Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Anyone tried this Salamander Pop-Top Throw Bag?
http://www.outdoorplay.com/store/Produc ... =ESA_SLPTM

Two most important features of rescue throw bags:
1. That you have one with you. all the rest is just details.
2. That you can throw it far enough and accurate enough to hit your target.

Salamander makes nice bags in a variety of designs and variety of ropes. 70 feet is what we normally recommend in our rescues clinics. If the 5/16 rope is the largest you can handle, it's better than smaller sizes, and not as good as the 3/8 we normally recommend. The 5/16 polypro rope is strong enough for pulling in a single swimmer, kinda hard to hold but will work. It isn't strong enough for haul work, but that's OK because your first rope should be for people first and match criteria 1 and 2 above.

I got one of there bags a while back from here:

http://www.urbanhart.com/shopsite/outdo ... tbags.html

The 5/16 comes in spectra and if you forgo the poptop bag it comes in a fair bit cheaper.

Yeah...I actually did run across that site at some point yesterday...I went ahead and ordered the one I posted above. I have a lifetime membership at Outdoorplay, so I get a 15% discount and free shipping from them.

I carry that bag, have used it, and am pleased with it. I keep a screw type locking biner on the end of it.

RomanLA, this is rather late input as I just found your post. Jim and Tim Jones and I have used these bags in our rescue workshops. Salamander has been making quality bags for a long time, being among the first to have the widemouth style for easier re-stuffing. Cylindrical shaped bags like this throw well, and the mesh allows draining to prevent the bag from bucketing so much when dragging in the water. A disadvantage of the 5/16'' size--smaller diameter makes it harder for both swimmer and belayer to grasp. Also, while the 1000 lb. tensile would be fine for retrieving a swimmer, it would be limited in a serious haul system.

Tim Jones is a dealer for Sterling rope and sews thro-bags, if you are intereted. He can make one to your specifications. Go to this webpage--www.whitewatersolutions.net/ to see one and to send him an email. Also, there are articles discussing rational for the length, strength, and size of the line used in thro-bags. Of course, of the items paddlers carry, a thro-bag is our number one rescue tool.

Another vote of confidence in throw bags made by Tim.

Very hi quality and made exactly the way I wanted them made.

I have two of Tim's bag, one with the heavy rope and one with the smaller rope.

A nice touch is Tim sews in your name on your bag.


check them out!