Every mariner has heard of Grundens, the company that outfits commercial fishermen with their foul-weather gear, but now that they’ve started a recreational line called Gage some interesting new boating goodies are popping up. Case in point: the Shackleton, a duffel bag from Gage which might just be the ultimate in boating bags. When I checked one out I was so uber-impressed, I just had to spread the word.

Could the Gage Shackleton be the best boating bag yet?

 Why the Shackleton impressed me can be summed up in one word: Tough. Wait a sec – make that two words, because it’s also imperative to know that this bag is waterproof. Ummm… okay, I need a third word: big. The Shackleton holds a whopping 105 liters, which I found was plenty of room for a spare set of clothing, my handheld electronics, a tacklebox, and lunch, with some room left over.

How are you going to haul that much gear without breaking your back? This duffel has a pair of padded backpack straps, which hide away in a zippered compartment when you don’t need them. Now grab those straps, step on the bag, and pull with all of your might – they’re just as tough as the rest of the duffel, which is made from 500 denier PVC tarpaulin with welded seams.

Down-sides? The only one I have to offer is price. With a MSRP of $97, this bag is anything but cheap. Of course, as usual, you get what you pay for. And in this case, what you get can be summed up in one… ummm, I mean three words: tough, waterproof, and big. Check it out at www.grundens.com, or watch Grunden’s video showing off the Shackleton.