The Uncharted Supply Co. ‘The Vault’ 65L Duffel Bag is a rugged-yet-affordable waterproof duffel with removable shoulder straps.
To get us a closer look, Uncharted Supply Co. sent Man Makes Fire a review unit. Man Makes Fire gear reviewer Chris Maxcer took The Vault Duffel out rafting, fly fishing, camping, and hunting to test its real-world performance. To help you determine if The Vault is right for you, this is what he learned and here are his buying recommendations:
Review: The Vault Waterproof Duffel Bag
The author tests and reviews a lot of outdoor gear each year — and a great waterproof adventure duffel like The Vault comes in handy whenever you need to keep gear dry or dust-free.Because I review and test a lot of outdoor gear each year, I often pack and travel with gear that needs to be protected — at least until I’m out in the field with it. In addition, I often need to keep gear, food, clothing and shelter dry. This is where waterproof bags and packs come in.
In my experience, I’ve taken waterproof duffel bags to Alaska’s Kodiak Island to fish for coho salmon, and I’ve taken duffels and dry bags on multi-day whitewater rafting trips through Idaho wilderness. I like to fish with waterproof fly fishing backpacks, sling packs, and waterproof waist packs.
The best waterproof duffel bags blend an ultra-rugged waterproof fabric with a rugged waterproof zipper. Some good bags skip the zipper in favor a roll-top dry-bag style closure, which works well — but the drawback is less convenient access.
The Vault by Uncharted Supply Co. is surprisingly burly and well designed — particularly at its affordable price point.
Most competitive waterproof adventure/expedition duffel bags of this size cost about twice as much. So does The Vault hold up to abuse? And is The Vault a good deal?
Rugged TPU Material
I tend to get off the beaten path, so it’s nice to have a rugged duffel with backpack straps. I can throw gear in The Vault, toss it in the back of the pickup, then grab the bag and hike away from the road. The waterproof design gives me peace of mind no matter the weather.The Vault 65L Duffel uses a thick 840D TPU, which is a smooth, flexible and very durable thermoplastic polyurethane. It’s not rubber, but it sort of feels like a slightly rubbery plastic. TPU is generally more flexible and often more durable than PVC materials — and it’s better for the environment.
The seams appear to be welded with excellent attention to detail and fit.
What I like most about the material is that it’s stiffer than what you find in typical non-waterproof duffel bags. If something pointy presses in on the bag, I feel pretty good about the relative stiffness of the TPU blunting whatever might be poking at the bag.
We took The Vault rafting, camping, fishing and hunting over several months. It’s been thrown, dropped, strapped to a whitewater raft and stepped on (when full of gear and air) by a very large guy — and it’s still going strong.
In addition, because The Vault is waterproof, it’s also air tight. In this way, whatever I put in the bag gets a bit of internal air support cushioning. For example, if I put some camera gear in The Vault . . . and then stack the bag in the back of my pickup truck, I’m a bit less concerned than I might be with a standard duffel — even as one as sweet as the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, which I also use often. The drawback to the Black Hole Duffel, of course, is that it’s not waterproof, so I don’t use it for the same purposes.
Here’s another example of how internal air pressure can help protect your gear: Put a bag of potato chips inside of The Vault and then load it into your vehicle with other bags and gear on top of it. You don’t have to pack chips in The Vault to appreciate the airtight design, but the visual helps you understand how well it seals.
Hundreds of Zipper Cycles
At first, I was skeptical that the zipper would hold up over time on The Vault. I was wrong. The Vault’s zipper has lasted through several hundreds open/close cycles without a hitch. I don’t believe it’s as rugged as industry-leading large-toothed TIZIP zippers, but at this price point, I’m very impressed.The biggest potential weakness to a zippered waterproof bag is the waterproof zipper itself. Many competing waterproof duffels and packs use burly German-made TIZIP zippers. These zippers are rugged and usually increase the cost of the bag or pack. They work great, but they have two drawbacks: First, you need to lubricate the zippers or they’ll eventually fail. Second, the big teeth are grabby when you’re sticking your hands and arms into the bag to find gear. They can sometimes catch on fabric or fishing line. They can be mildly annoying and mildly uncomfortable.
The Uncharted Supply Co. The Vault Duffel does not use a large-tooth TIZIP zipper. This choice likely helps Uncharted keep the costs down. What you do get is a tight, small-toothed zipper with a rubber seal over the top that fits tightly together.
The zipper itself works well and is reasonably smooth.
Is the Zipper Fully Waterproof?
The 65-liter volume is a great, useful all-around multi-purpose size.The zipper is waterproof and it does not leak. It’s been surprisingly durable, too.
After using The Vault in the field — in and out of the back of a pickup, UTV, raft, campsite, and on the river bank — I’ve used the zipper in wet, muddy, and dusty environments and it’s performed flawlessly so far: After hundreds of open-and-close cycles, I’m impressed with The Vault’s waterproof zipper performance. I have no complaints.
Meanwhile, here is an interesting anecdote about the zipper’s strength: While using The Vault as a dry bag on my raft on an overnight fly fishing trip, I unintentionally stepped out of the raft and onto The Vault. At this point I was happy that my errant misstep wasn’t going to lead to a clumsy fall, but as I put all 220 pounds of my body weight on the closed bag, I remember thinking, “Oh, and this is where the zipper pops apart. . . .”
To my surprise, The Vault took my full weight, with air sealed inside, and the zipper never parted. And I didn’t fall down. This isn’t a test I would repeat on purpose, but it does speak to the strength of the zipper.
For zipper maintenance, if dirt and debris builds up, I recommend spraying the teeth clean with a garden hose. I also like to use some zipper lube like the excellent Gear Aid Zipper Wax Lubricant.
The Vault as Emergency Water Bag?
Uncharted Supply Co. is all about creating affordable urban and outdoor survival gear and kits to help you get through natural emergencies. Having clean drinking water is a big deal in the aftermath of earthquakes, forest fires, or even energy grid failures.
The Vault is designed to work as a very large water bladder. The key difference from other waterproof duffels is the inclusion of a built-in air/water valve.
It’s a cool feature that most everyone won’t need to use, but it’s good to know it exists in the event of an emergency.
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Great Backpack Straps
The backpack straps are easy to attach and remove.Instead of two traditional hand carry straps typically found on most duffel bags, The Vault gives you two detachable backpack carry straps. They’re comfortable and work well.
I particularly appreciate the inclusion of a chest strap, which makes longer hauls more comfortable.
The Vault brings a surprisingly affordable price point to rugged — and zippered — waterproof duffels.
In addition to the backpack straps, Uncharted includes two grab handles, one on each end of the duffel.
Two Color Choices
It’s hard to go wrong with Black, but I prefer the Olive color option for utility. Why? It’s easier to identify contents inside of a duffel in low light situations when the interior is not black.
In addition, if you plan to stow The Vault in full summer sun — for example, rafting or kayaking — you might appreciate a color that will absorb a bit less heat.
Key Specifications:
Dimensions: 27.5″ x 13.9″ x 10″
Volume: 65 liters
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Material: 840D TPU
Competitive Alternatives & Options
If you’re interested in The Vault 65L Duffel, there are several competitive waterproof adventure duffel bags that might also meet your needs — but nearly all of the alternative options are more expensive than the more affordable The Vault:
YETI Panga 75L Waterproof Duffel — The YETI Panga is super rugged and very well designed. It’s a bomber duffel available in multiple sizes. The only drawback is the cost. The YETI Panga costs twice as much as The Vault. Is it worth it? If the Panga is in your budget, you can’t go wrong (read our full YETI Panga review here). On the other hand, what other gear can you also afford if you choose The Vault instead?
KUIU Kodiak 3000 Submersible Duffel — The KUIU Kodiak 3000 Submersible Duffel is a rugged, waterproof 50-liter bag. It has removable backpack straps like The Vault. I’m a fan of the extra-long, doctor-bag style zipper that gives you a bigger opening to work with. In addition to big grab handles at each end, KUIU gives you two extra grab handles on the sides, which makes grabbing and stowing the Kodiak 3000 easier.
Osprey Transporter Waterproof Duffel 70 — Osprey is most well known for its excellent backpacking packs, but the company’s line of duffels and travel gear is also great. The Transporter Waterproof Duffel 70 gives you 70 liters of capacity. One handy feature difference from the other waterproof bags noted here is the inclusion of a backpack strap handle wrap that keeps the straps together for an easier duffel carry mode.
The Bottom Line
All-in-all, the Uncharted Supply Co. The Vault 65L Duffel is a rugged, well-designed and surprisingly affordable waterproof adventure bag. The removable backpack straps are comfortable and easy-to-use. In our testing, the waterproof zipper has survived hundreds of in-the-field open/close cycles and is still going strong. While the built-in water valve extends your options for water storage in emergencies, the affordable utility of The Vault itself is the key reason to buy it. Very highly recommended.
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Our Gear Review and Tester’s Specific Related Experience:
Chris Maxcer has tested and reviewed many waterproof packs and bags, including waterproof backpacks, waterproof waist packs, waterproof sling packs, waterproof duffel bags, as well as waterproof dry bags for whitewater rafting and kayaking. He’s used waterproof packs and bags in the field while fishing, hunting, camping, and rafting to test their everyday performance under tough conditions. Of course, Maxcer has also written hundreds of in-depth outdoor gear reviews, including independent, first-hand reviews of fly fishing gear, camping gear, hunting gear, backpacking gear, and beach and water play gear. He believes the best way to understand a product is to use it in the real world for the kind of activity it was designed for.
Man Makes Fire publishes independent gear reviews, unencumbered by any requirements from any gear brand or manufacturer.
