Sailorbags: A Bag for Every Sailor

Spoiler alert: Giveaway at the end of this post!

A long time ago I wrote a post on having guests aboard where I outlined a set of tips on how to be good sailboat crew. One of them was: NO ROLLY BAGS. Bags are one of those things that you just need on a boat, but not all bags are up for the test. The marine environment is rough, storability is key, and function must outweigh form. Long ago, we discovered SailorBags and began what has been an amazing partnership with them. I cannot sing enough praise about their bags and, believe me, we've used a lot of bags on our boat. We've even turned a few of our friends and family onto them as well.  So what do we love about them? Well, we have a bunch of favorites and each bag has a special place and purpose on our boat.

Here's a quick run down of what we've got and why we love it:

>>>>> The Back Pack<<<<<

I could sing this bag praise forever. Anyone who knows us and/or has spent any considerable time with us will attest to the fact that we use this bag every. single. day. It's large enough to pack a bunch of stuff to accommodate a family of five on a shore trip, but small enough that it doesn't feel like a burden.  Scott used this pack as his luggage when he went to Florida for a week and there is no way we'd travel by land, sea or air without one. There are three compartments to help organize gear, and a wine water bottle holder on each side. The material is durable and water resistant, and our pack has been chucked in and out of our dinghy countless times. Our only critique is that after four years of use one of our zippers broke, but SailorBags has an amazing guarantee and replaced our backpack free of charge, no questions asked. Great products backed by excellent customer service? Amen.

>>>>>  The Stow Bag<<<<<

While I do most of our laundry by hand (I actually really enjoy it!) there are occasions when I will hit up a laundry mat to clean a bunch of clothes that have piled up and/or bulky blankets (blankets are tricky to clean in a 5 gallon bucket!) Enter: the stow bag. Ours is the extra-large size and you can see it holds a good amount of gear. With a drawstring closure and a shoulder strap, this bag makes trips to the laundromat a breeze. The fact that it's water resistant and made out of tough sailcloth means it's always up for the trip, come hell or high water! 

>>>>>  The Mini Tote <<<<<

SailorBags sent this little tote for Isla for her birthday (yep, they are thoughtful as well!) and we love it. To be completely honest, I use this bag more than Isla because it's the perfect size for for a night out (they are rare, but they happen!) When my "everyday" tote (see below) is too big, and bulky to lug around for an adult-only dinner, this little bag is the perfect purse. Easily holds a phone, VHF radio, wallet and small items like that. Durable, mega water-resistant, and stylish.

>>>>>  The Drawstring Bag<<<<<

This bag was a sleeper hit with our crew but when we started using it, we never stopped. The drawstring bag is perfect for those times we do a quick run out and only need to pack few things. It's the perfect bag for a run to customs, it's a great "light" bag to bring along on a hike, and perfect for a short afternoon trip to the beach. It can easily hold a large water bottle, a few granola bars, a VHF radio and a turkish towel.  Bonus? The mesh pocket on the outside is great for collecting sea shells in without filling your bag full of sand. It's a great "mini" day pack that is equally functional on the beach, trail or road.

>>>>>  The Medium Tote<<<<<

I'm not sure which bag gets more use, the backpack or this medium tote - but suffice it to say, both are used every day. This tote has been my main "purse" for a few years and I love it. I was something of a pack-rat before I had kids, and motherhood has made me hone this skill even more. I'm always prepared for anything; a hungry kid, a dirty diaper, a second application of sunscreen, the means to disinfect a child who picked up a mystery mushy thing from the road...you name it. Because it's white, the tote does show dirt and will not stay pristine (at least not the way I use it) and no amount of washing it will get it to the former glory, but I think it just adds to the bag's character. It zips shut (essential for me when it comes to a purse that's tossed around a lot!), is big enough to hold a lap top and more, durable to sit on the floor of dinghies and bars, and perfect for every day use. Oh, the stories this bag could tell!

>>>>>  The Square Duffel<<<<<

We've done a LOT of back and forth traveling over the last five years. Every time, we do - these bags are what carry our stuff. We have seven of them. One extra large duffel is enough for all of my clothes for the boat (or, okay, most of them) and Scott can usually get away with a large. The twins share a large duffle for all of their clothes and belongings and Isla has a medium one for her things. I love that all our bags coordinate and the white really stands out for easy picking out of the baggage claim. Again; water resistant, durable, stow-able and perfectly functional.

>>>>>>>>> GIVEAWAY TIME! <<<<<<<<<

Now that I've shown you some of our favorite bags and their uses,I want to give one of you a bag to show you that it will quickly become one of your favorites as well!

If you would like a chance to win a back pack from the brand new, super sleek, SILVER SPINNAKER COLLECTION (an $109 value!) simply comment on this post with why you would like this bag, and I will chose a winner at random in the next week!(*conditions apply)

WIN THIS BAG >>>>>>>>>>>>>

And as an EXTRA SPECIAL treat, use the code WINDTRAVEL over at sailorbags.com for 20% off!
(Good thru 11/16)

*No substitutions. Ground shipping is included to a domestic US shipping address. Winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter, as well as a final comment on this post. Be sure to watch!

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Thanks for playing!