|
ACR
Electronics RapidDitch Express Bag Specifications |
|
Material |
600
Denier Polyester |
|
Floatation |
Closed cell foam |
|
Overall Size |
19"W x 15"H x 7"D |
|
EPIRB/GPS Pocket Size |
4"W x 14"H x 4"D |
| Main
Compartment Size |
15"W x 15"H x 7"D |
| Features |
Internal pockets,
elastic daisy chain organizer, Tether strap, EPIRB external pocket,
mounting/securing bracket |
| MSRP |
$69 |
The handle straps are wrapped and
held securely together via Velcro
Impressions:
When you first set eye on
the ACR RapidDitch Express, it looks like any ordinary tall orange duffle bag.
It has a main compartment where you secure items inside via zippers, a side
pouch, a small front meshed pocket, and hand and shoulder straps used for
transportation. Once you take a closer look and actually pick it up, you’ll
notice the Express Bag is actually more than just an ordinary bag. The
RapidDitch Express is a safety ditch bag that’s constructed out of 600 Denier
polyester with closed cell foam used for floatation. The main compartment along
with organizers is actually very large in volume and can hold a lot of safety
equipment. On the right side of the bag is a pocket that can be used to hold
things such as a GPS or EPIRB unit with their antenna sticking out. Along with
some other smaller features, the RapidDitch Express comes with mounting hardware
that’s available for use if needed. Our initial impressions of the bag are good
and it’s very well built, but let’s see how it actually performs on the field.
Here's the external side pocket
perfect for holding an EPIRB
Field Tests:
Many anglers and boaters will ask why they need a ditch bag. Well, similar to
lifejackets, the RapidDitch Express bag is a safety tool that can and will safe
your life one day especially if your boat capsizes or sink in a remote area
while in offshore fishing grounds or in secluded waterways. We brought along the
RapidDitch Express on our offshore adventures, and also field tested the bag in
lakes simulating a possible real life situation.
JIP in the water field testing the ACR
RapidDitch Express bag
The Design:
The ACR RapidDitch Express bag was designed to be an abandon ship survival gear
bag that has the ability to house the equipment that can ensure one’s safety.
When disaster strikes anglers and boaters need to be able to grab and go. The
RapidDitch Express is designed to be placed on the deck of the boat or can be
snapped in place in the cabin via the bag mount hardware that’s including with
the bag. This allows an angler to quickly snatch up the bag while abandoning
ship.
The Express bag can be secured on the deck of
the boat or inside the cabin
Another thing that makes
this bag a good design is that ACR Electronics constructed the bag to hold
essential signaling electronics with the external side pocket that fits an EPIRB.
If your EPIRB is water-activated, this should do it, or having the device held
securely external will allow one to quickly reach for the most important S.O.S.
device especially for offshore big game hunters. The ease of use continues where
the Express bag has large zippers that make it easier to open and close in
difficult situations. We tried accessing the equipment in the main compartment
of the RapidDitch Express bag while in a lake treading water. Since the bag
floats and has easy to reach zipper cords, opening the bag was quick and
stress-free.
The bag floats
and can double as additional floatation while waiting to be rescued
Though all or most of the
survival gear you place in any ditch bag is or should be waterproof, having a
waterproof bag to go along with the equipment will surely prolong the life of
electronics and such. The RapidDitch Express is only water-resistant and if
submerged water can enter through the zippers. The bag floats and does a good
job at keeping water out, but if you didn’t have a lifejacket on and you used
this bag as floatation, water can get in.
Two snap-hooks on each side, four total, of
the bag will keep your items from falling out into the water when opened
Inside, the main
compartment is designed to hold both large and small gear such as flares where
they are held securely via elastic daisy chain organizers, and three small
pockets to keep other small equipment in its own space. Then the main
compartment itself can hold any large survival gear or supplies and can be
secured via four snap-hook tethers. We used these snap-hook tethers and attached
them to the lanyard from our handheld electronics. Thanks to the design of our
RapidDitch Express bag, we had little worry of these important survival tools
falling into the water when unzipping the bag.
Constructed with closed cell-foam, the
RapidDitch Express floats when loaded with survival gear
Plentiful Storage:
This bag was design to hold survival equipment and has plenty of storage space
for that. With the Express bag you can hold all required safety equipment and
more. We loaded it up with six sticks of flares, both aerial and handheld, ACR’s
Firefly strobe, ACR’s signaling mirror, space blanket, handheld GPS, backup
handheld VHF radio, extra batteries, energy bars, bottles of water, and much
more. Still there is plenty of room for more gear, but we recommend that you do
not overload such bag to the point where it will no longer float. One thing,
because of the great storage capacity of this bag, the size isn’t that small and
will pertain to saltwater anglers more than bass anglers with bass boats.
Large capacity to hold more than enough
safety equipment
Elastic daisy chain organizers are great for
flares and other objects
Ergonomics:
Ergonomics with the ACR RapidDitch Express is good. With a large zipper you have
an easy time opening and closing the main compartment. The external side pocket
is also simple to operate by the elastic band that can be locked in place. Two
ways to carry the bag while on land or when abandoning ship, with the hand
straps that Velcro together or the shoulder tether strap. In the water we find
using the shoulder tether strap is best especially if you’re swimming or in
motion. Having the safety bag securely around your body allows you to move
around freely without having to hold onto the bag itself.
Grab the shoulder strap and put it around
yourself when swimming will allow you to have full control of your hands
Durability:
After having used the bag for quite some time now in saltwater and freshwater
situations, we find the RapidDitch Express bag quite durable. The 600 Denier
Polyester fabric provides a rugged external armor against damage from things
such as hooks though it is vulnerable to inadvertent snags. The bottom of the
most current model now available at stores has a more durability fabric than our
test model. This will provide for better wear on the bottom of the bag as it
slides around on rough surfaces. The zipper on our test bag is made of pot metal
that’s well coated but the most current ditch bags now have a plastic zipper
that’s durable and will be corrosion-free. Overall our bag held up well but the
new and improved version should be even better in the durability category.
Good sized zippers allow a secure
grip when opening in the water
Price:
The MSRP of $69 might seem
high for some while for others it’s not especially if it’s lifesaving. But
simply use your favorite search engine and type in “rapidditch express” and
you’ll receive results to online retailers that sell this bag for as low as $39.
What a deal!
