Alpkit Apollo II bags

Parky Again
Reviewed: 28 July 2008

CHEAP WATER RESISTANT BAGS

Cheap
Colour
Usefulness
Light
Simpe

None

Cheap water resistant bag - note water resistant not WATERPROOF (DOH!) as clearly indicated on the Alpkit site so don't forget the bin liner.
Great for organising small or large items for easy retrieval form your bag, isolating smelly or potentially nasty things, keeping sensitive stuff dry.
Greatr value.

Susanne Monka
Reviewed: 25 July 2008

TO KEEP THINGS SORTED

° comes in different sizes and different colours - makes it easier to keep track
° water repellent material - although the seems are not water proof (they are not sold as such) they keeps things dry and dust free if not bathed in it.
° light - maybe not the lightest on the market but do a good job for the standard person
° a very good alternative to using freezing bags or cotton bags - also, if it gets sticky, they are easily cleaned & reusable

mmh... the only real weakness I had so far was that by one bag the seem opened up... that's one out of errr... 12 I think (yes, I use them for all types of things)
Also, be aware, because they are light, they are thin - so, no poky things but otherwise pretty robust

I use them as bags for anything that either should be kept away from other things or need some protection from dust and water (that does not mean, dipping things into water).
Thus, for travelling - smelly cloths & smelly shoes (e.g. climbing shoes)
for hiking - as subdivide in the waterproof bag for dry cloths, food, waterproofs etc.
for work - to keep my USB sticks & external hard drive safe from sudden coffee spill attacks
for anything, where I need a bag and would rather do without a plastic bag (they also make far less noise than a plastic bag)

Lix Toll
Reviewed: 13 July 2007

Beware: NOT waterproof!!!

They look nice and come in useful sizes. Cheap.

Despite the way water simply slips off the siliconised cordura, the seams are not taped and so water can and does enter in from here. What they say on their website about the girl not getting shampoo on her stuff may be a claim too far on this basis!

I used the bags with the intention of keeping kit dry inside a rucksack during a very wet 6 hr day in the Lakes. Putting my faith in these stuff sacks I deliberately did without a bin liner. Consistent rain and the rucksack getting soaked meant that some water entered these bags through the unsealed seams and my dry kit to wear at the Youth Hostel was actually a bit wet. I realise it would be difficult to seal these seams in the same way as e.g. a jacket, but nonetheless: beware if you are relying on these bags 100% to keep kit dry. Alpkit tend to improve kit in subsequent versions e.g. they changed the hood of their sleeping bags based on feedback. Maybe future versions of these bags will be improved. In fairness, I should say that that day in the Lakes it really was peeing down, but hey these bags are UK products made for UK customers!