Field Report:
Watchful Eye Designs ALOKSAK Element Proof Storage Bags
Date: January 26th, 2004
Reviewer Information
Name: Jim Sabiston
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 3" (1.9 m)
Weight: 207 lb (94 k)
Email address: JimSabis(at)aol(dot)com
State: New York
Country: USA
Backpacking Background:
I've been camping for several decades. I joined the Adirondack Mountain
Club four years ago, the Appalachian Mountain Club a year later and am active
in both. I have also expanded my backpacking to include more winter trips,
mountaineering and back country cross country skiing, and participated in the
AMC's Winter Mountaineering training program with Chauvin International
Climbing Guides. More recently, I have actively studied ways to backpack
lighter and more efficiently. During the summer months, my style tends toward
very light, but not quite ultralight. I use a hammock or tarp for warm weather,
and a small four-season tent for winter trips. Most of my other gear is very
changeable, as I am constantly experimenting with gear and techniques.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Watchful Eye Designs
Year of Manufacture: 2003
URL: www.watchfuleyedesigns.com
Manufacturers Specifications:
4.5 in X 7 in (114 mm X 178 mm)
6.75 in X 6 in (175 mm X 152 mm)
6 in X 9 in (152 mm X 229 mm)
12 in X 12 in (305 mm X 305 mm)
12.5 in X 15.5 in (318 mm X 394 mm) (OPSAKS)
Specifications as delivered:
4.5 in X 7 in (114 mm X 178 mm)
5.75 in X 6.75 in (146 mm X 171 mm)
6 in X 9 in (152 mm X 229 mm)
12 in X 12 in (305 mm X 305 mm)
12.25 in X 16 in ( 311 mm X 406 mm) (OPSAKS)
Price: Varies with size of bag (sold in sets of 3):
4.5 in X 7 in (114 mm X 178 mm) $ 6.29 US
6.75 in X 6 in (175 mm X 152 mm) $ 6.49 US
9 in X 6 in (152 mm X 229 mm) $ 7.49 US
12.5 in X 12.5 in (305 mm X 305 mm) $10.59 US
Or a mixed set of one each of all four sizes for $9.99 US
The OPSAKS are sold in sets of three for $10.59 US
Description of the Watchful Eye Designs ALOKSAK Element Proof Storage Bags:
The bags are of two basic types. Eleven are six mil, clear plastic with a
translucent black top and flat welded edge seams. The two largest bags, the
OPSAKS, are made of a lighter plastic and have a gusseted bottom, but use the
same sealing strip as the ALOKSAKS. This bottom allows the bags to expand,
greatly increasing their capacity, and also enabling the bags to stand upright
when the bottom is expanded. The ALOKSAKS have a flat, creased bottom.
Aside from size, all the bags are generally the same in appearance. The black
strip at the top is where the sealing strip is located. The bags are all marked
with various black colored labeling which provides common information, such as
the ALOKSAK or OPSAK label, opening and closing instructions, recycling
information, etc. In addition is bag specific information, such as bag volume
and, in the case of the OPSAK bags, an ‘Odor Proof Barrier’ label.
Information provided at the Watchful Eye Designs web site, and also provided by
the literature delivered with the bags, details what appears to be some
rigorous testing standards that the bags have passed. From the Watchful Eye
Designs literature:
SSI (formerly NASDS)
certified waterproof to depths exceeding 60 meters. Confirmed testing in their
pressure chamber under constant pressure of 200 SFW for two weeks without
leaks.
US NAVY
Passed submergence/thrash/pull tests conducted by Navy Experimental Diving
Unit.
Other comments found in the literature: Used by FBI HAZMET, Law Enforcement,
FEMA and the military worldwide. Medical grade, FDA approved material. The
ALOKSAKS are government short term biohazard storage and the OPSAKS for long
term biohazard storage.
Note: Around mid December, 2003, I received a surprise package in the mail from
Watchful Eye Designs. In it were two more ALOKSAK bags, larger than the
original ones delivered. The sizes were 16 in (406 mm) X 24 in (610 mm) and 16
in (406 mm) X 32 in (81 mm). Also enclosed was a letter explaining that the
labeling error I had noted in my Initial Report on one of the smaller bags had
been corrected with a new printing plate. Now there is a responsive company!
Overview:
I have used the ALOKSAKs primarily as a replacement for the zip-lock type lunch
bags available at most grocery stores. I use these bags both for carrying small
odds and ends and protecting electronics from water. The ALOKSAKs have excelled
in this application. The supple, but heavy duty plastic has proven to be very
durable. They have successfully preserved my electronics through repeated
exposure to wet environments, including wet snow, rain and spills.
The sealing strip has an offset design which greatly simplifies the effort to
open the bags, especially when wearing gloves. Rather than fumbling around
trying to separate two thin layers of plastic, all I have to do is locate the
front of the bag and bend back the top edge. The lower plastic edge of the seal
will stand proud and is easily grasped and pulled, thus opening the seal. This
is extremely easy to do with lighter gloves and no gloves at all. The bags can
be opened and closed with heavier gloves as well but, understandably, it
becomes a bit difficult with very heavy gloves.
Field Experience:
The plastic has proven to be very durable, surviving multiple trips in my daypacks
and backpacks. Most grocery type bags are only good for one or two trips before
they succumb to the abuse of being stuffed and mashed inside a backpack. The
most common failure of the grocery type bag is when they develop numerous small
holes caused by abrasion against the pack or other items in the pack. The
ALOKSAKs are practically immune to this sort of treatment. The only time I
noticed a potential problem was after an overnight trip to the Otis Pike
Wilderness Preserve on Fire Island. While unpacking after the trip, I noticed
several deep gouges in the surface of the bag holding my small weather radio.
Close examination indicated that a sharp object had been pushed against the
plastic. The only sharp item located in the top pocket was my knife, but that
was sheathed. After puzzling it over for a bit, I found the culprit. The toilet
paper roll! I had purchased and packed a small roll intended for traveling. It
is encased in a light, but durable, clear plastic shell. I discovered that this
shell had several sharp edges that were easily capable of doing damage if
packed incautiously. As I tend to keep my electronics in the backpack's top
pocket, where they are handy, I have relegated the toilet paper to a different
area of the pack.
These little plastic bags have already earned their keep on several occasions.
On one occasion, my wife and I spent the night on Hunter Mountain in the
Catskills, and awoke to heavy snowfall when none had been predicted. We were
prepared for this eventuality, but I had not packed my backpack rain cover. We
really enjoyed the descent, even as the heavy snowfall changed to rain as we
lost altitude. Upon reaching my Jeep, I discovered that everything in my packs
top pocket was soaked. Of course, all my electronics were carefully stowed in
their respective ALOKSAK bags and remained completely dry and unaffected. The
bags have never leaked a drop.
A more critical, if embarrassing test occurred on a solo overnight spent in the
Otis Pike Wilderness Area on Fire Island. I experienced a minor 'pee-bottle'
incident in the wee hours of the morning. While packing the next morning, I
discovered my Pocket PC soaking in a very small puddle under my sleeping pad.
Fortunately, when I had finished reading the night before, I had carefully placed
the device back into its assigned ALOKSAK bag before placing it alongside the
sleeping pad for the night. If not for the total protection provided by the
waterproof plastic bag, this would have been a very expensive accident!
In a more passive type of test, I placed a paper towel inside a smaller ALOKSAK
bag, carefully sealed it, and then placed the bag inside a Nalgene lexan water
bottle. I filled the bottle to brimming and left the bag and paper towel sit inside,
completely submerged. I should note that the bag did not fit smoothly into the
water bottle. It required some scrunching and bending to get it in, so the bag
and seal were worked somewhat while exposed to the water. Also, I did not use a
new bag, but one of the bags that already had some travel wear and tear on it,
specifically the bag with the heavy scratches and gouges from the Otis Pike
Wilderness trip. I removed the bag after several days and carefully dried the
outside. Opening the bag and removing the paper towel, I found it completely
dry. In fact, it wasn’t even damp. Even after being subject to substantial pack
abuse and abrasions, the bag was still 100% waterproof.
The various sizes of ALOKSAK bags available are very handy when fitting a
particular bag to a particular item. Many combinations seem like a natural fit.
For instance:
Fig #1: Clockwise from top left - Toshiba e755 Pocket PC , Star TAC cellular
phone , Adirondacks High Peaks Topographic map,
Sangean Weather Radio with earphones and spare batteries, Catskill Topographic
Map Set.
As the bags are clear, it is also easy to find the item I happen to be looking
for.
I performed an odor test using catnip inside a mouse shaped cat toy. This was a
rather impromptu test performed when I noticed one of our cats trying to rip up
a plastic shopping bag containing a catnip mouse amongst other supermarket type
items. I realized that the cat was operating solely on smell, as the bag was
opaque and there was no way for the cat to know the catnip was there other than
by smell. I removed the cat and had my daughter take the mouse and place it in
an OPSAK bag that I held open. This way, I would not inadvertently transfer any
odor to the outside of the bag itself. The OPSAK was then placed in another
plastic shopping bag next to the original one and the eager cat allowed back
into the kitchen. The cat immediately returned to the original bag. It quickly
became obvious that the cat had lost the scent as he started sniffing the other
bags looking for the catnip, but to no avail. After a few moments, the cat
tired and left. Success!
The soft feeling plastic that the bags are made of remains pliable even in
extremely cold temperatures. The zip lock seems almost totally unaffected by
any temperatures that I have experienced to date, the lowest being -15 F (-26 C).
I have used the bags frequently in below freezing temperatures without
problems. The only noticeable effect on the bags is a slight hardening, or
stiffening, of the plastic, but they remain pliable and the zip lock continues
to work smoothly and without unusual resistance. But, I did find the plastic
has limits in extreme cold which are commented on below.
Cold Weather:
My experience with soft plastics in cold weather has not always been good. In
fact, I have found that many materials will behave differently when exposed to
extreme cold, not just plastics. The ALOKSAKs are no exception. However, the
ALOKSAKs performed so well right up to the point of failure, I was all the more
surprised when it actually occurred.
Most of my use and testing of the ALOKSAKs has focused on the smaller bags, as
they are often natural fits for specific bits of gear. I finally used the
largest of the OPSAK bags for a deep winter trip to the Adirondack's High Peaks
Wilderness Area. The bag was perfect for my bulk food storage as well as
convenient waterproof storage for an extra pair of socks. An additional point
of interest was the odor proof characteristics of the bag, as raids by
squirrels and pine martins have been known to decimate food supplies during
these winter trips. Hanging bear bags has been the usual practice in the past
in this area, as bears are occasionally a problem. However, this is extremely
rare in mid winter. The small furry animals have proven to be more of a
problem. After several minor raids in recent years, we elected to try a
different tactic: burying the food supplies in the snow. The waterproof, odor proof
characteristics of these bags would be ideal in this application.
Unfortunately, the test could not be made. During the first night out, we had
retired to the lean-to to cook our respective dinners, as is our usual
practice. I toted along my OPSAK bag, which had three days worth of breakfasts
and dinners inside, along with some other odds and ends. During the course of
cooking dinner, I was admiring the fact that the OPSAK bag seemed almost
entirely unaffected by the cold, which was a solid -15 F (-26 C). The plastic
remained very pliable, although I thought I could detect a certain subtle
stiffness in the feel. My biggest concern had been the operation of the locking
seal under these conditions, but my worries on this point were entirely
unfounded. The seal remained pliable and as easy to use in this cold weather as
in more typical temperatures. I was really pleased. And then disaster struck.
When picking up after dinner, I was returning one of my freeze dried foil
dinner pouches into the OPSAK bag and it simply passed right through the side,
almost without any perceptible resistance. At first, I didn't realize the bag
had been cut, but smaller items started falling out. Close examination revealed
two long slices on one side of the bag. No doubt that the edge of the foil
packaging contributed to this event, but the same edge would not cut the
plastic in warmer temperatures even when I tried. When the bag was permitted to
warm up again (at home) I found it very difficult to tear. The plastic is quite
strong, but it appears the deep cold did have an impact on its tear resistance.
There is no doubt in my mind that this was a direct result of the effects of
the extreme cold on the bag material, making it subtly brittle. As the OPSAKs
are made of a slightly thinner plastic than the ALOKSAKs, it is highly likely
that this factor contributed somewhat to the failure. No other bags gave me
problems on this trip, performing as flawlessly as before.
This incident simply highlights the fact that everything changes in the cold.
Very often, I have found that things I usually take for granted just don't work
the same under these conditions. By way of example, the only other equipment
failure of the trip was, coincidentally, another plastic bag, but a far tougher
one: my four liter Platypus Water Tanker. The waterproof zip lock top put up a
fight when it came time to open it, as the cold had caused it to stiffen. When
I forced the issue the zip top released with a bang and I ended up tearing the
bag.
Materials just have certain environmental limits to be aware of. In the case of
the OPSAKS, I will just have to restrict my use to temperatures above 0 F (-18
C).
Things I like:
1 - High quality materials and construction
2 - Easy to use
3 - Convenient variety of sizes
Things I don’t Like:
1 – Well, dislike might be a bit strong, but I will watch that cold weather in
the future.
Summary:
The ALOKSAK bags have proven to be very good at protecting my electronics from
the elements. They are also an excellent organizing aid. They have proven to be
far more durable and weather resistant than the typical zip lock grocery bag.
If there is something in my pack that absolutely needs to stay dry and/or
clean, it goes in one of these bags and I know that item will arrive in proper
order. Some thought has to be given as to how the bags are stored in a pack,
avoiding hard edged or sharp objects. With a bit of care, these bags should
last at least a typical season with regular use. While more expensive than
grocery type zip lock bags, the ALOKSAKS offer a much higher degree of
reliability, durability and protection and are well worth the cost when it
comes to protecting expensive gear.
