and dense country.

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The testing environment:

During the summer period, daytime temperatures average 30° C (86° F), whereas from March through to December the daytime average temperatures range from 15° C to 26° C (59° F to 79° F). During the autumn, winter, and spring periods the normal weather pattern is fairly wet with frequent heavy rainstorms evident. It does not normally snow in Western Australia.

According to The Times Atlas of the World (Concise Edition - Revised 1997) our weather is described as being "Mediterranean - rainy climates with mild winters, coolest month above 0° C (32° F), but below 18° C (64° F); warmest month above 10° C (50° F)." The atlas depicts the coastal area north of Los Angeles, California, US as having the same climate.
 

Product Details:

• Manufacturer: SealLine
• Year of Manufacturer: 2006
• MSRP: US$18.95

The SealLine Storm Sack is described by SealLine as a "lightweight, watertight stuff sack." It is a cylindrical shaped dry bag with roll-down closure and is of a sewn and taped seam sealed construction. The Storm Sack is made of PVC-free 210D PU-coated nylon.

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Specifications for 20 L Storm Sack as tested:

• Manufacturer's specified weight: 108 g (3.8 oz)
• My weight: 118 g (4.2 oz)
• Manufacturer's Dimensions: 23 x 53 cm (9 x 21 in)
• My Dimensions: 37 x 58 cm (14.5 x 23 in). The length is measured along the vertical seam from the top of the closure to the bottom seam and the width is measured with the bag layered out flat.
• Manufacturer's Volume: 21.5 L (1310 cu in)
• My Volume: Not measured

Item Receipt:

I received the SealLine Storm Sack complete in its retail packaging. Following my review of the SealLine website I expected a roll-down closure dry bag and I got a roll-down closure dry bag. What I was not aware of was a couple of features of the Storm Sack. Namely the grab handle at the bottom of the sack and the dee ring on the closure.

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First Impressions:

I like the look of this dry bag, I like the feel of the nylon which is smooth to touch, and I like the two unexpected features: the grab handle at the bottom of the bag (something which is missing on my current  dry bags) and the hanging loop on the closure.

Let us now explore the bag. Turning the bag inside out, it is clear that indeed all the seams are sewn and taped sealed. Based on my visual inspection, the seams seem well sewn and sealed. There is one vertical seam running the length of the bag and one seam attaching the base to the sides.

Turning the bag right side out and starting at the top,  The roll-closure is made of webbing sewn on both sides of the opening and closed via a side release buckle with a dee ring sewn into the closure.

Continuing down the bag to the base we find the what I consider a great feature, a grab handle. That is a handle one can hold the base of the bag by whilst pulling out the contents. Based on past experience with bags without a handle, I am looking forward to testing this one. I anticipate it will make using the bag that much easier.

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Testing Strategy:

Given the nature of a dry bag such as the SealLine Storm Sack and my bushwalking style, my testing over the next four months (winter and spring) will focus on:

1. Watertightness of the Storm Sack when used in my backpack/daypack carrying gear such as my laptop, clothes and sleeping bag with a particular focus on the effectiveness of the taped seam sealed seams and the roll down closure to keep water out;

2. Ease use of the roll down closure. Does it seal well?

3. Durability of the Storm Sack in the normal rough and tumble of my pack.

4. Functionality of the grab handle on the base of the Storm Sack.

At this stage of the test I have a week long geocaching and car-camping trip planned which will see the Storm Sack used to protect our sleeping bags; three weekend backpacks which will see the Storm Sack used to carry my sleeping bag and clothes and regular use carrying my laptop on my walks to and from the campus.

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