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The ability of a backpack to resist
water varies considerably among the
hundreds that are available on the
market today. Some are virtually water
absorbent, while others are virtually
waterproof.
Traditionally, if you were on an
outdoor adventure and expected rain, you
brought along a rain cover for your
backpack. Generally, these work very
well at protecting the part of the pack
that is covered, but the part that
touches your back is not protected by
the rain cover, and can sometimes get
wet, in addition to allowing some water
to get inside some packs. Also, there is
the pain of having to carry the rain
cover with you.
For those outdoor adventurers who
expect to face a lot of wet weather, and
don't particularly like rain covers,
Eureka has introduced a line of highly
water-resistant and waterproof
backpacks. They are made of 250D .5mm
StormShield vinyl, welded vinyl seams,
along with either a water-resistant
zipper or a drybag-like closure,
depending on the model.
While Eureka offers several different
models of their StormShield series, the
focus of this article is on the
Cloudburst model, which is essentially
designed for single day adventures,
including hiking, climbing, skiing, or
snowboarding. Here's what makes the
Cloudburst world class:
- The top-loading Cloudburst carries
up to 2,499 cubic inches and weighs in
at about 2 pounds 11 ounces. This is
more than enough for a full day's
adventure, no matter which season.
Fastpackers should be able to carry
enough for a several day backpacking
adventure. Considering the size of the
bag, its weight is minimal, falling
into the lightweight category.
- As previously mentioned, the bag
is made out of vinyl, making it
impervious to moisture, for the most
part. The only exception to this is
that this bag uses a water-resistant
zipper to close the bag, potentially
allowing water to come through. In
practice, if properly closed, it will
not let rain or other moisture come
through. Of course, I would not dump
the bag in a lake and hold it down for
an hour, as it would probably leak.
While I wasn't personally able to test
this, Eureka claims that the vinyl is
pliable down to -40 degrees, and that
temperatures over 100 degrees don't
affect performance.
I also found the vinyl to be tough and
puncture resistant.
- The Cloudburst's suspension system
is lightweight, which means that you
won't want to carry heavy loads in
this particular model. I would
recommend keeping the bag under 25
pounds for the greatest comfort,
although some people might find 30
pounds comfortable.
The suspension system is removable and
includes a hip belt with single-layer
high density foam and side stabilizing
straps; a dual-layer foam harness; a
HDPE stiffening sheet in the back; a
lumbar pad; an adjustable sternum
strap; and an air mesh backing for
greater air flow and comfort.
The pack only comes in one size, and
is adjustable. Because of this, you
will want to try on the pack before
you purchase it to see if it fits you
properly.
- The backpack includes many extra
features, such as a carrying strap on
top, a carrying handle on its back,
straps on the bottom to carry extra
gear, a daisy chain for lashing gear,
and compression straps. One added
advantage of using clear vinyl for
much of the bag is that allows light
to come inside the bag, making it
easier to see inside. If you remove
the suspension system, you can easily
carry the pack with you on a plane or
other transportation.
The Cloudburst is an easy-to-use bag
with most of the features you would want
in a backpack, and most of all, it is
highly water-resistant.
Using the
Eureka Cloudburst Backpack in the Real World
When I first picked up the Cloudburst, I
was surprised how little it weighed. I
have picked up vinyl gear before, and it
always seemed heavy, but Eureka has used
a vinyl that is not only strong, but
lightweight.
I really liked the top-opening
construction of the bag (opened by a
zipper). Access was easy, and the zipper
was easy to use (it never stuck on me).
There is lots of room inside the bag
(which is one single compartment). For
maximum water resistance, you will
always want to ensure that the zipper is
properly closed.
Although the pack only comes in one
size, I was able to adjust it to fit me
comfortably. Adjustments were easy to
make.
The only thing I found missing from
the bag was a hydration pouch, but I
imagine the reason for this is that a
port for the hose to go through would
introduce a way for water to seep in,
which would defeat much of the purpose
of the bag.
Recommendation
If you are expecting foul weather and
don't like your gear to get wet, then
the Eureka Cloudburst may well fit your
needs.
Product Notes
The Eureka Cloudburst is only available
in one color (blue, black, and grayish
white) and in one size. The MSRP is
$109.00. If you want a similar larger
bag, or one that has a dry bag-style
closure, Eureka offers other models in
its StormShield line that may better fit
your needs.
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