Sometimes e.g. while multi-sump diving you need to carry your SM CCR unit to the next water pit. In this “How to: Caving Bag Sidemount Rebreather” I’ll explain how to plan and measure and where to order. However there are already existing solutions which you can rely on.
First things first. You want to have a bag that doesn’t add a lot of weight to the entire rig, but is durable enough to be pushed or pulled in muddy dry-areas.
So there are two options you can get to your new caving bag.
- You plan, measure and make it by yourself order it at a tailor
- You buy a one size fits all solution from a manufacturer
Both options have advantages and dis-advantages.
The DIY Caving Bag for your Sidemount Rebreather
A lot of my friends and I dive Sidemount CCR. There are Divesoft Liberty Sidemount Rebreather, T-Reb by OtherGravity, some just started diving the Flex CCR which is based on the XCCR by iQsub Technologies and some others. All units are more or less resistant against dirty or muddy environment. Nevertheless it makes much more sense if the unit is secured while carrying around. So we decided to make our own product and talked to a local tailor and asked her to do it.
We measured the units and gave an additional 1-2 centimeters in width and height. We wanted it to be as tight as possible so the unit does not wiggle around. The same time of course it should be possible to put the unit into the bag without breaking fingers. And we like to carry stages with it too. At some point you like to have a robust bag, just in case you have to go a path like this:
For the material we chose truck tarpaulin and asked the tailor for a double-wall sewing. We wanted to have a strong, durable cover, a strong bottom and a cover-lid on the top with strong laces. In addition we wanted multiple handles to have variation while handling and shoulder straps to carry it like a backpack.
When the tailor curses you
It took the tailor around 4 weeks because we ordered 7 bags.
Let’s be honest: the tailor hated us for this job. She absolutely underestimated the effort building this double-walled truck tarpaulin sewing. The outcome was fantastic, though she unfortunately told us she wont accept further orders.
Due she sew everything inside-out the bags had to be turned. Our friend Dirk who picked them up, had to turn them. It took him an entire Saturday.
Conclusion
So if you really want to do it on your own while holding the quality high – forget it. It’s definitively a job for an expert tailor. Talk to your local tailor but be aware they might hate you later. From a cost perspective it was around 120 € each bag, which is pretty low for the quality – so expect more. You also might as an upholsterer for trucks. When you order with friends a small series might be less expensive and the upholsterer is used to the strong material.
Quick Solution to carry a Sidemount Rebreather
Sometimes you just need it quick and dirty – but also safe enough to carry your 10k € unit a couple of stairs to a lake or a mine. In this case I copied the solution of Alexandr Ilbitskiy and bought some adjustable shoulder straps. You can buy them at Amazon here (sponsored link to German Amazon).
A pro tip: change the plastic clips to double-enders and you are faster in attaching and detaching the straps from your unit. Works very well for me for 2 years now.
Shops with Caving Bags for Sidemount Rebreathers
Sidemount Joe just contacted me and made me aware that our friend Oliver Steinle from Sidemount Explorer also does sell Caving Bags.
The absolute positive addition to this bag is the included PVC tube with 2mm thickness. It secures especially units with external counter-lungs like the Divesoft Liberty.
Sidemount Rebreather like the T-Reb or Flex do have their counter-lungs included in the tube, while the Divesoft counter-lungs are external in an exposed position of the unit and therefore a bit more unprotected to the environment. Though I never heard any issues of harmed or ruptured counter-lungs myself I can understand that people like to have that additional safety.
I know Oli personally and can ensure his products are always of high quality. Just contact him and talk about prices, size and stuff.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me!
Disclaimer: I’m not sponsored and can’t speak on behalf of shop owners or tailors.
The photos of our caving bag were done by Atra and the photo of the Sidemount Explorer unit I received by Sidemount Joe. If there are more shops going to offer Dry Bags, I will add them to this post.
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