Gill Voyager Kit Bag 35L

Called a Kit Bag by the manufacturer rather than a Backpack, even though it is designed to be carried on your back, this 35-liter bag is actually a hybrid between a dry bag, travel bag and backpack. In other words, it’s the perfect accessory for adventurers, whether traveling by plane, on foot, by bike… and, of course, by multihull. The only two drawbacks to this type of “hold-all” are, firstly, that finding a glasses case, set of keys, sunscreen or charger can be particularly laborious - you can imagine the scene. Secondly, without a rigid base, it isn’t designed to stand upright on the deck or the floor of the tender.

A closer look at the padded, ventilated back panel and shoulder straps shows that this is considerably closer to a proper backpack than the traditional cylindrical dry bag fitted with two straps. At the front, the bungee cord allows you to quickly secure a wet item of clothing, a small jacket or a large water bottle. The large external pocket closes with a zipper. Inside, the bag also comes with a removable padded sleeve for laptops up to 16 inches. A webbing grab handle is fitted at the rear.

First impressions carrying it - or rather, wearing it! - with a load of 18 to 22 lbs (8 to 10 kg): the reinforced panel, thick padding and wide adjustable straps, which are also padded, provide excellent comfort. I can carry this bag for hours without discomfort.
The Voyager Kit Bag is ideal for carrying your belongings on journeys where things might get wet. Rain, spray or even falling overboard: having a dry bag means your personal belongings can stay perfectly dry - provided, of course, that the bag really is waterproof. After the regulation three rolls of the roll-top followed by fastening the closure clip, I therefore gave our Kit Bag a refreshing treatment: a generous shower, spray and even immersion allowed us to award it the Multicoques Mag waterproof seal of approval (Gill does not claim any official IP certification), as the white T-shirt placed inside came out completely dry. The same cannot be said for the zippered pocket: it copes well with spray and rain, but not complete immersion - my test business card won’t be seeing any further use… It is also worth noting that once the bottom of this deep pocket gets wet, it takes a long time and is difficult to dry.

I particularly appreciated the rugged, go-anywhere nature of the Voyager Kit Bag, which contrasts with the brand-new 30-liter Voyager 2.0 Backpack, a slightly more civilized option - bottle pockets, transparent window, etc.
Larger, discreet and versatile, the Kit Bag quickly proves to be an indispensable accessory not only for sailors, but for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors.

Technical Specifications

Manufacturer: Gill
Model: Voyager Kit Bag
Reference: L115
Capacity: 1.2 cu ft (35 l)
Construction: Puncture-resistant PVC tarpaulin
Composition: 80% PVC / 20% polyester
Assembly: High-frequency welded, seamless construction
Closure: Roll-top with two side buckles
External Pocket: Large-capacity pocket with water-resistant zipper
External Storage: Front elastic bungee cord
Laptop: Removable padded sleeve for laptops up to 16"
Carrying System: Padded shoulder straps + back panel
Colors: Gray, blue or black
Care: Wipe clean with a damp cloth; do not machine wash
Price: € 80 to € 85 outside promotional periods

www.gillmarine.com 

My first test was a good soaking… then I moved on to full immersion!

Verdict: The bag itself is indeed waterproof… but the zippered pocket isn’t.