No, it’s not a duffel for lowlifes and dirtbags, although we know quite a few people of the ilk who regularly use duffels to carry out their nefarious tasks. Instead, the Kokatat Dirt Bag is a gear bag designed with paddlers in mind, giving them a spacious bag to carry and protect their expensive paddling gear.
Why is it called a “dirt bag,” then? We’re not entirely sure. Maybe, it’s the bag you carry when you’re down to get dirty. Maybe, it keeps your gear pristine by shielding it from dirt. Or maybe they just thought it was a funny name to call a duffel. Well, we definitely think so.
The Kokatat Dirt Bag is a 90-liter duffel, with a spacious main compartment, an internal stash pocket for small but important items, large pockets on either end, and even a pocket at the outer bottom of the bag. The main compartment has a mesh lid to allow air to circulate freely inside the bag, ensuring any wet gear you dump inside is given a better chance to dry, with the rest of the compartment left undivided, so you can use it to carry large and small gear alike.
One end pocket is meant to serve as a dedicated shoe compartment, which comes equipped with a mesh drain at the bottom for conveniently letting any dirt, sand, or water out, while the other end pocket is meant to hold any wet suits and base layers you’re bringing with you to the water. The bottom outer pocket is designed to hold the included changing mat, a round sheet of 200D coated polyester that measures 48 inches in diameter, which is meant to keep your feet, shoes, and garments dry, whether you’re changing into your wet suit or slipping into your everyday clothes.
The Kokatat Dirt Bag is made from 210D ripstop nylon, with a 200D coated polyester liner and a 1680D ballistic nylon floor, so it should be as durable and water-resistant as any bag you’ll be taking down the water requires. It has dual adjustable grab handles that you can use to carry it like a regular duffel, all while also doubling as shoulder straps if you want to carry it on both shoulders like a backpack. Suffice to say, this is a great solution for hauling the bag when you’re carrying heavier than usual loads. There’s also grab handles on each end of the bag for even more handling options.
Compression straps on each side of the bag can be used to carry paddles and other long equipment you need to take along, giving you the ability to carry items that won’t otherwise fit in the primary compartment. And for those times the bag is empty, you can even fold the entire thing into one of the end pockets, allowing you to store it in a drawer at home or stash it in a suitcase when you’re traveling. It measures 30 x 15 x 13 inches (length x depth x height).
The Kokatat Dirt Bag is priced at $95.