YETI is understood for making high-quality, dependable gear, and the Panga Backpack is not any exception. It’s transportable. It’s sturdy. And it’s greater than waterproof.
A totally submersible, waterproof pack could seem extreme however, in lots of instances, it’s important. For those who’re an aquatic human, there are occasions once you’ll have the gear it’s essential hold dry however getting it moist is unavoidable.
Whereas loads of gadgets can get moist, there are some gadgets like your cellphone, digicam, towels, or further layers which are vital to maintain dry. Whether or not you might be wading throughout a river, on a bumpy boat journey, paddling within the ocean, or fishing in a creek, you’ll need a pack you possibly can depend on.
In brief: There’s a large distinction between water resistant, waterproof, and submersible. For the last word on-water and in-water safety, a submersible dry bag is the way in which to go. YETI’s 28L Panga can be a backpack-style bag, making it a novel standout within the submersible drybag class.
Off the highest of our head, Watershed Dry Baggage and Patagonia even have one, however the YETI Panga gained us over with its 100% submersible, sturdy, and dependable design.
YETI Panga Backpack Evaluation
What Does Submersible Imply?
Not solely is the YETI Panga pack waterproof, however it’s additionally totally submersible. Which means, if all the things is correctly closed, the contents of the pack can be totally protected for half-hour at a depth of 1 meter. The Panga has been examined to the worldwide trade ranking of IPX7.
Pack Options
The Panga backpack is an hermetic citadel that’s designed to be each waterproof and extremely sturdy. To make sure that your gear stays dry, the pack sports activities a troublesome, high-performance waterproof, and leakproof zipper.
The ThickSkin Shell is fabricated from high-density nylon and thick TPU lamination and is supplied with MetalLock {hardware} that ensures the backpack is puncture- and abrasion-resistant and is able to withstanding any and each journey you throw at it.
Along with being sturdy and practical, the bag is designed to be comfy. The Panga options ergonomic, padded DryHaul straps, detachable chest straps, and a waist belt for added stability when you journey. The backpack additionally contains loads of QuickGrab Lash Factors for clipping or tying on any further gear you could have.
Moreover, the pack contains inside group to make sure that your gear is safely stowed. A stowaway mesh pocket is ideal for storing necessities and an inside sleeve works properly for storing a laptop computer. The Panga is appropriate with YETI’s SideKick Dry Gear Case, all their Rambler Bottle Slings, the MOLLE Bottle Opener, and Zinger.
On-Water Testing
With a purpose to discover out if the Panga was price its salt there was just one logical factor to do: take it to the water. I threw my cellphone, a towel, snacks, and different necessities into the backpack and ventured all the way down to a river close to my home to go paddling.
Earlier than heading out, I double-checked all of the zippers to make sure that all the things was sealed. To verify it’s all sealed, you merely slide the zipper totally into the U-Dock and apply stress. For those who hear/really feel any air or any leaks, begin once more till you don’t hear something to make sure that you’ve gotten a strong seal.
As soon as I used to be happy all the things was sealed, I strapped the Panga onto my paddleboard, and loaded my canine onto the board. We put the Panga to the take a look at straight out of the gates. My moist, muddy canine ran over it repeatedly, splashing water on it as he trampled forwards and backwards throughout the board (and the pack).
Mid-paddle, I fastidiously unzipped all the things to retrieve my cellphone and snap some images. As promised, all the things was fully dry. Once we had been completed paddling, I submerged the pack within the pool after which hosed down the pack earlier than retrieving my gear — which was completely dry.
The YETI Panga is marketed to be waterproof and sturdy, and it definitely lives as much as its promise.
Whereas the straps received the job accomplished, they weren’t extremely comfy — tremendous for trekking to the river, however I wouldn’t wish to put on the pack on longer hikes. I appreciated the inner mesh pocket to stash my keys and the exterior lash hooks for attaching my water bottle.
The Opponents
At $300, the Panga shouldn’t be an inexpensive backpack. There are quite a few dry bag backpacks in the marketplace for below $125 (Quiksilver Sea Stash, Billabong Surftrek Storm Backpack, RVCA Weld Backpack, and the Dakine Cyclone II). Barely nicer choices embrace Patagonia’s Disperser Roll-High Pack ($219) and NRS’s Payments Dry Bag ($180).
Whereas these baggage are cheaper and waterproof, they aren’t submersible just like the Panga backpack. The one related choice we discovered was Patagonia’s Guidewater backpack which affords related options on the identical worth level ($299) — which we now have but to check for comparability.
Conclusion
For those who’re on the lookout for a bag that’s going to maintain your gear dry it doesn’t matter what, the YETI Panga is the pack for you. It’s reliably waterproof and extremely sturdy. Canines, youngsters, loopy adventures — the Panga can sustain with all of them.
At 27 L, it’s received loads of room for the gear you want for an epic day of adventuring on the water. And added parts like lash loops and inner pockets up the worth.
