Owner Review - Granite Gear Air Space

Name:	Gail Bosio
Age:	52
Gender:	Female
Height:	5'9" (1.75 m)
Weight:	132 lbs (60 kg)
Email:	woodswoman2001@yahoo.com
Location:	Midland, Michigan USA
Date:	January 26, 2005

Backpacking Background

For the last 15 years, backpacking has become a passion. I am a four season backpacker and an off-trail navigator. Although I do take yearly trips to the American West or Southwest, the majority of my trips are in Michigan and Canada. My pack weight varies considerably, but my base weight is under 20 lbs (9.1 kg). I am primarily a tarp camper who averages over 50 nights a year backpacking in a huge variety of weather conditions, including relentless rain, wet snow and sub zero temps.

Product Information

Manufacture:	Granite Gear
Year of Manufacture:	2004
URL:	http://www.granitegear.com
Size:	Small
Manufacture's Dimensions:	Length 11 in (28 cm), Width 7 in (18 cm) and Height 6 in (15 cm)
Color:	White/Black trim
Advertised Manufacture Weight:	1.4 oz (40 g)
Actual Weight Measured:	1.4 oz (40 g)
Fabric:	30-D Sil Cordura Nylon Rip-Stop
Zipper:	Water Resistant YKK
MSRP:	$16

The Granite Gear Air Space is one of several gear packing or storage systems that are offered in their group of products called the Air Line. The Air Line has four main products which cover different storage needs. In addition to the Air Space, the line also includes Air Compressor stuff sacks, Air Bags, and Air Pockets.

The Air Space is an ultralight zippered storage container. It looks much like a traditional men's toiletries case that has a three dimensional rectangular shape with a zippered top. The Air Space comes in several sizes from XXS to M.

The Air Space arrives packaged in a small clear plastic jar from the manufacturer. It is an additional perk as this jar can be reused to store many different objects or food.

An Air Space is made out of 30-D Sil Cordura Nylon Rip-Stop. The fabric weight is light and the color is white being almost translucent. A water resistant black YKK zipper runs the center of the length of the top. The zipper pull has a small micro cord attached. The seams of the bag are fully finished. One end of the bag has a black 9.5 in (24 cm) long grosgrain ribbon, sewed into a loop and inserted into the seam.

Field Information

I have purchased and used a size small Air Space zippered sack for the last eight months on numerous backpacking trips. Trail time during this time period, has totaled 57 days of semi-hilly hiking in the Midwest, with temperatures ranging from 20 F (7 C) to 85 F (29 C). It was an unusually rainy year for these trips, so much of the hiking was done in very wet conditions. The Air Space has helped to replace a traditional packing system of stuff sacks to compartmentalize my pack. In addition, I have also utilized the Air Space on several day hike excursions to hold my rain gear, hat and gloves. This allowed me to grab these items quickly when needed, out of my otherwise unorganized day pack.

There are infinite bonuses to using an Air Space:

Accessibility: Each Air Space has a water resistant zipper across the entire length of the top. This type of zipper eliminates the need for a zipper flap as it will keep water out if fully closed. On my size small Air Space, the zipper measures 17.25 in (44 cm). While the total length of my Air Space is 11 in (28 cm), the additional zipper length is divided equally half-way down both the "end" panels of the sack. I have total access to the goods that I store in each Air Space. I no longer have to empty the contents of a traditional stuff sack to find the item at the bottom of the bag. I normally utilize the Air Space to hold extra clothing. Smaller items such as socks are never "lost" anymore in an attempt to retrieve them.

Translucent color: Each Air Space is made out of a white translucent Sil Nylon. At a glance, I can tell what items lie in the bag without having to open it. This has been the greatest asset to me. I no longer have to "figure" out what is in the bag.

Water-resistant: While the Air Space is touted as being water-resistant, I would suggest it is even a step beyond that. The "bathtub" construction of the bag means no seams can leak when set on a wet surface. In combination with the water resistant zipper and water resistant fabric, I have never had a problem with any of my Air Space contents getting wet. Many of my trips in the last several months have had an overabundance of rain. Many times I've had to pull out the contents of my pack in order to retrieve an item or set up camp in the rain. This has exposed the Air Space to a fair amount of water.

Shape of Air Space: The boxy rectangular shape of the Air Space makes packing so efficient. It easily conforms to whatever space I place it in my backpack. If I have to pull it out, it is easily retrieved by pulling on the grosgrain loop handle which is attached to one end. The slippery surface of the Sil Nylon does not displace other items in the pack when extracting the Air Space that I need.

Weight: The Air Space is made out of a super-light Sil-Nylon. The weight savings over a traditional storage sack add up to significant amount. The total weight for a size small Air Space is 1.4 oz (40 g). This is much lighter than the comparable size Zipp model that is made out of a heavier 2.7 oz (77 g) Rip-Stop. The Air Space is approximately half the weight of the heavier Zipp Rip-Stop model. This cuts my stuff sack weight almost in half, resulting in a weight savings of 1.3 oz (37 g).

Fully finished seams: All of the seams in an Air Space are impeccably encased in black Nylon. During extended use, I haven't experienced any malfunction in the construction of the seams - there are no tears, rips or stress points.

Jar packaging: While this may have been a good marketing technique or gimmick to display this item, the true bonus is that these jars are totally food safe and also can be used for non-backpacking storage around the home. According to the manufacturer, the jars are made out of food grade Polyethylene. It's like getting an extra free gift with purchase. The jar containing the size small zippered sack has a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) diameter and it has a height of 2.25 in (5.7 cm).

I really really like the Air Space. Not only has it made my life much easier, it is a true quality product. Granite Gear stands firmly behind their products so I know if anything did happen to my Air Space, they would surely replace or repair it. To really conclude, I must confess that I like this product so much, that I have since purchased three more Air Space zippered sacks to totally overhaul my storage needs.

Things I like:

• Sil-Nylon fabric
• Translucent fabric
• Lightness
• Accessibility
• Water-resistance
• Storage jar packaging
• Strength
• Variety of sizes available

Things I don't like:

• There simply aren't any