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Earth Pak waterproof bag
The model tested for the Earth pak bag is the 35-liter version, which seems to me to be the right size for day-long fishing sessions, while keeping the bag on your back at all times.
The dimensions of the bag are 36x48x23 centimetres, enough to hold a good camera, tripod, clothing and a few boxes of lures or flies of all sizes.
This bag is available in two other capacities, 55 and 85 liters, depending on the quantity of equipment you wish to take along, and the nature of your trip.
Empty, it weighs 1.13 kilograms, which is normal as waterproof canvas is heavier than fabric. To begin with, its solidity seems fine, and there's nothing broken or detached yet.
The only thing you need to be careful of is when laying it on the ground, so as not to animate the canvas underneath.
It has two shoulder straps and two belly straps to distribute the weight. Comfort-wise, it's satisfactory, and I have no complaints after two weeks of wearing it.
There's even a strap on top for attaching a fishing rod or tube.
I had no shoulder or lower back pain. It's lightly padded in the back, but doesn't have a hard bottom like a conventional backpack. As a result, you feel every object misplaced in the bottom of the bag on your back. So you have to be careful how you organize your gear, because once the bag is on your back, you come into contact with its interior.
In terms of organization, this bag has one large pocket and two small ones.
There's a small outside pocket on the front, ideal for holding a few accessories.
There's another pocket inside, except this one is directly on the back, so you can't put sharp objects like keys in it.
Finally, the large pocket isn't the easiest thing in the world to fetch an item, but on the other hand, it's roomy enough to carry a good quantity of stock.
Earth Pak offers its bag in five colors: blue, green, yellow, gray and black.
Finally, the big question is: is this bag really waterproof?
To test this point, I tested it in three ways. The first was to leave it in heavy rain. The second is to put it on the water to imitate a fall and the last is to submerge the bottom, to simulate a fishing action with water coming over the belly.
Please note that this bag is waterproof, not submersible! In all three cases, I didn't notice any leaks, so its waterproofing is good.
I've also tested this bag in salt water, taking care to rinse it, and the absence of metal parts means that it stays as good as new, even with the salt's aggressiveness. The only metal part protected by paint is the front pocket closure. Under these conditions, I've also noticed that the canvas dries very quickly.
My opinion
The Earth Pak bag isn't the most comfortable or the easiest to organize, but it's perfectly waterproof. So, before opting for this solution, you need to ask yourself what you want most from your backpack: waterproofing, comfort or storage.
It's perhaps better suited to carrying soft stock, like clothes, rather than hard stuff, although for my part, it does the job just fine! In any case, if you take the time to organize yourself properly, with boxes or kits, it does the job perfectly.
If waterproofing wins the day, then this bag will meet your expectations! What's more, its price of ?51.99 is affordable, as a bag of this quality often requires a bigger budget.
Earth Pak waterproof backpack
- Dimensions: 35.56 x 48.26 x 22.86 centimetres
- Weight: 1.13 kilograms
- Capacity: 35 liters
- Price: ?51.99
- Warranty: 5 years
