Dive Bomb Waterproof Zip Backpack: Dry Gear Wins

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Rain, mud, wet boats, and flooded timber have a talent for finding the gear you need most. The Dive Bomb Waterproof Zip Backpack gives shells, calls, snacks, clothing, and electronics a rugged, dry place to ride when the hunt turns sloppy.

Dive Bomb Waterproof Zip Backpack Takes on Wet Hunts

Every year, I look around for enhanced ways to keep my shells, calls, snacks, and other hunting accessories dry, and I always come back to Dive Bomb Industries. This time I have a chance to write about their backpack, the Dive Bomb Waterproof Zip Backpack, and it is made for the part of hunting that never seems to stay dry.

This is more than a bag and not really a full-size backpack. It lands in that useful middle ground where I can fill it with the things I actually need in the blind, boat, or flooded timber without hauling more pack than the hunt requires. The ability to fill it and keep things dry is worth a ton, especially when the weather decides to make everything difficult.

A Waterproof Hunting Backpack Built Around the Zipper

One immediately recognizes the waterproof TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane, shell for its durability and strength. The seams are welded, and waterproof zippers ensure the inside stays dry. Like many of Dive Bomb’s inventory of bags and packs, the Zip Pack is full of practical features meant for wet, dirty, gear-heavy hunts.

The zipper deserves attention because it is the part you will use over and over again with cold fingers or gloved hands. The large “T” handles make that easier. At first, the zipper will be tight, but with lube, it will loosen up some while remaining water-tight. That tightness is part of the bargain when the whole point of the pack is to keep the weather on the outside.

Dive Bomb Zip Pack Features That Matter in the Blind

• 100% waterproof main zippered compartment with included DB Zip Grease
• Rugged TPU shell with 420D lining for extreme durability
• Water-resistant exterior zippered pouch for quick-access gear
• Foam-padded interior pouch for protecting sensitive equipment
• Custom molded breathable foam back pad and comfort-foam straps
• Exterior drink holders on both sides for bottles or thermoses
• MOLLE loops and Duraflex® buckles for modular attachments
• Nylon strap loops compatible with Timber Strap System, sold separately
• Pressure relief valve for smooth transitions in changing environments
• Patch kit

The relief valve does indeed have a purpose. When you zip things up tight, it gives you the ability to bleed off any trapped air. Having to include a relief valve is a testament to the watertight feature of the backpack. It is one of those details that may not sound exciting until you are packing gear into a sealed bag before heading into ugly weather.

Padded Straps and Grab Points for Loaded Hunts

A dry pack still has to carry well, especially once it is stuffed with shells, calls, snacks, extra gloves, clothing, and whatever else always seems necessary after the truck door closes. The padded straps expand to allow for even the bulkiest clothing. As one would think, the ability to use only one strap is also usable because the straps do not slip around.

The top handle is nicely sized for grabbing onto the bag or hanging it from a blind or tree. It is large enough to get a gloved hand into the slot, which matters when you are moving gear before daylight or trying not to drop something into water that does not belong there.

I know from backpacking that a chest strap is a must. The shoulder straps stay in place and, in a way, the chest strap absorbs some of the weight load. Once a pack gets filled with the things you might need, comfort quits being a small detail.

Compact Size, Heavy Padding, and Welded Waterproof Seams

Overall, the pack has a size of 13” wide, 19” tall, and 7” thick while weighing in at only 2 pounds 7 ounces. The pack comes in seven colors, including Carbon Green, Carbon Tan, Carbon Brown, Blaze Orange, Stalk, and Bark. That footprint gives you useful room without making this feel like a full-size backcountry pack when the mission is a damp morning hunt and dry essentials.

Welding the TPU material ensures strength, water tightness, and rigidity of the bag. That construction is exactly what makes this type of waterproof hunting backpack attractive to a waterfowler. A soft bag that collapses into the mud is one thing. A pack with a little structure that protects the load and helps keep the wet out is another.

DB Zip Grease Keeps the Waterproof Zipper Moving

I really like the features provided, and know from experience in using their products that they will indeed keep my gear dry. The zippered top even includes grease for ease in opening and lubrication to keep it working for many years. I found the grease was necessary to keep the zipper from becoming hard to open and close. I greased it often.

This is not a drawback that should surprise anyone using a serious waterproof zipper. When a zipper is built to seal out water, it needs attention. The included grease is a small addition that becomes a real asset to the longevity of the bag, especially for hunters who use gear hard and put it away after wet mornings.

How Much Hunting Gear Fits Inside the Dive Bomb Pack?

In all, there is just over a cubic foot of space to stuff all your hunting supplies that need to be kept dry. There are two internal pouches and two smaller pen pouches that are all reinforced. A clip and strap are included for keys or whatever you want to secure. That organization is handy when the load is a mix of small items, clothing, shells, calls, and electronics that you do not want wandering around in the bottom of the pack.

I have to ask the question: just how much can one put into a pack like this? For me, I just keep stuffing things in that I know I may need and find the access to the top, big, and easy to use. The zipper should be lubricated to ensure long life and allow it to move freely. Waterproof performance is valuable, but access still matters when the ducks are working, and you need gear now.

The front pouch, which also has a water-tight zipper, is great for adding in small stuff like your phone, license, or flat items. There are no fewer than 23 durable nylon loops, plus two heavily reinforced loops and two water bottle pouches. These all come in handy when the haul out includes your limit of ducks.

Final Verdict: A Dry Place for the Gear You Count On

The Dive Bomb Waterproof Zip Backpack is not a giant expedition pack, and it does not need to be. It is a practical, well-featured pack for the hunter who keeps finding himself around water, mud, rain, wet boats, and blinds where dry storage is always at a premium. Between the welded TPU shell, waterproof zippered storage, padded straps, pressure relief valve, interior organization, exterior loops, and included zipper grease, this pack provides a lot of function in a compact package.

I know from experience with Dive Bomb products that keeping hunting gear dry is where they earn their place. When your shells, calls, phone, license, snacks, gloves, and spare layers all need one dependable home, a waterproof hunting backpack like this makes plenty of sense.

MSRP: $179.00

Dive Bomb Waterproof Zip Backpack Specifications

Model	Dive Bomb Waterproof Zip Backpack
Construction	Waterproof TPU shell with welded seams
Main Compartment	100% waterproof zippered compartment with included DB Zip Grease
Interior	Two internal pouches and two smaller reinforced pen pouches
Exterior Storage	Water-tight front pouch, two water bottle pouches, 23 durable nylon loops plus two heavily reinforced loops
Dimensions	13” wide, 19” tall, and 7” thick
Weight	2 pounds 7 ounces
Colors	Seven colors, including Carbon Green, Carbon Tan, Carbon Brown, Blaze Orange, Stalk, and Bark
MSRP	$179.00

Dive Bomb Zip Pack Pros and Cons: Dry Gear Wins, Grease Required

• Pros: Waterproof TPU shell, welded seams, waterproof main compartment, roomy top access, padded straps, chest strap, pressure relief valve, interior organization, numerous exterior loops, water bottle pouches, and included DB Zip Grease.
• Cons: It is not really a full-size backpack, and the tight waterproof zipper needs regular lubrication to stay easy to open and close.

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