Sea to Summit Hydraulic Pro Dry Pack
I’ve been testing the Sea to Summit Hydraulic Pro Dry Pack for the last seven months, during which time it has been on numerous sailing and dinghy trips, been through the hands of airport baggage handlers, squeezed into tight train luggage racks and carried for miles while walking from stations and airports to hotels and holiday homes.
The bag I tested has a 50lt capacity, more than enough space to pack for a week afloat; my husband, John and I managed to pack all our clothes for a 9-day trip to Cornwall in the summer. Larger 75lt and 100lt sizes are available, but I found the 50lt had more than enough room.
Comfortable to carry
Being a bad back sufferer, the rucksackstyle nature of the bag was appealing to me; the padded, adjustable shoulder straps which extend down the back panels made it incredibly comfy to carry. There is also a chest strap which meant even carrying heavy loads was not a problem. The straps have multiple lash points and can be removed.
The sides have webbing grab handles, useful for clipping to the dinghy, and these would be of real benefit if the bag was carried on a kayak or canoe.
In addition to how comfortable it was to carry, even fully packed, the real selling point is that this bag has a pressure-tested waterproof TIZIP and RF-welded seams which meet IPX8 submersion rating to 4m below the surface. Each bag comes with TIZIP MasterSeal, a lubricant which is applied to the end of the zip to ensure the bag remains watertight at depth. It’s important to keep the zip clean and free of debris. I’ve applied the MasterSeal twice since I started using the bag.
It was hard for me to test the claim that this bag is fully submersible up to 4m but I did weigh it down and submerge it into my friend’s 1m-deep Wim Hoff-style ice tank and leave it for 20 minutes. I inserted a piece of clean, dry brown cardboard in the bottom of the bag so any water ingress could be detected. Sinking it for 20 minutes is far longer than the dunking the bag would likely get if it fell off a tender or boat. After 20 minutes, I removed the bag; the cardboard was bone dry, and not a drop of water had seeped in. However, I did find that the bag’s side pocket is not waterproof (nor is it claimed to be), which is worth remembering in case you decide to carry electronics, like a phone, in there.
The bag is made from 1000D high tenacity double-sided TPI-laminated fabric, which is designed to be ‘supertough’ and ‘ultra-durable’. Given it has been squashed into tight spaces and subjected to airport baggage handling, the bag has stood up brilliantly as there is barely a mark or crease in the material; in fact, it still looks nearly new.
My only tiny criticism is that, because of the toughness of the material, it’s hard to fold the bag really flat which would be a plus when sailing on a small boat. With a starting price of £350 it’s also expensive, but does come with a lifetime guarantee. For me, the versatility of this bag means it’s the only one I’ll ever need to own.
SEA TO SUMMIT HYDRAULIC PRO DRY PACK Pros:
Submersible and fully watertight Comfortable to wear, even loaded Heavy duty material, which has barely been marked despite all the use Lifetime guarantee
Cons:
Does not fold up small although the shoulder straps can be removed Available in 50lt, 75lt and 100lt sizes and in black or red colours.
Price: RRP from £350 Contact: www.seatosummit.co.uk