Heavy Duty Dive Bag, think before you buy!The phrase “heavy duty dive bag” has always amused me.Mostly because it implies that there are light duty dive bags. I don’t know about you, but I’ve yet to see a dive bag manufacturer that touts, “We make bags that rip if you put too much in them.” But the truth is that there are dive bags that will rip if you load them up too much. Of course, manufacturers aren’t going to claim that their bag can’t handle a load so you need to know how to spot which bags can take it and which one’s can’t. Before I get into the details, however, I feel like I should mention the difference between dive bags and dive luggage. Dive luggage is meant to store your gear when you travel on a plane. Dive bags are meant to store your gear when you’re taking it to the dive site. It’s an important distinction because dive bags have to be strong enough to handle around 30 pounds (14kg) of weight, but still provide drainage. It can be a delicate balance. Heavy Duty Dive Bag - Buy The Right Bag For Your PurposeThere are times when it’s okay to go with an inexpensive bag that’s 100% mesh.Mesh bags are perfect for carrying your mask, snorkel and fins. These items are light enough that they won’t strain the bag. If you want to store your BC and regulator set however, you’ll need something more substantial. Heavy Duty Dive Bag - How To Spot A Heavy Duty BagFirst of all, you can’t store the bulk of your equipment in a 100% mesh bag. Mesh bags will eventually tear from years of abuse.Don’t get me wrong, some mesh is good. It provides a lot of drainage. But too much mesh will hurt the structural integrity of your bag. A heavy duty dive bag will usually have some high durability fabric built into it as well. Usually this fabric will be at the bottom of the bag where most of the stress is. Many bags will even have the fabric running up one side of the bag. This high durability fabric is much stronger than mesh, but it doesn’t allow for drainage so the manufacturer has to strike a good balance between the two. Heavy Duty Dive Bag - Does The Manufacturer Stand Behind Their Product?Does the manufacturer offer any kind of guarantee or warranty on their product? Will they warrant their product for one month? Two months? A lifetime?Obviously longer is better. Stahlsac, for example, warrants all their bags for a lifetime. They do it because they use high quality materials and they don’t cut corners when they’re putting their dive bags together. Stahlsac dive bags may cost a little bit more than other dive bags, but you know you’re buying the only dive bag you’ll ever need. In the end, a dive bag is “heavy duty” if it’s durable enough to handle your equipment without breaking. There are some ways to tell if a dive bag is high quality, but the most important factor is the manufacturer’s warranty. Have you got a dive bag?
Which Dive Bag do you have? How long have you had your dive bag? Return to Underwater Diving Equipment Home Page.
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