At a campground amenities block there’s rarely a dry place to put a toiletry bag. A hanging one fixes that: hook it over a door, a tap or a branch and everything is at eye level. The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Hanging Toiletry Bag is a very light take on the idea. We paid $45 for the Small and have tested it on recent trips around NSW.
What’s in the box
A zipped toiletry bag that opens like a clamshell, with a hanging hook, zipped mesh pockets inside and a small mirror. It comes in two sizes, Small and Large, and two colours, High Rise Grey and Blue Atoll.
What we like
- Hook hangs it even on a car door
- Very light: 101 g on our scale
- Mesh pockets show what’s inside
- Detachable mirror included
- Sheds splashes and dries quickly
- Comes in two sizes and two colours
What we don’t
- No structure: won’t stand up
- Thin fabric: cover sharp things
- Zips aren’t waterproof
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sea to Summit |
| Capacity | 3 LLarge: 6 L |
| Material | Ultra-SilCordura nylonWater-resistant |
| Colour options | High Rise GreyBlue Atoll |
| Weight | 101 g |
| Size | 40 × 23 × 6 cmLarge: 52 × 25 × 8 cm |
| Included | Hanging hookMirror |
Weight and fabric
The bag is made of Ultra-Sil, a thin ripstop fabric woven with Cordura nylon yarn. It’s very light and water resistant: it sheds splashes and dries quickly. The zips are ordinary ones and not waterproof, so the bag isn’t made for heavy rain or for going under water.
Ours weighed 101 g on the scale. Sea to Summit lists the Small at 80 g, so ours came out a little heavier. Either way, it’s a small fraction of what a padded toiletry bag weighs, and it squashes down to almost nothing when it’s half empty.
The thin fabric has its downsides. The bag has no structure, so it collapses and won’t stand upright by itself on a bench: it’s made to hang. The material is also somewhat see-through, so you can partly make out what’s inside. And although Cordura is tough for its weight, sharp things like scissors, tweezers or a bare razor could puncture it, so keep those covered.
Hanging it up
A hook on a webbing strap sits at the top of the bag. Unzip the bag, hang it by the hook and it opens out flat, with the pockets facing you and the main compartment at the bottom.
It hangs from most things: a shower door, a towel rail, a tent loop or a branch. At camp we hang it on the rear door of the 4WD, which puts it right next to the water.
Pockets and mirror
Inside there are zipped mesh pockets, so you can see what’s where without digging, and damp things can breathe: one for small things like tablets and a razor, more room below for bottles and a toothbrush. The zips have grab tags that are easy to find with wet hands.
A small shatterproof mirror clips in inside the bag, and you can take it out. It’s more useful than it sounds at a campsite with no amenities, for shaving or putting in contact lenses.
Small or Large
We tested the Small, which holds 3 litres. That’s enough for one person’s toiletries, and it fills up fast if two of you share it. The Large holds 6 litres and measures 52 × 25 × 8 cm when it’s hung open, against 40 × 23 × 6 cm for the Small.
Conclusion: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Hanging Toiletry BagConclusion
The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Hanging Toiletry Bag is a very light, well thought-out toiletry bag. It hangs by its hook wherever you are, the mesh pockets show what’s inside, a mirror is included and the Small weighed 101 g on our scale. It has no structure, so it won’t stand up on a bench, the thin fabric needs sharp things kept covered, and the zips aren’t waterproof. I paid $45 for it. For campers, hikers and travellers who want their toiletries off the wet bench, it’s a very good buy.
A 101 g hanging toiletry bag in water-resistant Ultra-Sil fabric, with a hook, zipped mesh pockets and a mirror.
It has no structure, so it won’t stand up on a bench, and the zips aren’t waterproof. It suits campers, hikers and travellers.
- Campers
- Hikers
- Travellers
Yes, if you’re tired of balancing a toiletry bag on a wet bench. It’s pricey, but the hook, the pockets and the low weight make it one you’ll use on every trip. For two people sharing, look at the Large.
