Yeti Panga 50L Dry Evaluation

Backside Line

The Yeti Panga Dry Duffel is waterproof to the max, making it the perfect bag for SUPing, fishing, and monsoon season journey. It’s totally waterproof – sure, even when it will get submerged underwater for a short while – which implies whether or not you’re touring by boat or count on your bag to take a seat behind a truck in inclement climate, all of your stuff will keep protected. Throughout testing, we left it out within the rain for an hour and never a drop of water made it inside.

Nonetheless, We discovered it a ache to pack, particularly when making an attempt to cram in bigger or cumbersome gadgets. The opening is only a slender slit on the very prime. What’s extra, stiff sides imply it’s a bit unwieldy to control. That’s seemingly a small trade-off for these extra involved with defending their gear than having fast entry to contents.

Whereas the Yeti Panga Dry Duffel could also be overkill for many (it’s the costliest duffel on this record), for these on the hunt for a sturdy bag that ensures gear and clothes will keep protected from the weather, it’s seemingly a godsend. Bonus: They arrive in a number of colours and sizes (50L, 75L, 100L).

Carry Consolation

The Yeti Panga Dry Duffel has two carry choices. One and a half, actually, because the straps on prime are actually a two-in-one resolution: it’s outfitted with backpack straps for straightforward pack carry, however these straps double as seize handles due to a slender part towards the underside. Mainly, you’ll be able to tighten or loosen the straps to your liking and seize them collectively at their narrowest level. There’s no grip wrap, although, so the straps will separate as quickly as you let go.

There are additionally seize handles on each facet: one on every lengthy finish, two that run vertically on every lengthy facet that double as lash factors, and one on every finish of the highest. That means there are many locations to seize and drag the bag out of an overhead bin, an underbed berth, or the again of a truck. Sadly, not one of the straps are terribly snug. Doubtless attributable to the truth that they’re designed to be useful in moist situations. They’re not padded, in order that they felt stiff and inflexible on our shoulders. They’re utterly detachable, although, so in order for you them out of the way in which and like to make use of the seize handles alone, that’s an choice.

Compressibility & Packability

We discovered the Panga Dry Duffel to be the hardest bag to pack of all of the duffels we examined. The edges are stiff and never pliable or versatile, and the zipper opening is small. So as a substitute of getting a big, wide-mouth opening like different easy-to-pack duffels, there’s only a single slit on the highest of the bag that doesn’t lengthen to the very ends of the bag. This made it tough to dig into the rounded corners of the bag.

The zipper, too, by advantage of being fairly chunky but additionally completely waterproof, is sticky and onerous to drag. There’s even a tag on new baggage that instructs you to drag onerous. The bag does include zipper lubricant to assist hold it gliding easily over time. There’s additionally one very small G-hook and webbing loop simply contained in the zipper on the very center of the highest of the bag to assist cinch it shut to make zipping simpler if you pack it to the brim, however we discovered it tough to make use of.

Sturdiness

As followers of different Yeti merchandise like coolers might count on, the Panga Dry Duffel is remarkably sturdy. The fabric is impressively sturdy and even after we dragged it by way of grime, grass, and over thorny flowers, it was barely scratched or scuffed. It bought a little bit soiled however was extremely simple to scrub. It could, in spite of everything, simply be hosed down if it will get too encrusted with mud or desert sand. It’s additionally puncture resistant.

The {hardware} can be severely strong. Metallic clips make the backpack straps not solely simple to take away however on no account prone to breaking off or coming free. It’s actually a bag that may deal with tough adventures.

Climate Resistance

The principle promoting characteristic of this duffel lies completely in its waterproof performance. Throughout testing, after we left the bag within the rain for an hour, the whole lot inside was utterly dry. However that’s the entire level of this bag. In actual fact, it’s IPX7 waterproof rated, which implies it might probably even be dropped into the water and can nonetheless defend the whole lot inside right down to about one meter for as much as half-hour. So if it’s important to wade by way of water along with your bag, concern not; your gear will keep dry.

Group

Sadly, the group on this bag is absent. There are solely two small inside mesh zipper pockets large enough for a headlamp or two. There are not any exterior pockets, seemingly in an try and simplify the design and hold it as watertight as potential. So nearly the whole lot within the bag should be crammed into the primary compartment. 

Due to the bag’s considerably cylindrical form, some packing cubes don’t nestle as neatly inside. If you wish to use packing cubes, you’ll have to think about extra soft-side choices or Yeti’s model packing cubes.

Ought to You Purchase the Yeti Panga?

The Yeti Panga Dry Duffel is sort of an funding, so you could discover it extra essential to think about critically whether or not it’s a worthwhile buy to your wants. For many vacationers, the bag will seemingly be overkill and never well worth the problem concerned in packing, the shortage of group, and the robust zipper. These people, along with outside lovers who like a extra quick-grab packing scenario and anybody searching for a extra multi-functional duffel, might wish to take into account options.

Those that often journey to or work round water, require a burly bag for journey journey, or want gear to stay shielded from water always will likely be hard-pressed to discover a higher choice.

What Different [Category] Ought to You Contemplate?

If you happen to’re unsure the Yeti Panga Dry Duffel is best for you in any of the out there sizes, you could wish to take into account one of many different stand-out duffels we’ve examined.

Gregory Alpaca Large Mouth Duffel Evaluation: For a equally smooth profile, take a look at the Gregory Alpaca Large Mouth Duffel. It isn’t fairly as waterproof, however does an honest job of defending gear from the weather and is simpler to pack.

Patagonia Black Gap Evaluation: For a extra conventional duffel that’s nonetheless impressively water-proof, take into account the traditional Patagonia Black Gap. The massive single opening, restricted pockets, and several other carry choices make it a strong alternative for a lot of vacationers.

Osprey Transporter Duffel Evaluation: Whereas it will not be completely as waterproof, this duffel is way simpler to pack and unpack and extra snug to hold for lengthy intervals.