Mustang Survival Greenwater 35L Deck Bag

Andrew Piotrowski

Overview: One thing I learned in many years of open water paddling is that sometimes things just don’t go your way. Maybe you misread the wind direction or didn’t see the slight chance of hail on the forecast. Personally, I do my best to over-evaluate the conditions and potential issues but again sometimes you miss things.

Mustang Survival Greenwater 35L Deck Bag

This particular day I missed something and it made for a perfect way to test the Mustang Survival Greenwater Dry Bag.  It was a chilly fall morning with temps in the lower 40s in the morning. The wind was blowing at around 13mph from the Northeast which made for some choppy but manageable conditions.

Mustang Survival Greenwater 35L Deck Bag

Our plan was to paddle our large touring canoe down the Wye River, across part of the Eastern Chesapeake Bay, and across the mighty Miles River to a small sailing town called St Michaels MD. Our plan was to meet our wives at our favorite Oyster house for a late lunch.

Mustang Survival Greenwater 35L Deck Bag

All in all the trip is about 8 miles with a 3-mile wide section of open water to cross. We packed our dry clothing for lunch along with our phones, radio, and GPS into the Greenwater 35L and pushed off into the saltwater. Besides the occasional gust to deal with the early miles were uneventful.

However, when we reached the Miles River I soon found out what I missed, lots of big, fast, & expensive boats. As we approached the channel, we could see a long line of 20 to 70ft yachts and fishing vessels crisscrossing to and from the maze of ports and waterways.

We could see our destination but we would have to navigate the channel to reach it or turn around and backtrack 7 miles. One to never turn down an adventure or a miss out on Oysters we paddled into the mayhem. We charged over the chop leftover from a speedy center console only to be greeted by a set of 3ft breakers from a large Yacht.

I thought we had been doing a good job keeping the water out until I watched the Greenwater Bag float from the Bow to the Stern of the canoe. I remember thinking to myself “I hope that bag is as waterproof as they say”. For the next 15 minutes, I navigated us through the waves as my friend frantically pumped water out with a bilge pump.

When we got to the dock the Greenwater was upside down sitting in 8 inches of water. I was soaked, cold, and ready for some Oysters. We drained the boat and opened the partially submerged dry bag to find everything inside completely dry. On top of that everything remained perfectly folded in the rectangle-shaped dry bag. While I love me a good roll-top bag, the Greenwater’s shape and large YKK zipper opening allow for items to be neatly packed like a suitcase.

Mustang Survival Greenwater 35L Deck Bag Reveiw

Function: As mentioned above this bag exceeds the primary function in keeping things dry. However, some other key features make it a joy to use. The rectangle shape and flat bottom allow for you to maximize space for packing and easily access items inside. The yellow contrast bottom allows you to easily see items in low light and looks great. Finally, the plethora of tie-down points and grab handles make it easy to carry and secure.

Durability: In the time that I have had the bag it has shown zero signs of wear and overall feels extremely durable. The heavy-duty 420D Hypalon fabric feels nearly indestructible.

What I love: I think my favorite feature is the large YKK Aquaseal zipper. This is the same zipper used on dry suits and is outfitted with a large grab handle to make opening and closing the bag quick and easy. Did I mention its completely watertight?

Final Thoughts: Regardless of the water sport or mission this bag is perfect for anyone looking to keep their gear dry. Simply strap it down, seal it up, and maybe lube the zipper occasionally and this thing will endure many years of abuse. 

Check it out at https://mustangsurvival.com/products/greenwater-35l-submersible-deck-dry-bag 

 MSRP: $249.99