OR HydroLite Stuff Sack

Long Term Report

Biographical Information:

Name: Chuck Carnes

Age: 34

Gender: Male

Height: 6’0” (1.83 m)

Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)

Email address: ctcarnes1(at)yahoo(dot)com

City, State, Country: Taylors, South Carolina, United States

Date: July 19, 2004

Backpacking Background:

I love the outdoors – I’ve spent time camping in the outdoors since I was born, and have been actively hiking and backpacking for the past ten years. I consider myself a lightweight hiker, usually carrying 20 – 30 pounds (11-13 kg) for hikes up to a week in length. I hike at an easy pace, averaging 2 mph (3 kph). I am a one man tent camper for now until something I like better comes along. I like to carry a single trekking pole when I hike to help relieve stress to my legs and knees. I like to get out on the trail as often as I can.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Outdoor Research

Size: #4

Dimensions: 9 in by 17 in (22 cm by 43 cm)

Volume: 1100 cu in (18 L)

Year of Manufacture: 2003

URL: www.orgear.com

Weight as Delivered: 1.9 oz (54 g)

MSRP: $15.00 (USA)

            Outdoor Research makes great products in my opinion. Here is an excerpt from their web site about the OR HydroLite Stuff Sack:

“Simply the best when it comes to durable, truly waterproof, ultra-light fabrics,

our HydroLite fabric is a coated nylon gossamer that is both ultra-light and ultra-

durable. Through laboratory tests of the fabric's seam strength, waterproofness,

DWR, tear strength, abrasion, and a full battery of other brutalities involving

hours in rotating tubs, golf balls and pea gravel, we could not find a better ultra-

light material. In the tried and true tradition of Outdoor Research Hydroseal Stuff

Sacks, we incorporated the design and features of the Basic Stuff Sack into the

next generation.”

Final Field Testing:

            The duration of this test was about 6 months long. During this time I have taken the OR HydroLite Stuff Sack with me on my backpacking trips. I have also conducted a test around the house for safety purposes that contained food. See my Field Report for this test. When I am not backpacking I use the stuff sack as a laundry bag for my sweaty clothes after a run at work. I do not feel that temperature is a factor for this sack, but for report purposes, the temperatures ranged between 40 F and 80 F (4 C and 26 C). The sack operated under different temperatures during the test but operated the same under those different temperatures. On one occasion the sack was exposed to rain which will be detailed below.

            On the backpacking trips I have used it as a food bag, laundry bag, tent stuff sack and a sleeping bag stuff sack. This sack works very well for a food bag. As mentioned in the Field Report I feel like this sack contains food odors very well. While using it as my food bag I never experienced any rodents sniffing or pawing at the bag. All of my food was in either a Ziplock bag or already prepackaged and sealed. While I used it as a laundry bag the odors never escaped the bag. This was due to placing the dust flap over the food or clothes and cinching the drawchord tight to create an almost complete seal. I did wash the bag between uses as a laundry bag and a food bag. I will comment on washing later in the report.

            As a tent stuff sack the complete tent, footprint, rain fly, stakes and poles fit in the sack. The tent that was used was a Big Agnes Seedhouse 3 tent which is a three man tent. The stuff sack that came with the tent was slightly larger than the OR HydroLite Stuff Sack. I was interested in seeing if everything would fit and it did. The tent poles were extended through the opening of the cinched drawchord. While the poles were in this position the dust flap was slid to the side to allow this. I had no problem with the tent poles falling out since I was able to cinch the drawchord tight around the poles. While the tent was in the stuff sack I was able to strap the stuffed sack onto my pack with straps. The straps were tight enough to hold the sack to the pack and to prevent the sack from slipping out.

            As a sleeping bag stuff sack the HydrLite performed nicely. It started raining during a trip when I had my North Face 40 F (4 C) sleeping bag stuffed into the sack. It started raining pretty heavily before I was able to put the rain cover over the pack and its contents on the outside including the HydroLite with the sleeping bag in it. I typically stuff the sleeping bag in the bottom compartment of my pack but for this trip I wanted to see how well it worked as a water resistant stuff sack strapped to the outside of the pack. With the heavy downpour I was certain that my sleeping bag had gotten wet. After reaching the campsite and pulling the bag from the sack I was truly amazed at how dry my bag was. The HydroLite had kept my sleeping bag from getting the least bit wet. For that I would say it works very well as a water resistant stuff sack.

            Over this period of testing the sack has not shown any wear on the material. The color blue has not faded or bled to the other side. It has gotten dirty from the many uses that I have put it through. I have simply soaked the bag in water, soaped up a rag and cleaned the bag, rinsed the bag a couple of times and laid it out to dry. The sack dries very quickly and comes clean very easily. I think this is mostly due to the nylon gossamer coating on the fabric. The drawchord continues to work as it should and I have had no problems with the spring loaded clasp. The nylon web strap on the bottom of the sack was monitored throughout the test period for any signs of tearing or coming of off the sack due to the limited strength factor that was presented at the beginning of the test period. There were no signs of tearing or malfunctioning of the strap and it still remains in its original position. I had positive expectations for this sack in the beginning and I still do. It has served well for the treatment that I have put it through. I will continue to use the OR HydroLite Stuff Sack for the purposes mentioned above and I have full confidence that this sack will not let me down in quality and durability.       

Thank you OR and BGT for giving me the opportunity to test the OR HydroLite Stuff Sack and I hope that I have met your expectations as a tester.