Grunden Gage Shackelton Duffel Bag Review

Because of our geographical location, Middle Tennessee, not being very close to whitewater, we here at WeStroke do a lot of traveling. Kayaking, SUP, camping, filming, etc also involves a lot of gear. I have been trying to get a handle on the sheer amount of gear that I have now and find better ways to pack and carry it. So I found myself cruising the ol' Interwebz looking for a suitable bag to pack clothes in. The thing is though, I wanted it to be waterproof. This would enable my bag to be stowed in the bed of the truck for those long road trips without fear of rain. It would also keep my gear dry and safe at the campsite when the rains inevitably come through, and allow me to carry gear safely to the river side without fear of waterfall spray, etc.  

After finding a few prospects and reading some reviews, I stumbled upon a Grunden brand Gage Shackelton Duffel Bag that seemed to fit all of my requirements. Grunden is a very respected brand and is used by mariners worldwide. As for the duffel, it's huge. 105 liters huge. This was important because I generally have to pack a lot of clothing for a variety of different conditions. The listing also said it was 100% waterproof with 500d PVC tarpaulin fabric and radio frequency welded seams. Also to help keep water out, it has a roll top closure and compression straps. On top of all that and icing on the cake, it can convert to a backpack when you bring out the hidden straps. Even though it almost sounded too good to be true, I ordered one immediately. 

Click to see the gallery

Let me just tell you, when it arrived, I was not dissapointed in the slightest. The bag is indeed huge and has a caverounous opening. The PVC fabric also really looked like it would keep out the water and was very similar to the higher quality dry bags I have used while kayaking. Also, the backpack straps are not just an afterthought. They are seriously heavy-duty straps with some very nice and comfortable pads to help protect your shoulders. They are there when you need them and if you don't, they can be hidden away in zippered compartments. 

As it turned out, my very first chance to use the bag came immediately after it arrived on one of the wetest weekends we've had in a while. We headed out from Nashville to the Nantahala River near Bryson City, NC for some 5x normal flow kayaking. I stowed the bag in the back of Mike's truck and it rained on us the whole 5 hour trip. I'm not gonna lie, I was a little nervous about all of my gear being in an untested new bag, but it was all for nothing. Upon arriving at camp and inspecting it, everything was perfectly dry. The duffel bag was indespensable for the rest of the trip as well as it continued to rain without stop. 

I really can't say enough about the quality of the Gage Shackelton Duffel Bag. Grunden has really outdone themselves and produced an excellent specialized product. For a kayaker or any other sports enthusiast who is constantly on the move, this is your new best friend. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to trust that your posessions will be safe and sound while you focus on other things. 

To check out this awesome waterproof duffel bag for yourself, go to www.grunden.com. You will not be disappointed.

Pros: 

- 100% waterproof

- 105 liters of space

- Deployable backpack straps

Cons: 

- No inner storage pockets 

Grunden also has a backpack in the same series which I also picked up. Look for a review on it very soon as well! Hint: So far it's awesome!