No matter what your adventure, chances are you have a few precious pieces of gear or food that need to be protected from the elements. Backpackers especially know the value of a good storage bag, as wet snacks and dinner equal a rough time in the backcountry. SealLine is a company that specializes in crafting storage bags fit for any outing, and they sent me a few of their Storm Sacks to put through the gauntlet. I have been using these bags for the better part of a year, and they’ve been through it all: rain, sleet, sand and water. Here’s how they held up.
The SealLine Storm Sacks are sewn and taped with 210D PU-coated nylon. Whoa. Sounds sciencey. What that means is the Storm Sacks are rugged enough to handle tough assignments like hanging from trees and rolling around in sand while still maintaining waterproof protection. SealLine uses eco-friendly coatings that are PVC free to reduce the products’ impact on the environment. As with many storage bags, the Storm Sacks use a roll top closure, and SealLine has reinforced their version to provide a better seal from the elements. The light and versatile nature of the sacks makes them ideal for backpacking, hiking, biking and even paddling.
So how did I use them? For as much as I could think of. The Storm Sacks functioned mainly as food and clothing storage on my adventures. However, I also used them to protect my camera and other electronics while canyoneering in Capitol Reef last spring. I tested them on a recent trip to Escalante, where they were hung from trees and faced abuse from being left in the sand. The gritty surfaces of the desert didn’t make a dent in the bags. The biggest test, and most revealing, came last summer during a backpacking trip in the Uintas. Unfortunately, most of our excursion occurred in rainy conditions. While hiking in, I neglected to use my duck cover and my pack got soaked. The only dry items I had were those in the SealLine Storm Sacks. Lesson learned. I was most impressed after my buddy and I left our food bags hanging while out on a day hike. The skies opened up and crapped down sleet and rain and by the inch. We returned to our camp soaking wet and in need of a good meal. He opened his dry sack to find that his food had become saturated. I winced and opened up the Storm Sack to find that there wasn’t a hint of water on the inside. Well done, SealLine.
Sure, the design and function of dry sacks are nearly universal. It seems that the outdoor industry can agree on some things. So why bother writing a review on the Storm Sacks? Because the bottom line is that these are the best storage bags I have ever used. I rubbed mine in sand, mashed them against trees, used them to protect my beloved electronics, and trusted them to keep my dinner dry. They did the job every single time, and after rinsing them off, look exactly how they did when they arrived. Bomber gear, indeed. Surely there must be a high price on such protection, right? Nope. The SealLine bags are priced very competitively, so there is no reason not to grab one before your next trip. If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, you’ll be glad you did.
The Good: Storm Sacks are lightweight, tough, stand up to every condition, and are fairly priced.
The Bad: Nothing. Best storage bag I’ve ever used!
The Verdict: If you need protection from the elements, or simply need a new bear bag for backpacking, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option.