The Palm Equipment River Trek Drybag is a tough, waterproof, roll down, back pack, drybag. Designed to be big enough to swallow up all your gear and tough enough for any adventure. It has padded shoulder straps for hauling kit long distances and tough handles for throwing it around and straping it down.
Palm have made several iterations of the River Trek Drybag over the years and they have always been my go to kit bags. They keep my kit clean and dry as I head to the water, pack away small enough when I'm on the water and then keep me and the vehicle clean and dry when I throw my soaking wet kit in at the end of the day to take home. Wether that's my local paddling venue or traveling to and from an exotic paddling destination.
In the latest River Trek, Palm have ditched the traditional PVC coating and used a smart looking Polyurethane to coat the 420D fabric. Polyurethane is one of the better plastics to use in place of PVC, which gives off toxins during manufacture, use and disposal. Making the bag from polyurethane also means they can weld the seams of the bag rather than traditional glueing. This helps to keep the weight down and makes the bag more supple when you want to roll it up small. The base of the bag is reinforced with a tough 500D Cordura and the straps and handles have double stiched reinforced seams.
I have found the bag tough enough to be used as a changing mat in the carpark and yet supple enough to fold away in my boat with my dry clothes inside it. With several years of this daily abuse it still looks smart and clean and has resisted the tears and cuts that normally get picked up along the way. The adjustable padded straps are comfortable when carrying gear long distance's but tighten up nice and close to the bag when you want them out of the way. The stiching where the straps join the bag shows no signs of giving way and I haven't managed to break any of the buckles yet.
The River Trek Drybag is available in 50, 75, 100 and 125 litre sizes. I find the 50L ideal for going light with summer kit, 75L or 100L are suitable for everyday use the rest of the year, while the 125L is great for longer trips away.
The River Trek Drybags are available in the UK for:
- 50L - RRP £95 £66.50 at Shore
- 75L - RRP £105 £73.50 at Shore
- 100L - RRP £110 £94.00 at Escape Watersports
- 125L - RRP £120 £102 at Escape Watersports
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By Philip Clegg
With over two decades of working in the sea kayaking industry, Phil can be found on a daily basis coaching on the sea around Anglesey. That's when he's not researching and writing on all things sea kayaking.