Review on 🎒 Rockagator Waterproof Backpack - 40L HYDRIC Series Floating Dry Bag River Pack for Canoeing, Kayaking, or Rafting by Brian Whitmore

Waterproof bags and backpacks have proven their worth. Most of them work well out of the box. But signs of wear start to show at the end of the first few weeks in the Boundary Waters canoe area, and by the fourth or fifth year of a wilderness hike, most waterproof bags - and in my experience, backpacks in particular - start to wear out. I consider waterproof bags and backpacks camping supplies - good for three or four years, but not ten or twenty like Osprey backpacks or MSR stoves. The problem lies in their design. They're supposed to be waterproof, but waterproofing requires rubberized fabric and welded, not stitched, seams. So I have had cases of bags getting damaged due to 100% DEET mosquito repellent being spilled in and eating through the rubber, shoulder straps ripping out of the rubber patch they are sewn to, other straps ripping etc. OK. This bag is unusual in several ways. First, the straps and suspension elements seem to be of better quality than other waterproof backpacks I've had. Second, the manufacturer declares a lifetime guarantee on all straps and mounts. Third, there is a padded inner laptop sleeve that attaches to the inside of the bag with Velcro. Overall, the design of this bag seems more thoughtful than others I've had. Here are additional thoughts on this bag: 1) The rubber webbing is thinner and more flexible than the material in many other bags of this type I've had. 2) There is a waist belt, but it's a thin piece of nylon and not lined at all. 3) When folded and rolled up, there is a strap to hold a tent or sleeping bag over a closed backpack. Unfortunately, it's a single strap in the middle that isn't as convenient for holding items as the two straps, one on each side of the pack. Hiking, this backpack is more convenient and better suited for outdoor transport and the like than many waterproof backpacks. 6) This is apparently not a Chinese one-day stamp. Although the bags are made in China, it looks like the American company wants to create an established American brand that speaks for quality. 7) Numerous attachment points, not all usable with straps, and quality tie-down straps. 8) Having seen the same type of mesh side pockets wear out on cheaper waterproof backpacks, I'm not sure about the durability of water bottle pockets. Also, I don't like the handle at the top of this bag. I had the same broken handle on another bag. So I'm cautiously optimistic about this bag, but time will tell and I intend to come back and update this review after using this bag in Frontier Waters.