Bags, Coolers & Accessories Part 2 - Gear Guide

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By Steve Fennell

Gill North America Race Dry Bag Series (2)

When it comes to activities on the water, having a tough, solid and reliable bag to haul all your gear is essential. Long known for its clothing and accessories for the rugged offshore environment, Gill North America offers its Race Dry Bag series featuring a Velcro fastening, a roll-down closure and welded seams – making it 100 percent waterproof. Other key features include a wide opening for easy access, four handy external D ring attachments, reinforced handles, a non-slip, padded shoulder strap and waterproof I.D. pocket. The Race Dry Bags are available in 30-litre (RS119) or 60-litre (RS14) capacities and come in white or graphite.

MSRP: RS14 - $100 CAD; RS119 - $70 CAD - canada.gillna.com

Orion Coolers

Some of you may have heard of Eric Jackson, the engineer and paddler behind Jackson Kayaks, some of the toughest rotomolded whitewater kayaks in the world, as well as paddleboards, and kayaks for other recreational uses including fishing. When the opportunity arose to design and build coolers to the same ‘build it like it’s your own’ standards, he and his company developed Orion coolers.

We were so impressed with them at the iCast fishing show in Orlando, we walked away with the handy 25-litre size (they are available up to 85 litres). This rugged, bear-resistant cooler was designed for outdoor travel use with six tie-down points, low profile camming latches, comfortable (and removable) carry handles, and bottle openers at all four corners.

YakAttack tracks are built-in to the sides so you can attach a variety of RAM accessories like rod, cup or paddle holders to make it very versatile while strapped onto your kayak or quad. The lid has a layer of EVA foam, so it’s comfortable to sit on, and secure and safe enough to stand on.

Two inches of insulation provide incredible insulation against heat. We had food in the cooler, in the car, on a 35°C hot, humid Florida afternoon for four hours – and the cooler was ‘real’ cool.

MSRP: $419 - www.orioncoolers.com

Pelican Elite Soft Cooler Collection

In addition to its series of practically anything-proof cases, Pelican Products offers its new Elite 48-Can Soft Cooler for 2018. A step up from its existing 12- and 24-can soft coolers, according to Pelican, this latest entry is “ a convenient alternative to many larger, bulkier and heavier hard-sided coolers on the market.” Large enough to bring along a bevy of refreshments and snacks, the cooler weighs a mere 3.6 kg (8 lb). Other features include a 100 percent watertight, leak-proof, wide-mouth TIZIP zipper, an 840-denier double-coated thermos-plastic urethane hi-grade exterior, plus a compression-molded lid and base. The cooler also houses a PVC-free interior material with an FDA-approved food grade, plus an anti-mildew and anti-odour liner. It’s available in black or grey.

MSRP: $410 CAD - www.pelican.com

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