Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

This bit of gear is intended for touring/sea kayakers but some times you get a bit of equipment that is so good you just have to share it with others. You never know you might just fancy a bit of kayak touring some time to go along with your usual open boating.

A bit of background before we get to the goodies. As some of you will know I paddle a folbot touring kayak. This is aimed fair and square at someone who wants to be able to pack camping gear. The airbags that come with the boat are basic to say the least and of course when you are loading the kayak for camping you are pushed to fit in floatation on top of the camping gear.

Some time ago I heard about an airbag from the USA that doubled up as a drybag; the Watershed Futa Stowfloat. Reviews were good but the price tag was a bit to steep to justify. Then the gods smiled and I managed to burst an airbag I already had my justification for the new bag lined up

The first thing you notice on taking the bag out of its pack is the quality -
this is going to stand up to some heavy use.



The bag is constructed from heavy duty fabric topped with a patented closure system much like a freezer bag but beefed up



The bag will take plenty of gear - this is just a sample with no attempt to fill it up.



By the very nature of its shape it makes sense to plan stowing to fill up the narrow end.



After filling up as required the top is snapped together and the bag inflated with the attached tube



Easy peasy and only takes a few puffs.

Should you want to synch the bag down there are various clips to reduce the size down, though I can't think why you would want to do this



The clips of course double up as attachment points to secure the bag in the boat. They are backed up with D rings for additional options.

The end result of course is a bag filled with gear where all the remaining space is filled up with air. As the bag fills the back of my boat, and for most kayaks would overfill it, this makes the maximum use of the space under the rear deck. It's suggested that the bag is inflated once inside the boat but I found this wasn't necessary. On top of what's shown stowed in the picture above I could have comfortably got a sleeping bag in as well. You would tend to use this bag for gear that wasn't going to be used during the day though opening and resealing is quick and easy.

After a mornings paddling with the usual amount of dampness in the boat the gear inside was bone dry, though I would always double pack gear that really mustn't get wet.

The heritage of the technology behind this and the companies other bags is in rafting where it's assumed bags will get wet. You can find out more here

Quality of this sort doesn't come cheap. A bit of googling though found me a 50% discount on the usual price at Up and Under
whose delivery was within 2 days.

A great bit of gear which I am well chuffed with.

Looks like a good bit of kit Alan, well reviewed too will the airbag at the other end be springing a leak

(13-09-08 06:28 PM)Retro Wrote: [ -> ]Looks like a good bit of kit Alan, well reviewed too will the airbag at the other end be springing a leak

Now would I do such a thing

Now I'm confused; should we name the airbags after you are just stick to the stools?