Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > SealLine Storm Sack > Kathy Waters > Initial Report

Initial Report: SealLine Storm Sack
July 7, 2006

Contents:
Biographical Information
Product Information
Arrival Information
First Impressions
Test Plan

Tester Biographical Information    <back to top>

Name: Kathleen Waters
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight: 128 lb (58 kg)
Email address: kathy at bysky dot com or TheMiddleSister at usaring dot com
City, State, Country: White Lake, Michigan USA

Backpacking Background: My husband and I started hiking in 1998 after an eye-opening climb up Hahn's Peak in Colorado.

Hooked, we return to Colorado often. We've hiked/snowshoed glaciers, rain forests, mountains and deserts in exotic locations, including Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley.

At home in Michigan, we plan for 2-3 hikes of 6-8 mi (10-13 km) weekly and one weekend hike monthly. Weekday hikes take place in Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, a mixture of heavily-wooded moderate hills and flat terrain. Weekend hike locations vary.

My hiking style is comfortable, aiming for lightweight. Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) including food and water.

Product Information, Including Picture (from website)    <back to top>
http://www.seallinegear.com

Manufacturer: SealLine
Year of Manufacturer: 2006
Models: SealLine Storm Sack

Description: * Roll-Down Closure * Sewn and Taped Construction * PVC-Free 210D PU-Coated Nylon Body * PVC-Free 210D PU-Coated Nylon Bottom "Our lightest, most versatile dry bag is also plenty rugged. It boasts a roll-down closure and seam-and-taped construction to ensure watertightness. Use it for organizing and protecting gear in a pack, or on its own when you really need to watch every ounce."

Product Information (from tester) Size: 20.5 L (1310 cu in) Weight: 3.8 oz (108 g) Color: Blue Arrival Information     <back to top> The SealLine Storm Sack arrived in small rectangular box with a notched top suitable for retail display. The top of the box is open so the Storm Sack protrudes a bit and the color of the Sack is visible without having to open the packaging. The front of the packaging depicts the Storm Sack and a graphic indicates which size the box contains. On the package back there is a very brief description of the product in 6 different languages and a measurement chart giving the sizes, weights, and volumes of the various size sacks. The Storm Sack is attached to the box with the usual plastic thingy. When I removed the Sack from the packaging, I found that a small text and graphic instruction sheet with "care and use" and limited warranty information was enclosed inside the box.

First Impressions    <back to top>

The fabric of the SealLine Storm Sack is smooth to the touch both inside and out. There will be no snagging in this sack! While the exterior of my Sack is a nice dark blue, the interior is white. Black details such as the closure webbing and the silk-screened SealLine logo make the Storm Sack a neat package. There is a wide same-fabric sewn-in "handle" on the bottom of the Sack - I'm not sure what it's used for yet.

The SealLine Storm Sack appears to be well-made with very neat seams, straight and even stitching with no loose or dangling threads. All seams are taped sealed on the inside of the Sack. The Storm Sack is constructed with one seam down the back and one seam which attaches the bottom of the Sack to the body of the Sack. A very stiff black webbing strap at the top of the Storm Sack has a quick-clip fastener and a plastic "D-ring". This strap and fastener is used to close the Storm Sack by rolling down the top and clipping the buckle. Unfolding the SealLine Storm Sack 20 L for the first time, I was immediately impressed with just how big it is. The Sack easily extends from the top to the bottom of my Granite Gear Nimbus Ki backpack and looks to expand to hold most everything I usually carry inside it. I can't wait to start my field testing!

Test Plan    <back to top>

If all goes well, this will be my last year living in Michigan, then it's "westward ho" and off to Colorado! That said, there is still lots to see here in the Great Lakes State and I am looking forward to at least one 2-3 day hiking trip a month all the way through early fall. Tentative plans include the Lake Superior Trail in the Porcupine Mountains, the Little Carp Trail, also in the "Porkies", day hikes on the Kal-Haven Trail and others.

I am also planning in July to be in Colorado for a belated birthday trip to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Hiking will mostly take place in terrain that will include the sandy lakeshore dunes of Lake Michigan in western Lower Michigan, the rockier shore areas of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the Wet, Green, Sangre de Cristos and Rocky Mountain ranges of Colorado. Elevation will range from 177 ft to 13,000 ft (54 m to 3962 m) and I anticipate that temperatures over the summer and early fall will vary from 35 F to 81 F (2 C to 27 C) in Michigan and 38 F to 88 F (3 C to 31 C) in Colorado. I'm sure to experience cold, wind, rain and heat in Michigan. In the Sangres in Colorado, I expect to possibly add some snow to the mix of weather conditions to be encountered in the fall.

Since I started overnight backpacking last summer, I have been cramming everything willy-nilly in my pack. I have not paid much attention to order or maximizing protection of the contents. That has resulted in some not-so-nice situations with damp clothes, misplaced items, etc.

Since I've been really trying valiantly to get my pack weight down, I've erroneously deemed stuff sacks as non-essential items. The SealLine Storm Sack looks to make weight a non-issue. At 3.8 oz (108 g) for the 20 L Storm Sack, my former "luxury" of dry clothes just became a critical "necessity!"

During the next four months, I will use it on all my backpacking trips, both day and overnight, rain or shine.

Questions to be answered include:

Usability

How easy is it to pack the Storm Sack?
How much can I practically fit into the SealLine Storm Sack?
How does the roll top closure work?
Will the Storm Sack keep my gear dry both in and out of my backpack?
Can I use the Storm Sack as a bear bag?
Can I easily pack and unpack the Storm Sack in my Granite Gear Nimbus Ki or Gregory Deva 60 Backpack?
Can I determine what is packed in the Storm Sack without without taking everything out?
Can the Storm Sack double as a "pillow" when stuffed with clothing?

Quality and Durability

Under normal use, does the Storm Sack retain its shape?
Under normal use, will the Storm Sack seams "hold?"
Does the Storm Sack tear under normal use?
If a tear does develop, can I repair it in the field? At home?
Does the Storm Sack resist stains?
What are the care/cleaning instructions?

I will also report any other issues that arise during the testing period.

Kathy Waters

Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > SealLine Storm Sack > Kathy Waters > Initial Report