Dive bags Mares Backpack V Ralf Tech Explorer

[Markyg]

Help!!

Has anyone got either of these 2 bags?

On paper they are very similar, 130 litres plus and weight wise both approximately 6 kilos. however i've not seen either bag in the flesh!!

For this price they appear to be the best bags around, has anyone got any pros or cons on either?

Thanks for the help.

Mark

[dct]

Hi,

Is that the Mares one with the wheels? If so the wheels break too easily... then cost circa £15 to replace

Wasn't even my bag, I borrowed it

Daniel.

[Markyg]

Yes the Mares Bag does have wheels. It's a brand new design that comes with the extra cover to protect it but can envisage that this will get easily ripped!! I like the look of the Ralf Tech bag but not quite sure about the extra pockets/bags etc stuck on the front - will these make the bag vulnerable and be easily teared off!!

Choices, choices. I currently have a Posiedon Bag but it's just not quite big enough, the zips pulls have all broken and a lot of the stitching has burst!!!!

Hence why i want to try and get it right this time!!

Thanks

Mark

[RonProwse]

If your going to take it on a plane then your already cutting into your weight allowance, i use the 2 kg wheeled bag from Argos, as cheap as chips and more then enough room for all the kit i need overseas

R

[Phil Mauer]

Have you any more details on the Argos bag - I have a TUSA one and its 5kgs empty, I'm looking for a light bag with wheels big enough for a liveaboard trip.

Thanks

[dct]

I have a large Ralf Tech holdall style bag, very lightweight (less than 2kg), good zips, one pocket on each end.

I'd say if you want lightweight + wheels, you'll struggle. Unless you have a good reason for wheels, then I'd have a look at the holdall style bags.

Daniel.

[dct]

This is the one I have.
Big
Basic
Strong
(10 year guarantee apparently, can't comment on that though, not tried using it!)

Ralf Tech - Pro Diving Equipment

Daniel.

[Markyg]

Hi Daniel

Is your bag big enough to get all your kit in plus a few clothes? Being on the slightly large size my wetsuit is large, my BCD is large etc so need a large bag. A have a Mares large mesh bag but this doesn't hold all my dive gear. I see from the link you posted that the holdall bag has 120 litres of volume which is only slighty less than the big wheeled bags and a fraction of the cost!! I bet its fairly light as well?

Thanks

Mark

[dct]

Mark,

Yes. I've taken all dive kit plus a weeks clothes in it (3mm suit). I did weigh it, and i think it was less than 2kg, though could have been less. I could weigh it again, but it's packed for my diving trip tomorrow. Let me know and i can weigh it tomorrow night...

I also took some of my wife's kit in it last time. However i've tried all my uk kit in it, and the bag is not quite big enough (drysuit, undersuit etc.)

Dan

[dct]

My wife thinks it was less than 1kg... I'll weigh tomorrow...

Also, you can't fit normal sized fins in the fin pockets of the mares bag, nevermind large fins.

Daniel.