Review on MIER Waterproof Dry Duffel Bag: Airtight TPU Dry Bag for Outdoor Adventures - Motorcycle, Kayaking, Rafting, Skiing, Travel, Hiking, Camping by Brandon Show

I purchased this bag after seeing the Yeti Panga and NRS Expedition zippered dry bags on a recent raft trip. I really wanted to like this bag because I need a quick way to access my gear and keep it dry. Unfortunately I will send it back and explain why. It's a decent bag, but at over $100 it should be a bit heavier. I'd love to try it and see if it works, but I tend to just spend more for a prettier bag the first time and not bother. Although the build quality (stitching, seams, handles, drawstrings) of this bag appears to be durable, the TPU fabric is very thin and the zipper is single-breasted and lightweight. The lightning worries me the most. Zipper: A zipper is most likely the first thing to break on a stuff sack or padded fridge. Yeti and other quality companies use the German-made TIZIP zipper, which has proven to be durable, while the cheaper Chinese zippers are no good. It's easy to understand what I'm talking about by looking at them side by side. This pouch has one row of closely spaced teeth instead of two rows of larger teeth. I doubt this zipper will stand up to heavy use on long rafting trips. On the other hand, the zipper is at the top of the bag and doesn't open as wide as others I've seen. This means finding gear in a loaded bag will be a bit harder. Fabric: TPU coated nylon fabric is also much thinner than intended. As you can see in my picture in the bag, the light goes straight through the material, which is about 5 or 6 sheets of regular printer paper thick. It doesn't appear to have built in rip-stop webbing, what might start as a small tear will likely widen very quickly. The other bags I put my hands on were much thicker fabrics. This is important when transporting loads that a 90 liter bag can carry and also when dragging the bag over sometimes uneven surfaces when unloading gear on rocks and gravel when sailing the river. This bag has some positive qualities that I need. let's say very quickly. That's why I gave three stars and not below. I really like the materials used for the straps and bands as they are of very good quality. The welds on this bag look great and reinforcing stress points with an extra layer of fabric makes a big difference. An exterior waterproof zippered pocket is a great feature that most other pockets don't have, allowing you quick access to your phone or camera while still being protected from water. The mesh pocket inside is also handy for organizing small items. The non-slip pads on the bottom of the bag are a nice and important feature, although a molded EVA bottom would be better and would shape the bag when unloaded. Thoughts, but at $120, I'd rather not risk it. Instead I spent a little more on the NRS Expedition (I bought it on sale for around $150) and I know it will last. If MIER would like to send me a test bag, I will check it and revise the evaluation with this information, maybe my quality concerns will be invalidated.