Ortlieb Large Size Expedition Dry Duffle 85L
Overview
85 Liter Ortlieb Expedition Duffle Drybag with Drysuit Zipper.
Please phone or email to check color availability on this size before ordering.
The new Ortlieb Dry Duffles are the highest quality bag of this type you can purchase, period. The German blended pvc of the Ortlieb's could easily be used to build inflatable touring kayaks. Not only does it have a tough 1000 denier polyester base, but the acrylic finish exterior is hard and abrasion resistant. This listing is for the "large" 85 liter volume bag, which is the middle of the three sizes of standard Ortlieb Duffles. It measures 25" long, 15" wide, and 14" tall. If you look at the manufacturer's figures, you will notice they vary somewhat from ours, but we're just giving what our tape maesure says. This Large Duffle weighs three pounds.
All four sizes of the Expedition Dry Duffles feature a completely watertight drysuit zipper, two inside pockets for small items or dirty riverwear, one outside zippered mesh pocket, a strip of daisychains on each side of the zipper that 1" cam straps will pass through, pegs on the ends if you want to stand your bag on a flat floor, removable contoured carry straps that can double as shoulder straps, cordura reinforced corners and bottoms, and an internal compression strap that can make closing the zipper easier if the bag is fully loaded. There is also a ladderlock piece of hardware at each end of the zipper that a camlock strap will pass though. Between these, the daisychain patches, and the handle webbing, there is no shortage of ways to tie this bag ultra-securely into your river boat. The only negative thing we could say about the Ortlieb Duffles is that the combo shoulder/carry straps are not well padded for backpacking. If you have a sleeping bag that compresses well, this should hold most or all of your gear for an overnighter, minus a pump or spare paddle.
We would note that as of this update, AIRE has discontinued their waterproof Kayak Cargo Holds. Although these Ortlieb bags are not tapered like the AIRE product was (to fit better toward the stern of an inflatable kayak), this 85 liter bag is probably as close as you can get to the specs of the AIRE product, even if it might have to sit a bit further forward. It is actually larger in volume by a fair bit, in fact. The daisy chain cordura patches welded onto the top sides of Ortlieb Dry Duffels are an easy place to run hoopi or cam straps through to secure the bag down to the cargo loops of an AIRE or Tributary kayak, without having anything running directly over the zipper. This allows you to open the bag without dismounting it from the boat. And if AIRE was still making their Cargo Hold, it would be at least $249 now, if not more than this 85 liter Ortlieb. Plus this bag has really functional shoulder straps, and a much better warranty compared to what the AIRE product had.