Dedicated to divers
Another benefit to a dive-specific bag is that your gear can be stowed away safely once you’re back home. If you were to use your regular suitcase as your dive bag, you’d have to unpack your dive gear out of it whenever you wanted to use it, and it would probably have a build up of sand and salt over time.
Size matters
Not only is this bag big but, unlike a conventional suitcase, it features a longer rectangular shape. Probably the No. 1 issue with packing dive gear into a standard large suitcase is that your fins are too long.
That won’t be an issue with this bag—standing at 34 inches (87cm) tall,your fins, as well your wetsuit, BCD, drysuit etc., can lay flat inside, extending the life of your dive gear.
Wet vs. dry sides
Many of us have faced the issue of packing or repacking our dive gear when it isn’t fully dry. With this bag, that won’t be a problem as it’s split into two separate compartments—one breathable and the other 100% waterproof.
Use the breathable compartment for your damp dive gear so that it gets some ventilation or keep it in the waterproof section, closed off from your dry clothes on the other side. Either way works well, we just recommend sticking to one for the entirety of the trip.
Conventional suitcases are usually just one big compartment, which means cramming everything together—underwear stuffed into boots and T-shirts wedged around your BCD.
With the Steel 34’s two compartments, you can separate everyday essentials from dive gear, making packing, organizing, and finding clothes, cosmetics, or kit much easier. Plus, then you’ve only got to check one bag if you’re flying, which helps alleviate bag fees.
Materials
These light materials mean that if the bag gets splashed during a bumpy ferry ride or you decide to hose down the inside, it’s easy to clean and will dry relatively quickly.
Polyester is also flexible, so the bag can easily bulge if necessary or compress with its straps without creating tension on the material.
On stress points, such as the corners or around the edges, the dive bag is reinforced with hard plastic or Hypalon—a rubber and neoprene mix—which is used in the construction of many dive RIB boats. This protects it from unavoidable wet moments, like unpacking on a liveaboard dive deck or abrasion from sandy paths.
The bag is equipped withstrong and durable wheels and a telescopic handle for easy and comfortable movement around airport stations or busy transport stations. When I need to lift the bag onto a baggage carousel or boat dock, the bag is equipped with a padded top and a side grab handle.
Price/Quality Ratio
The Stahlsac 34 Inch Steel Wheeled Bag is an undeniably expensive bag, priced at around $400. However it’s also one of best values, when considering all its dive-specific design features, strong build, and size.
A couple could easily share this bag on their next liveaboard trip. If 148L is too much, there is a smaller 27-inch/82L Stahlsac Steel and the Moby 7 115L is also a worthy contender.
Do we recommend the Stahlsac 34 Inch Steel Wheeled Bag ?
We 100% recommend the Stahlsac 34 Inch Steel Wheeled Bag. Traveling with dive gear is always going to cumberstone, and investing in a strong, sturdy dive bag is a smart choice.
The Stahlsac 34 Inch Steel bag has durable wheels and handles, so pulling it through airports, into taxis, and across dive boat decks is going to be so much more comfortable. With its two compartments, divers can have peace of mind that soggy gear stays separate, and that your classy evening wear can stay dry and fresh.
Specs & Features
| Material | Interior: 630D or 420D HD polyester with water resistance | Exterior: Hypalon (rubber & neoprene) or tarpaulin |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 148 L |
| Dimensions | 34 × 17 × 12 in (86.4 × 43.2 × 30.5 cm) |
| Weight | 12.6 lbs. (5.7 kg) |
| Handles | Telescopic and two grab handles (top & side) |
| Wheels | Two |
| Compartments | Two large compartments for wet & dry separation; five small & medium pockets inside & outside the bag |
Take a moment to look at this.
