Hiking Lady, formerly known to some as the Ziploc Queen, has found a neat alternative that hikers and backpackers will appreciate…Innate’s Mentor Storage Sacs. They are lightweight, fully waterproof storage bags, that are constructed of eco-friendly materials and can be used over and over again!
The Vancouver, Canada based company Innate Gear developed this line of waterproof, stitchless roll top bags. I’ve used mine on my last several hikes as well as a recent backpacking trip, and then did the waterproof sink test…
Putting the Mentor Storage Sacs to the Test
Instead of stuffing my extra socks, underwear, and base layers into a Ziploc bag, I stuffed them into a 2 liter Mentor Storage Sac. With the see-through panel on the front, I was able to see most of what was inside the storage sacs, so I could quickly find what I needed. I put my down jacket, gloves, and a few other items in a 5 liter sack.
Features I Like About the Mentor Storage Sacs
- Totally waterproof. With my socks inside one of the bags, I let it sit in the sink with rushing water flow on top. The socks remained completely dry. Then I put the Mentor Sac in a bucket of water to let it soak. Since it floats, only the bottom part of the Sac was wet, and my socks inside remained completely dry!
- Clear panel in front makes it easy to see contents. One of the reasons I used Ziploc bags in the past is because it was so easy to see what’s inside. The clear panel on these bags solves the problem of opaque storage sacks.
- Unique compression valve helps keep air out. On the front of the Mentor Sacs are “O2 Flow valves”, which made it easy to compress down these bags. There aren’t compression straps to keep them tightly compressed, but the compression is better than a typical stuff sack and definitely better than Ziploc bags
- Reusable. Unlike Ziploc bags, which tend to wear out after just a few backpacking trips, these Mentor Sacs are highly durable, and I expect they’ll last for at least a few years of regular use. That means a lot fewer Ziplocs in the landfills!
- Relatively lightweight. These bags are constructed of a lightweight 30 denier fabric, so are much more durable than Ziplocs, but the same or lighter than most leading waterproof bags.
What I’d Like to See
I hope that Innate comes out with a compression sack version of the Mentor Sac! I would love to have one where I could store my down sleeping bag without having to use my current combination of compression sack + trash compactor bag (for water protection).
The Mentor Storage Sacs are convenient to take hiking and backpacking, and also are good for regular travel. The last time I was on an airplane another passenger’s baby formula leaked in the overhead compartment… These waterproof bags sure provide nice piece of mind!
To find out more, check out Innate Gear’s website.
Thanks for the answer, Greg. Hope that helps Belinda!
Hi Belinda,
Greg from Innate here.
The mentor storage sacs have a rf welded lash tab with a 35 pound pull strength that allows attachment to the outside of your pack.
That said, although this is a very stable 30 denier fabric with approx 300 count weave (sum of warp and weft)with a laminate backer, it is just not going to be as puncture and ultimately tear resistant as a typical pack fabric that you would use in heavy undergrowth. Although there are lightweight packs made of similar fabrics they suffer from the same issue; heavier duty packs use fabrics that range from 210D to 1000D depending on brand and model. So, the durability for exterior lashing depends on your intended terrain relative to your current pack fabric. The ideal use for the mentor storage sac is for keeping your gear dry and organized inside your pack, paniers or kayak hull.
I hope this helps.
How durable are these? If I attach it to the outside of my backpack will they get torn up? Or do I have to keep them inside? Thanks.
Thanks for the additional details, Greg!
HI John,
Greg here from Innate. Just to add a bit more to Carols’ comments re the relative weight of the mentor storage sacs. To be fair to the good folks at Cascade, the Sealine bags are made of a much heavier fabric to stand up to the long term abrasion of dragging bags in and out of boats and kayaks. The Innate mentor storage sacs use a high thread count 30Denier fabric; not as abrasion resistant, but much lighter. The real performance win apart from the H2Flow valve is the long term durability of welded rather than sewn and taped seams. We find welded seams to last much long in particular relative to the silicone treated fabrics that tend to slough tape in high humidity environs in a relatively short period of time.
Hope this is useful-you can find more on our web or fb pages.
greg
Hi John! Thanks for the nice comments.
Here are the specs of the some of the bags, straight from Innate-Gear’s website:
Small:7 Litre [ 17cm X 45cm ] 60G
425 cu in. [ 6.7” X 17.7” ] 2.1oz
Medium:10 Litre [ 17cm X 55cm ] 80G
610 cu in. [ 6.7” X 21.6” ] 2.8oz
Large:15 Litre [ 21cm X 58cm ] 100G
915.cu in. [ 8.3” X 22.8” ] 3.5oz
Extra Large:20 Litre [ 21cm X 73cm ] 110G
1,220 cu in. [ 8.3” X 28.7” ] 3.9oz
By comparison, a 10 L SealLine Eco-See Dry Bag weighs 10 ounces, so the Mentor bags are much lighter.
Hi again. Love your site. It’s as cozy as a streamside camping spot. There is a lot of nice gear to salivate over, here, as well as good advice. I was wondering if you have a scale you could give us the weights on a lot of these items, or every item, such as clothing, packs, and other gear, even shoes and socks. With lighter weight gear becoming more and more popular, it seems a lot of us could benifit from that info. Thanks. It’s always a hoot and a holler see your reviews and all the things you find. Keep up the great job and may your trails always be sweet ones.
Thanks for the clarification, Greg! The larger Mentor Storage Sacs (15-20L) would be really convenient for kayakers and boaters…
Hi there Hiking Lady,
I’m Greg and I look after the product development at Innate. Thanks for putting our Mentor Storage Sacs through their paces. The mentor organizer sacs, which you have included a photo of, are a 2 panel design and come in 2,3 and 5 litre versions, while the Mentor storage sacs are 3 dimensional and come in 7,10, 15 and 20L versions. While the roll top closure combined with the H2Flow air valve allows moderate compression the next step would be to do a full version. Thanks for the idea and stay tuned!
best
greg