Granite Gear Uberlight CTF3 Dry Sack : A Real Trip Saver

I'm not a backpacker, just a mere hiker. So, I've never thought much about dry sacks because I'm rarely out in the elements long enough to worry about the contents of my day pack. Then I tested a Granite Gear's Uberlight CTF3 dry sack during a recent trip to the rain forest and realized what I was missing.

For an afternoon in the Olympic National Forest, I wanted to keep it simple so I took a small, lightweight pack. I stowed my gear--a long-sleeved merino top, a headlamp, a digital camera, a packet of tissues, a fleece hat, some gloves, and a couple of Lara bars--in a 7-liter Granite Gear Uberlight CTF3 dry sack. I was surprised that so many items fit. To close the bag all I had to do was roll the top down and join the click-shut ends together. Then I was off.

I left for a hike to a waterfall at around 11 a.m., then ended up going off trail to forage for mushrooms. I was in and out of the Uberlight CTF3 dry sack a couple of times to get at my gear and snacks, and was relieved every time to find the contents completely dry. By the end of the day I was wet and cold because water had leaked in under my collar and soaked my shirt. My pack was completely drenched (and because nothing dries in the rain forest it stayed that way until I made it back to Seattle the next evening), but all my gear was still dry.

I ended up not making it back to my campsite until almost 9p.m., by which time I was pretty miserable. I hadn't minded the constant drizzle, or even the short periods of heavier rain, during the day but standing in the rain while my partner made a fire (yes, you can make a camp fire in the rain) and then cooked dinner was agony. I was freezing. So, I was glad I'd used the dry sack because by the time I was able to get in the tent, I had a dry shirt to wear.

The next day my pack was still wet, so even though it wasn't raining I used the dry sack. Again, the ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight material kept my gear dry for more than 12 hours. I was impressed.

I love hiking, but it's obviously been awhile since I was out in bad weather. Using Granite Gear's Uberlight CTF3 dry sack helped me relearn a very important lesson: if I'm going to be outdoors for more than a few hours I need to have dry gear at the end of the trail. When not in use, the Uberlight CTF3 sack folds down flat and small for easy storage. Since it weighs almost nothing there's no reason NOT to use one!

Granite Gear Uberlight CTF3 dry sacks come in four different sizes (7, -10-, 13-, and 18-liter) and colors. Granite Gear makes a variety of packs and bags for the outdoors, as well as outdoor gear for dogs.

Bottom Line: The Granite Gear Uberlight CTF3 sacks are durable and effective, and they're not just for hard-core outdoor adventurers. If you're going to spend time in the rain, you need one of these fabulous bags.--E.D.(Oct. '10)

BUY ONLINE: $38.95-48.95, click to shop . Click to shop at Backcountry.

Manufacturer's Site: www.granitegear.com

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