Top Gear Review: How RUX Waterproof Bags Stand Up to Foul Weather
Testing RUX waterproof bags on a foggy adventure to film the 2024 solar eclipse in Cape Cod.
April 23, 2024
Earlier this month, as the upcoming total solar eclipse loomed on the horizon, I took the opportunity to really put some new gear to the test: the RUX 70L Essentials Set—a rugged all-weather container cube— and the 2023 RUX Waterproof Bag. Our adventure on Cape Cod promised fog, moisture, and a celestial spectacle, making for ideal conditions to see if these products RUX sent us to test, could handle the elements (as well as my pack-rat tendencies). To provide a further challenge, I decided to use them to tote some photography gear along so we could capture and document the event as well.
Above: Packing the RUX 70L Storage Bin. Photo by RUX via Ryan McVinney.
A Wet And Foggy Morning
Early in the morning, my friends and I congregated at my mooring with our game faces on and our gear in tow, ready to tackle the cold, foggy spring air. As we unpacked my jeep and loaded my Starcraft aluminum boat, we worried a bit about the early morning marine layer, and how it would impact our visibility of the upcoming eclipse, but remained optimistic it would burn off in time for the afternoon solar event.
Packing For Adventure: Hook & Rail System
Packing for an outdoor adventure always feels a bit like a strategic puzzle. This time, however, the RUX 70L turned the usually frustrating game of 'storage Tetris' into a breeze. Its rugged, cubic form held its shape admirably, swallowing our camera gear, blankets, flashlights, and even my prized solar-powered Bluetooth speaker with ease. The RUX's internal hook and rail system, a nifty feature for gear nerds like myself, kept our smaller items neatly tucked away, avoiding the usual chaos.
Above: The RUX 70L Storage Bin. Photo by RUX via Ryan McVinney.
Staying Dry
Here's a pro tip: when packing for a potentially damp day out, always assume your gear might take a swim, especially if you're on a small aluminum boat like we were. Thanks to the RUX 70L's weatherproof, 840D TPU coated nylon, everything from matches to electronic gadgets stayed as dry as the humor in our group. And let me tell you, there's nothing quite like the look of surprise and admiration from your cold wet friends when you pull out a warm dry blanket from a bag that's just braved a foggy escapade.
The Ninja Of Dry Bags
As for the RUX Waterproof Bag, this nifty 25L tote became my personal hero. It’s like the ninja of dry bags—sleek, adaptable, and unyieldingly efficient. The roll-top closure was a blessing, sparing us the usual fight with zippers that seem to have a personal vendetta against me. Its integration into the RUX 70L system was seamless, almost as if they were designed by someone who truly understands the art of packing (and perhaps, a little overpacking). With a very expensive Canon lens inside a waterproof lens case, tucked into the RUX dry bag, I felt comfortable everything was safe.
Above: The RUX Waterproof Bag. Photo by Rux via Ryan McVinney.
Navigating the marsh in my trusty tin boat, with visibility as poor as my early morning vision before coffee, was an adventure in itself. Despite the constant mist that left us as damp as a used teabag, the bags sat unbothered, beads of water rolling off them like minor inconveniences. We might have been wet, but our spirits (and our supplies) were not.
Setting Up Camp For A Rare Eclipse
We made camp, and happily found our supplies were all bone dry inside the RUX bags. Finally the mist began to burn off and the sun warmed up the shoreline. Our campsite emerged from the persistent marine layer and turned out be the perfect vantage point view the eclipse from, making it all we'd hoped. With no crowds around, and nothing but sand dunes and seagulls, we gazed up at the rare celestial ballet beginning above, watching through our eclipse glasses in awe as the moon slid slowly across the sun.
Above: Ryan McVinney with his aluminum boat in the background on Cape Cod.
Eventually a creepy shadow was cast over the entire beach, temporarily altering the day and bathing us in an eerie twilight. We were happy to be bone dry as the temperature dropped and the surroundings fell silent, as if nature itself held her breath. The climax, almost 94% to totality in our location, arrived with a surreal beauty: the sun's corona flaring majestically around the moon's silhouette, visible only for a few fleeting moments.
Above: A view of the rare solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024 from Cape Cod, MA. Photo by Ryan McVinney.
RUX Bags: Proving Their Mettle
After the eclipse, we made our way back through the marsh to land. The RUX bags proved their mettle not just in keeping our gear safe, but also in how effortlessly they collapsed and stowed away in the back of the jeep—like a magic trick, but without the need for a wand or a fancy incantation.
In conclusion, whether you're braving the high seas, the foggy coasts, or just trying to organize your outdoor life, the RUX 70L Essentials Set and the new RUX Waterproof Bag are your go-to solutions offering some of the best dry bags for boats on the market in 2024. They're not just storage options; they're an adventurer's best friend—minus the muddy paws and the need for treats.
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