Quipco Aquashield dry bag review

Last month, we brought you the review of the Quipco Aquashield waterproof backpack, a solution that we quite liked, but at Rs 4,000, it may come across as pricey, for some. This here is a more affordable option – a dry bag that can be used on its own or placed in any backpack with a capacity of over 20-25 litres.

As with any dry bag, this is a large, sack-like bag with a single compartment and a roll-top closure. To close it, you roll the top two or ideally three times and clip it shut using the snap-fit closures sewn in at either end, all while making sure not to trap any air inside. The bag is constructed in a thick and seemingly rugged 500D PVC material with a smooth matte finish. All the seams are heat welded, ensuring complete waterproofing. Reflective branding is a nice touch for night time safety.

I almost entirely use this bag within my Kreiga R25 backpack, but Quipco is keen to allow more flexible usage patterns. To that extent, they’ve provided the dry bag with a removable shoulder strap and it also features a MOLLE construction at the bottom that allows four anchor points. Quipco says this bag can be used across a range of outdoor activities, including rafting, hiking, camping, and of course, motorcycling.

I put that claim and this bag’s waterproofing to test when I bungeed it down to the back of the Triumph Tiger 800 I rode in Spiti earlier. The conditions were soaking wet and I had my iPad in there, so there was a lot at stake. Happily, the bag performed flawlessly and everything inside stayed bone dry.

Issues? Not much really and the price is reasonable. By virtue of design, this material is quite thick and it occupies more space than some softer Nylon-based dry bags I’ve used in the past, but it does feel more durable, so that’s a fair trade-off. One complaint I have is that you have to be careful to line-up the top perfectly before rolling it shut, because the snap fit buckles tend to get covered by the roll if not aligned perfectly. It’s a mild irritant to what is otherwise a good companion for the wet season.

Where: www.quipco.in
Price: Rs 1,250