RUX 70L waterproof duffel bag
When I first saw the RUX 70L waterproof duffel bag/bin, my initial thought was, “What a load of faff!” It has straps, bars, clips, a roll-back top, and a QR code to scan for tips, tricks, and product care. Plus, instructions on how to put it all together! As a SUP coach, my days are filled with paddleboarding faff and any additional, well, I try my best to avoid as much as possible.
Slightly heavy-hearted, I grabbed a cuppa and sat down to watch their (and what turned out to be upbeat and fun) short films explaining the various uses, combos, and creative approaches to their designs. And you know what? It is a pretty cool set-up!
RUX was founded in 2019 on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, by industrial designer Tony Richardson and entrepreneurs Andre Charland and Jamie Bond. Their aim? To create a system that can carry and protect all their adventure gear and be a great storage solution.
The RUX 70L is designed to be multi-functional, weatherproof, tough, easy to use and carry. Plus, and this is the bit that is especially appealing, they offer a repair service. I love that they do not want your RUX to end up in a landfill! The SUP world does not have the best of records when it comes to sustainability. So, this repair service along with its lifetime guarantee is especially appealing.
The RUX 70L is their largest bag. It is made from aircraft-industrial-grade TPU-coated 840D nylon and has a load limit of 50 lbs (22.6 kg).
The material feels slightly silky and is nice to the touch. With reinforced carry straps, you can use it as a rucksack or a holdall just by changing their length. No need for these? You can remove them and use the grab handles instead. When empty, it compresses to just 8 cm tall and weighs 2.4kg.
Access to the interior super easy
The lid is ‘tri-fold’, or you can roll it up in layman’s terms. Taking the top off requires a quick pull on a neat, easy-to-use bungee system. Leave it on, and you will have the option to roll it partially open. This makes access to the interior super easy when out on your SUP or canoe. The top is strong enough to be used as a table or to stand on when getting changed. Nice!
The designers have created a design you can use when camping, overnighting or heading out for a day’s adventure.
I like the secure lash points on the bag’s exterior; it’s a great way to stop it from moving around in the back of your vehicle. Or, you can opt for RUX utility hooks and hang it on the wall of your garage or inside your van. While submersion in water will not protect your gear (so smaller dry bags will need to be ready), there is an option to buy their version of a bucket-styled dry bag, which is easily attachable to the interior to stop it moving about. Utility straps (inspired by the ski world) can be purchased for an easy attachment to the RUX 70L if wanting to take it out on the water.
It’s available in three colours: green, black, and a nice burnt orange – the latter of which I love. Smaller bags can be added to the outside or inside using a very cool clip system.
Price-wise, the 70L is £244.00, the RUX pocket is £37.00, and the interior bag is another £66.00. The grand total is a hefty £347.00, and yes, like me, it might just make your eyes water.
But let’s face facts: with a lot of sub-standard gear flooding onto the paddling market in recent years, our contribution to landfills is not something we can be proud of. Investing in the multi–functional RUX might be the wisest choice for not only all our adventure needs but also for the planet!
Thank you to members from CAKE with Wotbikini for participating in the photo shoot.
