I have some of the older style Outdoor Research waterproof stuff sacks and I thought they were too heavy at 4oz, but I got a chance to weigh a few others in a store today and it seems that 3oz is about it.

Who has the lightest waterproof stuff sacks? I'm looking for something to keep clothing and sleeping bag dry.

You don't mention the size, but have a look at the Sea to Summit Sil Cordura bags.
Franco

I really like my Golite Paddler's sack, apparently discontinued now. Silnylon, required seam sealing, but was very light and simple. One could easily be made from scratch, or by sewing a 12-16" nylon extension collar under the mouth of a stuff sack. They work simply by twisting the extension around into a ball before tightening the drawcord. Stuffing it into your pack is what jams the closure in place, preventing it from opening. Not something I'd use for kayaking, but great for rain and unexpected dunkings.

I prefer the 2- 3 mm poly bags like here and Gossamer Gear sell. The seams on sil bags leak with use. Yes, the longevity of the poly bags is likely less and they need some TLC but they are inexpensive and thus replaceable.

Having soggy things especially if going with down things is just not an option, imo.

> Who has the lightest waterproof stuff sacks?


Sea-to-Summit has a new line of Ultra-sil/Cordura Dry Sacks; the 8L weighs 1.2 oz. Reynolds Oven Bag, turkey-size 19" x 23.5", 0.5 oz, makes a great clothing bag. Glad 13-gal kitchen trash bag, 0.8 oz, is plenty big for a sleeping bag. An empty 40-pound pellet-stove pellet bag, 1.8 oz, is about the same size and will stand up to abuse (trash compactor bags are similar).

OR Helium Quick-Sacks are light but only listed as water-resistant; the 10L weighs 1.0 oz.

Edited by Otter on 03/20/2006 10:05:52 MST.

Has anyone filled up the sea-summit silnylon bags with water and seen if they weep? I was looking at them at the store and they struck me as possibly not thick enough to be truly waterproof.

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> Has anyone filled up the sea-summit silnylon bags with water and seen if they weep?


Just did that. It does weep, very slowly; about 20 seconds to get a 2mm diameter droplet under pressure, but much longer than that to get a droplet from just the weight of the water, and most droplets were less tham 1mm in diameter from the weight of the water after a minute. Also, the rolled top didn't leak either air or water.

I consider that waterproof enough for being in a pack in wet weather. I might stick with a heavier bag (or an oven bag) if it was going to be submersed.

The Sea to Summit ultra-sil bags have worked well for me in my pack. I have not had any issues with anything getting wet. I really like them. I use the one for my clothes as a bear bag in the trees once in camp, and it has kept all the rain and dew out that it have been exposed to. They have proved to be durable too.

Check out this lengthy discussion of the topic... Interesting. Although I've always had good results lining a light stuff sack w/ a trash bag. Works ok on up to 8 day trips, I usually bring an extra trash bag in case one gets a hole, or for emergency rain or water container use.

http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/DryGear/index.html