matt boutet
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The Dry Creek looks like a good pack – it seems to have a few more bells and whistles than the Stormfront, and it’s probably waterproof enough for most applications, but the Simms website does mention that it’s not submersible, and the zippers look a lot like the Great Divider zipper.
To me, they aren’t really in the same class- the Stormfront is waterproof, the Dry Creek is water resistant.
Matt….any updates on the Stormfront?
It’s December in Maine, so I haven’t had a chance to use it much, but I’ve had it out in one wet snow and one pretty good rain.
Cool pack. I agree…other color choices would be nice.
I agree on the color – I worry about it baking in the sun, but apparently they made a relatively small number of these, and this was the only color available for a reasonable cost – imagine what it would’ve cost if they’d gone with a custom color.
Personally for boat use I’m looking for a pelican case now. The last lens I bought just doesn’t fit well into any of my 3 camera cases.
Mike,
FWIW- The pelican cases are nice, and they are great for boat use, but they’re not perfect either- I know of 2 camera bodies that met their ends inside closed pelican cases.
Last week I poured about a gallon of water out of Jarrod’s less then a year old Great Divider bag. It fell on its side and water poured in through the zipper. He also thought it was “waterproof” and left it in the boat overnight (he didn’t know it was on it’s side). Anyway the next morning after it had rained all night the bag along with all his gear was full of water. Even the SA waterproof fly boxes in his waterproof case leaked like a sieve.
I think the design of the great divider bag is pretty solid as long as the zipper stays dry.
Mike,
You’re right about the great divider- I think of that one as water resistant, rather than waterproof – I wouldn’t trust it for more than a quick dunk, but it’s great for sitting in the bottom of a boat and taking the occasional splash.
The Stormfront pack is a different animal altogether – it uses a drysuit-style zipper that really is waterproof – I give mine a quick squeeze after closing it to make sure it’s airtight, and last night it passed the “bubble test” when held underwater in my tub.
The packs of silica gel are a good idea for any waterproof container – You can usually get all you want from a local shoe store for nothing.
Drifter,
You wouldn’t be able to close the lid on the included insert, but it would fit inside the pack without any problems at all.
I smoke the occasional cigar while fishing – usually when the bugs get really bad- but that’s it for me.
Neal, with an arca-swiss style plate on the bottom it’s snug enough that it doesn’t move much, but it’s not tight enough that it’s a pain to get in there.
As someone who’s hunted in Maine/NH all his life, I just can’t get over the size of the racks on these deer you guys are seeing.
I’ve shot forkhorns that dressed out at 170, while some of these racked bucks you guys are posting don’t look like they’re much over 130-140.
Just amazing how different the same species can be within its range.
Abe,
Great report- I usually wind up in Vegas a couple of times a year for work, and it’s about my least favorite place in the world- the first time I went out there a few years ago, I put a dollar in the first slot I saw in the hotel lobby, won $10, and haven’t gambled since.
