Posts Tagged waterproof
Hummingbird Carry-On Zip Travel Bag
Save your clothes from getting soaked on your next water-based vacation. Whether you’re cruising, paddling, or lounging by a river, your black wheelie just can’t do the job when it comes to keeping the water out. Keep your gear waterproof with the Hummingbird Carry-On Zip travel bag.
The 40-liter capacity duffel is rugged enough to join you on extreme adventures, but it’s also convenient to use on a coastal vacation. The 1-pound, 9-ounce bag is lightweight—more than many waterproof bags of the same size. Most importantly, it’ll save your clothes from getting soaked.
The welded seams and waterproof zipper make the bag perfectly functional in wet conditions. And let’s face it, when you’re on vacation, dry clothes are a key to happiness—unless you’re swimming.
The diagonal zipper allows easy access to all your clothes, and the soft sides make it easy to fit the bag into a kayak hatch or an overhead bin. The strap is attached on three sides—so you can carry it by hand or on your shoulders. For those who are actively around water on trips, whether it’s just a weekend or even longer, this is more than just your standard dry bag. Those aren’t the easiest to carry, and the straps on this bag make it much more convenient to carry and use as a travel bag.
I’ve taken it on a trip to Kauai, where I spent a lot of time on the water (on a catamaran and SUP). I’ve also used it on shorter, coastal trips in California–where I needed something waterproof for kayaking.
It’s not black, but the bright yellow color will help you identify it on the baggage carousel, if you do happen to check it. There is a larger, 75-liter version for those who have a lot of gear and don’t mind checking it.
The Hummingbird Carry-On Zip Travel Bag lists for $149.95 on the Cascade Designs website or check prices at Amazon.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on May 4th, 2012
Vasque Talus UltraDry Boots
It’s always great to find super-lightweight hiking shoes, which pack easily for a trip. But when it rains or you have to walk through marshy conditions, the mesh in those boots tend not to be much of a barrier against water. To keep your feet dry, bring along the Vasque Talus UltraDry boots.
The waterproof lining in the Talus boots keeps your feet dry while you’re sloshing through the city streets or the wilderness. And while they’re sturdier than the lightweight shoes that leave your socks soggy, at a pound each, these boots won’t add much weight to your bags.
The Vibram Nuasi outsole provides solid traction on a variety of surfaces. I used them on dusty trails, river-slick rocks and rain-soaked grasslands. When I had to do a little trailblazing, the nubuck upper kept the shoes from getting snags in the heavy brush. And for those concerned about ankle support, the padded collar provides stable ankle support for all your adventures.
The Talus boots are comfortable as well, with a cushy insole that allows plenty of mileage without having to rub your aching feet. And at the end of the day, those feet will still be dry, which is a major key to travel happiness.
Vasque Talus UltraDry Boots list for $150 at Zappos. It’s also available at REI. Both sites carry the men’s version of the boot, as well.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear on April 27th, 2012
Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser Shell
I’ve field tested a good number of jackets and shells this winter, so when the Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser arrived on the scene (just in time for spring), I have to admit to being a bit blasé. After all, once you’ve seen one waterproof shell, you’ve seen them all, right?
Wrong. (But you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?) So what sets the Cloud Chaser apart? Three things: feel, portability, and price.
Feel:
Unlike some waterproof shells that can be stiff and unyielding, the Cloud Chaser feels almost supple, and you certainly have full movability. The Dri-Tec material is soft and breathable while still being completely seam-sealed. In fact, at first glance, I doubted the Cloud Chaser could be truly waterproof, because it’s not slick like a rain jacket or ‘rubbery’ like the ski shells I’m used to, and it’s extremely lightweight. I put it to the ultimate test: two hours on the sidelines of a kids’ soccer match in the driving Oregon rain…in March. No water got through this shell. Again, I’ll admit it: I was surprised, and impressed.
The outer shell is polyester ripstop and the lining is nylon, but because of the ventilation zips, you don’t sweat in it like you would in a traditional rain jacket. You’ll want layers under the Chaser in extreme temperatures, but on mild spring days with light drizzle, you could wear it over a single layer and be comfortable.
Portability:
The feature of the Chaser getting the most attention is the fact that it ‘packs into its own pocket’. At first, I wondered what exactly this meant: did the Cloud Chaser come with a drawstring pouch of some sort? Did the hood convert to a pocket? Turns out, it’s nothing that complicated. They mean exactly what they say: you can roll up the shell and stuff it right into one of its own front pockets. I tried it, and it does indeed work (shrinking to just a little bigger than the size of a softball.) I left the Chaser stuffed overnight, just to see how it would pack for a trip, and while it was marginally wrinkled when I took it out the next day, the wrinkles shook out within the first twenty minutes or so of wear. The hood is oversized (so it will fit over a helmet or thick beanie), and rolls up to be packed away at the back of the collar when you don’t need it. There’s a nice drawcord cinch at the bottom, and you can adjust the fit at the wrists, too. All the pockets and ventilation slits have waterproofed zippers/closures.
Price:
The fact that the Cloud Chaser is only $99 restores my faith that a quality waterproof shell doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The price makes it possible to add this shell as a travel piece you’ll use again and again, and reach for at home for walks, light hikes, and, if you’re me, endless soccer matches. The women’s Cloud Chaser comes in four colors (two of which are two-toned): Sprout/November, Haze/November, Dover, and Black. Pick one up at Amazon or the Hi-Tec online store. Discount online sites like ShoeBuy have a nice selection of colors and sizes as well.
See more Hi-tec product reviews
Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on March 27th, 2012
Innate Mentor Organizer Dry Sacks
Dry sacks that keep the water off your valuables haven’t typically been a travel item; they’ve been an excursion item. Something the guides bring along for the river rafting trip, or something bulky that sits in a storage compartment on a Zodiac boat in the Galapagos. That’s because they’ve typically been rugged and bulky.
Those of us who aren’t using a dry sack every day though can fare quite well with these thin, easy-to-pack dry storage bags from Innate.
These lightweight urethane pouches are billed as “organizer sacks,” probably because they don’t want you to take them out whitewater rafting on a regular basis. They’re meant more for keeping your valuables dry in wet or damp situations, like when you’d get caught in the rain or hiking through the jungle. Or just when your backpack gets thrown on top of a bus for travel to the next town in India or Africa.
They’re about the thickness of a super-lightweight nylon raincoat. But they have a great roll-and-clip closure at the top and the fabric itself isn’t going to let in any moisture. The seams are heat-welded closed, not secured with less permanent seam tape. There are two layers of protection: a laminate on the inside and a coating on the outside.
A one-way compression valve is a nice touch as this lets you squeeze out all the excess air when putting these inside your luggage. (And to keep them from floating/blowing away as easily.) That two-tone effect you see in the image is from a see-through window on the front. You can see what’s inside without opening it up.
I packed one of these on a recent trip but never got wet. So I’ve mainly been using them when taking my inflatable kayak out on the water near where I live. With one of these I can toss in my phone and wallet without worrying that I’ll ruin them if, oh, I get bumped over by a manatee or something. I was a little afraid of testing them hard with those things inside though, so I stuffed each of the three pouches with rags, cotton balls, and socks then held them under water for five minutes. Everything was bone dry when I opened the bags, so I think these will do fine in a drizzle for sure.
The price is right on these Innate Organizer Sacks: $4o list for a pack of three and even less if you get them online. You get a 2-liter, 3-liter, and 5-liter version.
Unfortunately these are easier to find in the company’s native Canada than in the U.S. But some independent retailers have them—see the dealer locator on their product page. Or you can order from Amazon Canada or Amazon USA.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on March 8th, 2012
The JIMI compact wallet
JIMI wallets
As bright as the flavors in an ice cream store, the colors on these durable, water-resistant wallets are mood-lifting for those looking for something a little whimsical. The company calls these wallets, “the wallet for people who hate wallets,” indicating the attention to detail in the simple design of the JIMI.
These wallets are crafted from recycled US-made materials giving them an eco-friendly edge (the company even donates a portion of wallet sales to green charities), and they come at an affordable price point of under $16.
There are a variety of wallets from the simple versions to carry credit cards, licenses, or money to the more tech-savvy version with a pouch for a memory stick.
Slim-fitting, they don’t bulge out of your pocket like some wallets tend to do, but that is also because you cannot over stuff these compact wallets either. The shell is translucent allowing you to see what cards you have in your wallet without having to fiddle around for them while in line at the check out counter. Since they are water-resistant, they are perfect for frequent travelers (no need to worry about leather or suede getting ruined in the rain or on a boat) or busy moms who can just throw them into a diaper bag.
Another benefit of the translucent skin is that your identification card can be seen without removing it. True, the persnickety TSA people will still make you take it out, but a simple ID check at the grocery store, a restaurant, hotel, or at work is now one step easier. An optional lanyard can easily string through the wallet for those who prefer to wear it around their neck.
These wallets are available at a variety of retailers, at Amazon, and also on the company’s website www.TheJimi.com. Stand out from the crowd and spice up your wardrobe with these clever, colorful accessories. Some people may choose to buy several to color coordinate with their wardrobe, and at these cheap prices…why not?
Posted by Ramsey in Kids and Family, Travel Light on February 27th, 2012
