Our most recent trip was to western North Carolina, I knew I’d be spending some time on the water. North Carolina is well known for excellent paddling opportunities, which meant that I should probably bring along a good dry bag. No matter how careful you are, you always end up with at least some water on the floor of your canoe, and wet gear sucks. On this particular day on the water, I had the opportunity to try out a slick new dry bag called the Seattle Sports LocoDry DownUnder ZipDuff. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but let me tell you – I was impressed by this dry bag.
It’s made from 600D PU coated material, so it can handle being roughed up. It’s gas tight and has a nice T-style zipper that makes it easy to open. There are “feet” on the bottom that will minimize wear on the bottom. But my favorite feature is something they’re calling Ergo LocoModiv shoulder straps. They’re removable backpack straps made from silicone. These are great because 1) they don’t slide around on your shoulders, and 2) the stretch from the silicone makes it very comfortable to carry a heavy pack. It has just little bounce to it, and that means far less strain on your shoulders during a long portage. Oh – and there are two sets of straps. They’re black and neon green, and it’s nice to have a backup pair.
The Seattle Sports LocoDry DownUnder ZipDuff comes in 60L and 90L, and are $174.95 and $184.95, respectively. If you like to paddle and you’re looking for a durable, comfortable, dry bag that’s easy to hike with, this might be the one.
