Stashbags. (What an uplifting title)

So.  Stashbags.  Perhaps not the sexiest part of your kit, but for sure one of the most important – this is the piece of kit that looks after your rig, that keeps it dry, that potentially makes a 4 hour hike seem like only 2 hours – or 4 days.

A quick straw poll in the valley reveals that most people fall into 3 camps...

What follows is an article about stashbags that appeared in the September Issue of Edge BASE Magazine.  All opinions are our own, and should be taken with a huge pinch of salt...

Those who use the stashy that came with their rig.  Maybe it has a ‘compression system’.  But essentially, it’s a black sack with webbing straps you could (it seems) cut cheese with.  Mostly.  Of course Squirrel have raised the game with their 2-fabric offering - and amusing play on words (Stache.  Geddit?).

Then there are the big mountain jumpers – since for longer hikes you need a lightweight backpack-type set-up. The proliferation of the GoLite in recent years has been incredible – not made specifically for BASE like Adrenalin’s latest offering (see inset), this was the first backpack to be bastardised into a stashy with cunning use of scissors and lighters.

Thirdly there’s the Custom crew – those who have a super flashy custom bag tweaked to stashy-perfection. 

But which stashy features are the most important?  Well, after a by-no-means-scientific study, we’ve made the following sweeping generalisations:

It’s a hip thing
The belt around the hip is, overall, an important element – possibly joint top place (see the sweat issue, below).  No hip belt means your bag hangs from only the shoulders – and since the size and shape of the average stashy is NOT exactly well-packed and balanced, it makes for a seriously uncomfortable hike.

The sweat issue
Waterproof.  To protect your rig from the elements, and, let’s be honest, your sweaty back, the fabric must have a decent level of water resistance.  Although lining your stashy with a black binbag is a not-unheard-of suggestion to get around this problem.

Closure
The ‘drawstring around the top’?  GREAT for showing off your gopro, peeking proudly out of the top of your bag; NOT great if it rains.  And the fiddly knot thing you have to do to keep it closed is just annoying.

A valid point though, in the ‘which stashbag’ debate, is this: it entirely depends on what you’re using the stashbag for.

The very definition of ‘stashbag’ suggests just that.  A bag in which to put things in a hasty fashion.  But this is no longer the case – and the explosion of BASE-specific equipment (and, indeed, a BASE-specific shop – go VBG!) has spread to the humble rig-carrier, creating a veritable library of stashbags to choose from.

The humble sack-like bag with simple tie closure has its place – for sure.  The (il)legality of your jump might mean you want a fairly quick ‘stash & run’ functionality – not so easy with zips, clips and limited volume… 

Conversely, on high mountain jumps where only cows watch you pack up on landing, closure doesn’t matter – padding does.  Enough to stay comfy for the hike; not so much that you have a small suitcase under your rig for the jump.

And in the valley?  Let’s be honest, you could carry your rig to exit in a Coop bag and not feel a pinch.


So, what conclusion – if any – did we come to here in Lauterbrunnen?  We didn’t.  The market is so full of great ideas, modifications and features that are specific to the kind of jumping that YOU do, we think it’s best if you decide.  


Go on then…

We love…
The AdrenalinBASE Mountain Stashbag
Designed for maximum comfort on big mountain hikes (hence the name, we think), Adrenalin’s Mountain bag has been 2 years in the making.  Really.
It has a unique shape to balance weight, that all-important hip belt to relieve the shoulders, multiple adjustment straps so you can find the perfect fit for you – and, the piece de resistance – an almost 360degree zip closure.
Arrive at exit, lay down your stashy, zip it open… et voila!  Your gear is safely – and drily – tucked away in the stashy.  No more yanking your wingsuit out, straight into the mud, while your helmet disappears over the edge.  Nope.  They’ve got it covered. Brilliant.