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Long Term Report:
Aloksak Element Proof Storage Bags
Personal Information
Name: Thomas Peltier II
Age: 31
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: 05/25/2004
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 Nevada.
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:
| Storage Bag |
Dimensions |
Actual Weight |
Listed Volume |
MSRP |
Water Proof to: |
| Aloksak Bag #1 |
4.5 X 7 in
114 x 178 mm |
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 x 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 |
| Aloksak Bag #5 |
16 x 24 in
406 x 610 mm |
oz
g |
NA
|
$12.99 |
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 |
The New One: Aloksak #5 showed up just before I posted my Field Report. I have been using this large Aloksak for the last four months and I was very glad to have it. This larger Aloksak is capable of holding my sleeping bag with room to spare. During rafting trips I like to store my sleeping bag and warm fleece inside a compression sack. That compression sack fits very nicely in the Aloksak #5.
Locations: The Southern and Central Sierra Nevada have been the testing grounds. I have used the Aloksaks on skiing trips, backpacking trips, walks in the rain and river rafting. I have specifically used them in my day pack while back country skiing and park skiing, backpacking in the foothills, just walking in the rain in my home town and while whitewater kayaking and rafting on both one day and overnight trips.
Weather: The weather has varied from just below freezing all the way up to 90 F (32 C).
Failures: I have experienced two types of failures with the Aloksak. First I destroyed one Aloksak in the last six months. I was attempting to insert a compression sack full of gear into Aloksak #4 when the Aloksak split down the seam. The second failure is bag openings. On several occasions I have found the Aloksaks open in my pack. I have found it is very important to run my fingers down the seal several times to seal them completely. I can feel the seam seat together and when the Aloksaks are completely closed. This method of repeatedly sealing the Aloksaks has not proven sufficient. If the Aloksaks are jarred about or articulated around in my pocket or my backpack they will sometimes open. Only once have my gear become wet as a result. I was carrying a small towel and a few personal items in a small Aloksak in my pocket while kayaking. The seal opened (even though I was very careful to seal the bag completely) and the contents became wet.
Conclusion:
After six months I have worked the Aloksaks into my system. What I have found is that storing my gear inside the Aloksak inside by backpack has been sufficient to keep my gear dry even if the Aloksak opens. While rafting I stored all of my gear in the Aloksaks inside by backpack which was then placed inside a large dry bag. My dry bag is old and leaks so some water is going to get in. The Aloksaks proved to be effective at keeping my gear dry. I will continue to use the Aloksaks in this manner while rafting and I will keep an eye on the Aloksaks in the future with hopes of an improved seal system.
I would like to thank Watchful Eye Designs for the opportunity to test the Aloksaks
Tom Peltier II
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