Outdoor Research calls the DryComp Ridge Sack a perfect pack for peak bagging and summit pushes. Well, living in Minnesota, there aren’t a lot of peaks to be bagged but we have a few thousand lakes and countless rivers, so I’m re-positioning this waterproof bag as the perfect paddling pack.

You may never use the ice axe loops or stretch cording to secure alpine gear. But they work equally well for attaching a paddle or throw bag. The roll-top closure and welded seams will keep 34 liters of clothes and camping gear dry as you negotiate a Class III river. The mesh straps are perfect for shouldering the pack while portaging a canoe from lake to lake in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. And it’s super lightweight, so should you decide to bag a peak (no matter how high) you’re ready to go.

Tough, lightweight, waterproof and versatile, the DryComp Ridge Sack defies a single niche. And that’s an identity crisis that’s good news for those of us whose basements already overflow with sport-specific gear.

Buy now: $119