Name: Thomas Peltier II
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Height: 6’ 0” (1.8 M)
Weight: 155 (70.3 kg)
E-mail Address: Thomas@Goldenautomotive.com
City, State, Country: Bakersfield, California, U.S.A.
Date: 01/27/2004

Backpacking Background: I have been in the outdoors since I was a toddler. My mother introduced me to backpacking when I was in the backpack. I in good turn joined the Boy Scouts to get away from Mom on the weekend hikes. My first backpack trip with the Boy Scouts was down a dirt road to a park and campsite. That was my last trip with the Boy Scouts. Since then I have been backpacking mostly in the Sierra Nevadas.

I have been a professional river guide and kayak instructor for the last 11 years; however, I currently work at a family establishment in Bakersfield, California. Working a “Real Job” keeps me away from the outdoors a bit more than I would like. My summers are busy between city work and river guiding. Much of my packing is done on the river in the summer. This has driven me to long winter trips and short summer trips for the last several years. I took up snowshoeing to help get into winter packing. I have found that less is often more in my backpacking and my summer trips I find myself as happy in a pair of Chacos carrying my pocket knife as I do with a heavy pack and big boots.

Aloksak Product Information:

Manufacturer: Watchful Eye Designs

Year 2003

URL: www.watchfuleyedesigns.com

Storage Bag Demensions Actual Weight Listed Volume MSRP Water Proof to:

Aloksak Bag #1 114 x 178 mm
4.5 X 7 in 0.21 oz
6.7 g Not Listed $6.29 200 ft
60 m

Aloksak Bag #2 6 3/4 x 6 in
171 x 152 mm 0.27 oz
8.7 g 350 in^3
5736 cc
this is a misprint $6.49 200 ft
60 m

Aloksak Bag #3 9 in x 6 in
229 xmm 152 mm 0.40 oz
11.2 g 60 in^3
980 cc $7.49 200 ft
60 m

Aloksak Bag #4 12 x 12 in
305 x 305 mm 1.06 oz
30.0 g 350 in^3
5736 cc $10.59 200 ft
60 m

O.P Bag 12.5 x 15.5 in
318 x 394 mm 0.92 oz
26.0 g Not Listed $10.59 200 ft
60 m

Thoughts

They come in handy sizes, they are light and they keep my stuff dry. So far the Aloksak works very well. After using the Aloksaks for two months I can say I'm glad to have them. They have not only kept my things dry but helped me keep my things organized. I do think the real test is still to come. This spring when the snow melts and everything is wet I believe I will find out just how well these things work. For now they are working very well.

In the last two months I have had the opportunity to use these bags a number of times. Since my initial report on the Aloksak I have had the opportunity to visit Hawaii, and it rained the entire week I was there. I found the Aloksaks handy for many things during the week. The smaller Aloksaks carry things like my wallet and money very well. Before I left I dropped my passport into BAG #1 and it fit very nicely. My headlamp fits into nicely in Aloksak #3. The large Aloksak fit enough clothes for a quick overnight trip in the warm Hawaii weather. Temperature while I was in Hawaii ranged from 78 F (26 C) to 60 F (16 C). Because it was warm I took my hammock with me and stored it in an Aloksak as well. I spent one night camping out while I was in Hawaii. It rained off and on all night long. I was very glad to have my gear safely stored. I kept most of my gear in the Aloksaks during the trip and everything in them stayed dry.

I have now spent three days on telemark skis. Very interesting being a beginner again; I fall down a lot! While this has been humbling for me it has also been great for gear testing. The Aloksak's and their content have helped break a number of falls. I have also had a larger than normal amount of snow in my backpack. None my my gear has gotten wet from all of this snow either.

Not all of my outings have met with such great testing opportunity but I have had a few days that allowed for some high quality testing. I have had a few experiences where I have found an Aloksak open inside my pack in the afternoon. While this does cause me some concern it has not yet cause me pain. I'm not entirely sure as to the cause of opening. I am trying to be much more carefully about closing them. If I overfill the Aloksak with fleece that expands sometimes the Aloksak will open. I believe that I am not getting a secure seal and that is what causes the bag to open. I am trying to be carefully not to overfill the bags and to close the seal carefully and completely. I think that when I get a solid and complete seal that the Aloksak does not open. I am definitely glad I have had the opportunity to practice using the bags and learning how to use them before I get into any really wet environments. Hawaii was rainy but most nights I retreated to a resort with a warm bed and comfortable dining halls. I am looking forward to testing these in the spring rain and the spring thaw.

So far I have found the Aloksak's to be very durable. The top flaps on a few Aloksaks have separated, but the separation stops at the zipper and does not cause any trouble. Most of the Aloksaks have not even experienced this. I have stretched them and dropped them full of gear and snagged them against things (but only once or twice). So far the Aloksaks are holding up very nicely. There is no sign of wear. The seal is still tight and positive on all of my Aloksaks.

I have found myself wishing I had a larger Aloksak for some of my bigger gear. And so here I am one day thinking about this when what happens but a package arrives at my door. Yep, it's a bigger Aloksak. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to use this larger Aloksak but I'm pretty excited about using it very soon. I'll talk all about this larger Aloksak in my Long Term Report after I've had a chance to use it in the field. The O.P. Bags are very nice as well. I placed a juicy piece of steak inside one of the O.P.Bags and hid that in a paper bag. Luck Dog (my dog) walked right past it. Luck Dog does not walk past much of anything in the way of food and never a steak. He was clueless what was in the bag even when I tossed it in front of him and drew his attention to it. Since then I have carried all my food in the bags. The rodents have not had a lot of opportunity to pass by my trail food, but so far so good. I have had no unwanted visitors any of the times I have used the bags. The real test I think was leaving the O.P. bags in my garage with peanuts. Not a single mouse touched them and I know I have mice because they just devestated my sunflower crop.

Overall I am very pleased with the Aloksak performance. I will use these bags on river trips this spring and see just how well they work. I believe they are going to work out great, and they fit in my kayak like nothing else. I am excited about using the Aloksaks on the river this year and I believe, after using them for the last two months, that they will perform beautifully.

Thomas Peltier II

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