Let‘s face it, sometimes it‘s fun to get down and dirty. But it’s definitely not as exciting to have your phone, cash, keys, or other valuables getting just as slimy and sopping wet as you are. For this reason, Aquapac has created a comprehensive line of weatherproof and waterproof bags and pouches for carrying everything from laptops and cameras to cell phones and wallets. They are dedicated to making quality products that keep your stuff safe, even when you have that primordial urge to go outdoors during a storm. In fact, they are so confident, they cover everything with a five year warranty.
We recently got our hands on one of their Stormproof Pouches. The first thing you are likely to notice about this small bag is the hot orange color. It will absolutely catch your eye, which could be a great thing. If you drop your valuables in the snow or alongside the trail, it should be pretty easy to see in all but the most extreme situations. If orange isn‘t your thing, they also offer it in a much more relaxed gray.
The next thing most people will notice is the size. The dimensions when closed are roughly 4.5” (11 cm) x 4.5”, which means you can fit an 80GB Classic iPod, but not much else. Most smart phones should be no problem (we tested it with an HTC Droid Eris and had plenty of room to spare). You‘re not going to be fitting a ton of different things in this particular pouch, but you can definitely fit one or two very important things. The included lanyard and ability to put a carabiner through built-in loops makes it easy to keep it close at hand.
Aquapac specifically says that this product is NOT completely waterproof and is only intended to keep rain and mud out (though some of their other products are completely waterproof -take a look at the stuff used for underwater still photos and video on their website). Of course, not wanting to take their word for it, we decided to test it out. The results were pretty surprising. After about 20 seconds of squeezing, sloshing, and otherwise attempting to allow water into the pouch, only a couple of drops made it through the folded seal. When filled with water, the bag will even resist pretty much any attempt to force a couple of drops out. (This could be important to remember, since the roughly 1.5 cups of water it could be used to hold might just save your life in a pinch.) Not too bad for something that isn‘t even supposed to be waterproof.
At $21, this pouch is probably cheaper than buying water damage insurance on just one of your electronic devices, and will likely outlast all of them. Heck, most of us will probably have two or three different phones before the five year warranty expires. That is a pretty good investment no matter how you look at it. You can check out their website at www.aquapac.net, and while you‘re there take a look at some of their other awesome products. Their Stormproof Padded Drybag, which is designed to keep your laptop or iPad from getting damaged in the rain, deserves special attention if you’re considering taking one with you on your next outdoor adventure.
Overall, this cool pouch (and several of Aquapac‘s other products) could find a lot of different uses for various outdoor activities. Having your belongings stowed in this pouch while fishing, hiking, camping, skiing/snowboarding, canoeing, or a host of other activities will buy you some peace of mind and allow you to focus on the point: having fun in the outdoors. Especially if you’re getting a little wet and muddy.
– David
p.s. Look for a review of Aquapac‘s Stormproof Case for iPod and 100% Waterproof Headphones in our upcoming “Wet & Dirty” week.