Practical Sailor has looked at various dry bags over the years, so our testers have had plenty of opportunity to explore what works and what doesn’t. This experience extends not only to the world of sailing, but also in the wide range of outdoor sports that our testers enjoy (kite boarding, kayaking, climbing, wind-surfing, backpacking, etc.).
Recent Practical Sailor reviews of various bags include:
“Dry Bag Backpack,” PS October 2005.
“A Slam Dunk,” PS December 2007.
“Boat Bags: Watershed, SealLine Dominate; West a Best Buy,” PS July 2001.
“Abandon Ship Bags: Don’t Leave the Boat Without Them.” PS February 2001.
- The Gill and Mantus backpacks design similarities are obvious. One difference is the material. The Gill is made of PVC, and the Mantus is mostly polyurethane. Each have pros and cons, and material alone is not the factor that will determine a bag’s long life or utility.
- The Gill dry bag stays dry inside. The zippered outside pocket is handy, but it leaked a few drops during testing. The pocket is described as water-resistant, not waterproof.
- With its webbing closure folded once ( a 1/2 turn), the Gill bag offers maximum volume. Testers found it kept out spray and rain with this closure. For extra measure, the closure can be folded multiple times, sacrificing a little volume with each fold.
- When packing dry bags, try to keep hardware and other hard objects in the middle. The fabric is tough, but why push it?
