I recently had a request to occasionally talk about outdoor gear that I recommend. So I thought I would take a break from writing about hiking and kayaking to do a product review. The timing is great because I have been looking into some new float gear lately. Specifically, I’ve been looking at extra large dry bags to replace my current backpack set-up for overnight floats. So when I got the opportunity to test out the Remote Designs 60L Submersible Duffel, I jumped all over it!
I want to note here that I did receive this product for free. But there was no financial incentive to write a product review, nor am I in any way obligated to do so. I am giving my honest opinion on it because I like the company and think they have a good product. If I didn’t think that, I simply would not write a review at all. OK, let’s dive into it.
About the Company
Remote Designs is a small business based in Houston, TX. It was founded in 2020 by outdoor enthusiast and kayak camper Gatewood Brown. Throughout his kayak camping experiences, one constant was the need for quality dry bags that could hold up to the demands of remote adventures. And so, Remote Designs was born… “to deliver dry bags that are purpose built for technical pursuits like kayak camping, fly fishing, hunting, and travel“. They make robust dry bags to help you pursue the outdoors so you can spend more time enjoying the scenery, connecting with friends and building campfires. Today, Gatewood and his wife operate Remote Designs from their home in Houston.
Product Description
The Remote Designs 60L Submersible Duffel is the largest dry bag in the Remote Designs lineup. It is shaped like a true duffel, but has backpack straps so it can be worn like a backpack. This is extremely helpful for getting on and off the river while carrying a kayak. The 60-liter duffel is made from tough, high-quality, waterproof material, with a heavy-duty zipper to keep water out. Here is the product description from the website:
So many of us have pulled soaked gear out of cut-rate dry bags and ‘waterproof compartments’. We made the submersible duffel to help you access hard to reach places, simplify packing, and live in the moment on your trips.
This bag is my first choice when prepping for kayak camping excursions to ensure my gear isn’t wet when we reach camp. Field tested for over a year in TX, OK, AR, NM, CO, WY, UT and ID.
- German TIZIP® MasterSeal for submersions (y’all, it’s the real deal)
- 1680D TPU material for serious durability
- 4 lbs total weight
- 25″L x 14″W x 11″H
- Removable backpack straps and hip belt
Field Test
When I first unboxed the Remote Designs 60L Submersible Duffel, I was immediately impressed with how durable it felt. It is a thick, almost rubber-like, material that is very obviously waterproof. The bag was collapsed, and held in that position with four adjustable straps along each side. I loosened those to fully expand the bag to full size. The most important feature of the bag is the thick, heavy-duty zipper. When I say heavy-duty…it take two hands to zip and unzip this zipper. It is important for the zipper to be thick and tight to prevent leakage. After opening the bag, I was able to pack my backpacking sleeping bag and tent inside it with a lot of room to spare. This thing is HUGE. I’ll be able to fit a ton of gear in this thing for overnight floats. But will it stay dry?
Before taking it on an overnight float with all my gear, I needed to test it first. So after my last float, I loaded the bag with a few things that are great at showing water when they get wet. I used a grey T-shirt, some paper items, and the leather patch that came with the duffel. I zipped it up tight and tossed it in the water. Since it floated, I had to sit on it to submerge it. It was so airtight that it floated, even with me sitting on it! I had to push on it with all my weight to get the zipper under water. I even pressed my palm down on it really close to the zipper to try to create some separation. Then I opened it back up to check for water. The inside and all the contents were still bone dry. So it passes the waterproof test. Be sure to check out the video below to see the unboxing and field test.
Price
The Remote Designs 60L Submersible Duffel sells for $175.00. If that sounds high for a dry bag, take a look on Amazon. You can find waterproof duffel bags for as low as $50. But you don’t know what kind of quality they are. Keep in mind, you usually get what you pay for. The high-end bags that are similar in size range from $160 – $200. And the Yeti version is $400. This one is definitely a high-end bag and I feel like it’s priced competitively with those others. I’ll admit that I might not have paid that amount for a bag off the internet without being able to handle it and try it out. But now that I have, I think I would pay that.
Purchasing and Service
So where can you buy the Remote Designs 60L Submersible Duffel? As far as I know it’s only available on their website. Here is the link to their product page. You’ll also find two other bags there in Remote Designs lineup. They have a 26L Dry Backpack and a 20L Dry Roll Top, which is your standard top-loading dry bag.
The order process is the standard cart and checkout process with all the payment options you see on all e-commerce sites. After ordering, the communication from them is great. I received emails for order confirmation, shipping confirmation, out-for-delivery update, and delivery confirmation. That works for me.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a high-end, high quality dry bag that is large enough to carry most of your overnight float gear, here it is. The Remote Designs 60L Submersible Duffel gets the job done. Another great thing about this bag is that you would be supporting an American small business. Rest assured, your order will not be shipping from across the ocean. I’m excited to get this dry bag on my kayak for my next overnight float trip. No matter what products you choose, please remember to keep nature clean and leave no trace. For a full list of gear to pack for an overnight float, check out our paddling gear list. See you on the river!
