![]() ![]() The Osprey Transporter Waterproof Duffel is impressively lightweight and rugged, and IPX7 certified, but in my own test the sample wasn’t quite waterproof. ![]() The dampness wasn’t enough to ruin your camping kit but it could ruin your laptop – my caution had been wise. Instead I think moisture had soaked through the orangey red upper fabric. There was no sign of a leak, the zip and seams didn’t look to have let in water. I then let the bag air-dry, so opening it wouldn’t let water in. I settled for it floating upside-down, so the zip got a good dunking. It still floated, but a bit lower in the water. You have to open the zip a bit to get the air out because the bag is virtually airtight when closed. I put it in a pool, aiming to test its IPX7 rating of 1m deep for 30 minutes, but no matter how much I compressed it to expel air, the bag floated, even when full of weighty newspapers. I went with a colossal pile of old newspapers. Did I fill it with wads of cash, my laptop and the family photo album? Hell no. Did I feel confident of its waterproofing after studying the design and build quality? Yes. The moment of truth came with testing its waterproofing. But I would check it as hold luggage in the knowledge that it will still look handsome when a bit beaten up. I wouldn’t drag it along the ground intentionally, for fear of compromising its waterproofing. The bag is handsome in a premium, outdoorsy way. The fact that these bags are premium products helps, but also people who climb mountains and ride rapids experience the environment at close quarters, so they demand manufacturers take it seriously. Outdoors brands like Osprey are ahead of the high street on sustainability. This focus on making products that last is of huge eco importance. It also benefits from Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee, which covers you against manufacturing defects for the bag’s ‘reasonable lifetime’. Materials are tough and sustainable: recycled and bluesign-approved 630D diamond ripstop, high tenacity nylon, PFC-free and double-coated with durable TPU for extreme abrasion resistance. I found that I could even cross them diagonally to compress the bag’s contents. The design is versatile: if you don’t like the pouch, you can remove it and use the straps without. The compression straps come looped through a flat mesh pouch, perfect for storing documents (A5 fits easily) and valuables. ![]() The bag’s interior is simple but has a set of four internal compression straps, halfway up, that can be used to help stow your stuff securely while taking pressure off the main zip. Open, the zip allows good access for packing and unpacking. Beyond the usual run of zip teeth, there’s a notch at the end for the head of the zip to click into. The oversized tag on the zip means you can even open or close it with gloves on. There’s a Velcro handle to hold the two straps together for hand-carrying in comfort, but there’s no shoulder strap… if you want to carry it on your shoulder, wear it like a rucksack instead.Ī single, chunky black YKK AquaSeal zip runs the length of the duffel’s top. You can remove the two straps, because they’re attached to simple, non-corroding aluminium fittings, but it’s hard to see why you would. They lack the fancy adjustability or horizontal (chest, hip) straps of a large rucksack, but they’re more ergonomic than carrying the duffel any distance by hand. On the top are two large, adjustable, padded straps that can be used to lift it as a duffel or wear the bag as a rucksack. Yes, this is a bag designed to be lashed to a canoe. Multiple lash points make it easy to attach your kit or tie the bag to a vehicle, raft or pack animal. Reinforced grab handles at each end let you lug it. A rucksack of the same capacity can weigh twice as much, or more. If Ryanair gives me 20kg (and 70 litres is perfect for 20kg) I want to minimise how much of that weight is the bag itself. That matters when it’s on your back and also when negotiating budget airlines’ baggage allowances. ![]() The first thing I noticed on unpacking was how ridiculously light the bag is. The other colour is called Tunnel Vision Grey but is nearly black. In the photos it looks glossy red but it is definitely orangey. I tested the mid-sized, 70 litre Transporter Duffel WP 70 in a colour called Mars Orange. This is rare for a dry bag and means it’s been tested to be submersible 1m deep for 30 minutes. It’s available in three sizes: 40 litres (£220), 70 litres (£250) and 100 litres (£270), so it’s not cheap. It’s billed as waterproof luggage, with welded seams and a waterproof zip. This duffel bag is cute and lightweight but what sets it apart from the pack is the waterproofing. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |