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ADV ProductsADV Bike AccessoriesSW-Motech Bags-Connection High-Viz Dry Bag Review

SW-Motech Bags-Connection High-Viz Dry Bag Review

A dry duffel bag that helps keep you safe while your gear is dry and secure.

Published on 10.10.2014

Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in the number of good waterproof luggage options available to us Adventure Riders. It seems manufacturers finally realized that off-road Adventure Riders need durable luggage that will keep their gear dry. While some companies have set out to develop luggage that is totally unique to the market, others have decided to improve on existing designs.

Duffel bags and dry bags have been a convenient option for carrying your gear for a long time. They are fairly easy to load and strap on your bike, and once you get to your destination, you can quickly unload. Until recently there weren’t many “waterproof” duffel bags available on the market. Dry bags, with an end loading design, were often the only waterproof bag option you could find. These tended to be more difficult to pack and they made finding items in your bag a chore. Duffel bags with their top loading design are more user friendly, especially when they include motorcycle specific tie down points.

SW-Motech Bags-Connection duffel

SW-Motech Bags-Connection duffel bag is made of waterproof tarpaulin material.

SW-Motech went fairly conservative on the design of their Bags-Connection Dry Duffel Bag, with the exception of the high visibility yellow color scheme. They began with a classic roll top dry duffel design and refined it with reflective patches, sturdy plastic tie down points, four strong mounting straps and a detachable shoulder strap. The bag is constructed with heavy-duty tarpaulin material with welded seams to keep gear safe and dry.


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We tested the 34 liter SW-Motech Bags-Connection High-Viz Dry Bag over thousands of miles of riding that included everything from all day rain showers on the highway to difficult ATV trails. The SW-Motech Bags-Connection Dry Bag proved to be extremely durable and completely waterproof in all conditions. The stiff tarpaulin material allowed the bag to stand up on it’s own during packing and the large roll top opening made it very easy to load.

SW-Motech Bags-Connection High-Viz Dry Bag keeps gear dry

The high visibility fabric really helps the bike get noticed by other motorists on the road and the material holds up nicely over time. However, the light color material has developed a few rub marks from other luggage and mounting racks coming in contact. These marks obviously do not affect the functionality of the bag and are strictly cosmetic. If you want to avoid visible scuff marks or you are not a fan of high-viz, take a look at SW-Motech’s darker colored Dry Bag 350 (35 Liter) and Dry Bag 600 (60 Liter).

Over the course of our testing, we experienced no problems with the design or function of the bag. The SW-Motech Bags-Connection High-Viz Dry Bag was convenient to use, carried a lot of gear and was easy to attach to almost any bike. For a person that packs light, almost an entire weekends worth of camping gear will fit inside. If you pack a bit heavier or for longer trips, this bag is a great addition to your pannier luggage system. With a very competitive price point and a solid design, the SW-Motech Bags-Connection Dry Bag offers great bang for the buck.

SW-Motech Bags-Connection High-Viz Dry Bag fits smaller bikes

SW-Motech Bags-Connection High-Viz Dry Bag for longer rides

SW-Motech Bags-Connection Dry Bags are available from Twisted Throttle in two sizes, 34 liters (21.7″ long x 9.8″ diameter) and 60 liters (27.5″ long x 13″ diameter). The bags come with a 2 year warranty.

Shopping Options:

Twisted Throttle (34 L & 60 L) Amazon.com (34 L) Amazon.com (60 L)

Author: Chad Berger

He’s a freelance journalist, photographer and tour guide from Wisconsin. Since 2004, Chad has been riding dual sport and adventure bikes all over the Midwest, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Moab, Baja, Alaska and many other places in between. He shares his experiences through the photography, videos and stories he produces from his trips. In 2008, Chad created a 600-mile dual sport route called the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail (TWAT), which eventually led to his becoming a tour guide for RIDE Adventures.

Author: Chad Berger
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