Gear Bag

[RomanLA]

I'm looking for a good gear bag, so I can just grab my bag and paddle and be ready to go to the put in. I've checked a few online shopping sites and they only one I saw was at Jackson Kayak. Anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks!
http://www.jacksonkayak.com/store/produ ... ct=gearbag

[Jim Krueger]

I don't usually advocate the purchase of anything from Wal-Mart, however they do have a bag that has both 'fit the bill' and remained sturdy over the years of use and abuse. They have a large black mesh bag made of nylon, with straps and draw cords. Not in Sporting Goods, rather in the Laundry Dept. about 5-6 bucks.
I recommend them.

Best Regards
Jim

[Cowper]

I also like the simple mesh bags - they seem to get as much or more use than my fancy zippered ones.

I like having more than one. Even if everything fits into one, after you get off the river, you can segregate, keeping your wet stuff in one and the stuff that is still dry or only slightly damp in the second one.

NRS (www.nrsweb.com) has them, about $16 for the large bag, then $6 to ship, but the shipping is the same whether you buy one or three. Jim's option is cheaper, if you're close to a Wally world.

Or, I think you could get what I think is the same bag for $7 + shipping from www.diversdirect.com. Hum, let me think, what would I do...

Diver's direct also has some other bags with more features, but their web site is weak on description, you'll have to google the names and get more complete descriptions somewhere else.

[RomanLA]

I didn't think about a dive shop...might go check out the local shop tomorrow. The wal-mart bag would definitely work though. I bought one bag at Academy to use before my dry bags came in that was pretty decent. They had a bunch of sizes, but I don't remember just how big they got.

[RandyJ]

Years ago, I bought one of Stohlquist's WDG bags (wet, dry, gross sections). Not sure they still make it any more, but it has served very well over the years, including long road trips and one international.

Minimalist approach - a small loop of cord - prussik loop if you have a rescue kit. I take it and a 'biner and clip everyting to it. I usually keep the shortie or drytop on its own hanger for TLC, but the main kit goes on the loop. Especially handy for the shuttle. Just grab your kit and go. Clip it all back together after the run. No more digging through all the wet gear in the back of somebody's rig. Can also be slung over the paddle shaft and easily carried hobo-style on a walk-in/walk-out.

Not an either-or deal. Both have their uses.

[Crane]

As to the "Walmart" with a shoulder strap, I have owned several. Though the price is right, the straps seem not made to handle the load of all the gear I feel is necessary... and they pull loose. I've had much better experience with the simple draw-string bags from there. However, my favorite is the NRS mesh bag that zips. It's strong, allows gear to dry, and is convenient to get stuff into and out of... I carried mine strapped to a tube on my raft for 18 days recently and it worked very well. Don Jackson, at Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters would be happy to sell you one or order one for you... no shipping.

[RomanLA]

As to the "Walmart" with a shoulder strap, I have owned several. Though the price is right, the straps seem not made to handle the load of all the gear I feel is necessary... and they pull loose. I've had much better experience with the simple draw-string bags from there. However, my favorite is the NRS mesh bag that zips. It's strong, allows gear to dry, and is convenient to get stuff into and out of... I carried mine strapped to a tube on my raft for 18 days recently and it worked very well. Don Jackson, at Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters would be happy to sell you one or order one for you... no shipping.

Are you talking about this bag? I just ordered a DVD from Outdoorplay, so I called and had them add it to my order. I have a lifetime membership, so I get 15% off and free shipping.

[Crane]

That appears to be like them...

[Jim Krueger]

That NRS gear bag is good-looking, more functional, and surely better constructed, I'll have to put one on my Christmas list. :) I haven't had any problems with the laundry bags from Wal-Mart. To be fair, I seldom use the single strap on them, rather just cinch the drawstrings, grab the top and foist my equipment into the garage or into the truck. I fill mine to more than brimming and have never had any problems with the drawstrings and or their locking slides, or the mesh material of the body of the bag itself.
In collecting the gear I use in paddling, I have always wanted to have the best and most durable items for use on the water, things that will stay with me 'in a pinch'. Since I don't use my gear bags on the river, I figure the one's I'm using will never let me down in the serious way that say, cheap footwear or, (insert other vital equipment here) might.

Best Regards
Jim

[okieboater]

I like the StahlSac bags that I usually pick up at NOC

They come in sizes, the large size is my standard bag

I have a couple that have been around prolly 20 years now and it is hard to tell the difference between them and the ones I purchased this year.

I have a bunch of these bags and never seem to have enough of them. the smaller sizes also make good dirty clothes bags for regular trips

[Crane]

In support of Jim's comments, I've found it to be a better idea to spend the extra money for better paddling equipment the first purchase... comfort and reliability mean a lot to me and spending a little extra for good gear means you don't have to suffer until the cheaper stuff breaks or wears out & you can justify replacing it with what you should have bought to start with!!

[okieboater]

Here is a tip that kind of relates to these gear bags.

I like to have one of the big StahlSac mesh bags or the Wal*Mart version (yup, I ended up in Taos NM one time without my mesh bag and yup Taos has a WallyWorld) stashed in my kayak.

It is a good thing to immediately toss all your gear you are not gonna wear back up to the putin, into a mesh bag at the take out. This makes it easy to keep track of your gear on the ride back to the put in. That is one reason I buy and have several of the big mesh bags.

If I do not have my mesh bag at the take out, I put all my gear on my kayak till I pack up, then stuff it into my dry top and kind of make a bundle out of the dry top sleeves etc. You can stuff the gear either into the kayak or it helps keep stuff together in what ever car or truck you ride back up in.

an alternate method is to use a 'biner to clip things together or use helmet or PFD straps to clip every thing or as much as you can together.

Here is why I do this. Several years ago I got to the Cemetary take out on the Mulberry ahead of the group. Took my relatively new Gore Tex dry suit off and hung it on a tree to dry while I waited for the rest to get there. Tree was a few yards off the parking lot. In the confusion later, I left that Gore Tex suit on the tree. Went back later and it was gone. I was told a couple of local 4 wheelers had found it and traded it off for a case of beer to a buddy for use as a rain suit.

Since that time, I either use the mesh bag trick or the every thing touches the kayak (or canoe ) routine to keep my gear together and easier to pack up, and have not lost anything since.

Please learn from my prior actions!!!!

[Clif]

Gee, Okiewan! Next time you wanna give away a goretex drysuit.....PICK ME! PICK ME!!

[Jim Krueger]

Being the fisherman that I am... I failed to mention the fatal 'magnetism' that fishing lures and mesh bags have for one another. It's bad behavior at it's best :twisted:
This leads back to the discussion or river knives and their utility :)

Worthlessly Yours
Jim

[okieboater]

Hey Clif,

That incident is when I started the mesh bag or everything either in or touching my kayak. Expensive lesson!

I learned my lesson and hopefully will not repeat that one.