Boardbag built with Upcycled materials--Made in AMERICA
For most of my life, I have been a fan of products made in America. This affinity for such things can be attributed to the fact that when growing up, when I bought something, the first thing my father would ask me was where it was made. He has always been this way because America gave so much to him as he worked his entire life for America. Which brings me to my latest purchase. A Progress Project Longboard bag. After acquiring a Takayama DT1, I needed a board bag for it. At first I swapped out my Scorpion and used its board bag, an Ocean Earth Global Travel Series bag, which is a decent bag. But that was just a temporary solution because it was a tight fit, give the DT1 was a 9'2" and the bag was a 9'0". So I did the next thing, I went to the local surf shops to see what was in store. Now I don't go into the local shops all too often, because I don't wear surf clothes, just not my style. But for the board bag, I went. And I was sorta shocked with what I saw. Virtually everything that I looked at was made in China, from the leashes to the traction to the board bags. I went to at least six shops, from the megashops such as Jacks and HSS in HB, to the Frog House in Newps. They all carried the same usual suspects, Destination, Dakine, Ocean Earth, Prolite, FCS. But none that really were inspiring. In fact, they all looked sorta the same with a different logo slapped on them. Probably because they were all made in the same factory in China. I wasn't impressed at all with the bags, especially the Dakine bags, they have turned into garbage. I have a 10'0" Dakine board bag, silver material, super strong zipper, made in Oregon, USA. And what I saw at the stores were garbage. tarpaulin material is really garbage that doesn't really protect your board.
Upon arrival, I pulled the bag from the box and got a cursory feel for the material. The material is heavy. I then inspected the craftsmanship, going over every stitch and observing how the bag was assembled. I was stoked with the craftsmanship. I was surprised at the weight of the bag, and am overall highly satisfied with the board bag. The problem with today's made in China boardbags is the materials used. While the major manufacturers offer polyester fabric-based bags, these bags were over the limit in which I wanted to spend, AND I don't know of one surf accessories company that uses YKK zippers. My Ocean Earth Global Travel series bag has plastic zippers, one set which is blown out due to lack of quality. And the use of tarpaulin material is a joke. I've never liked tarpaulin material because it is weak and doesn't adequately protect your board like polyester-based material. I have a 10'0" board bag that has polyester on one side and the tarpaulin material on the other. There is a rip in the tarpaulin material that has pretty much ruined the bag. The only reason that I can surmise the surf accessories companies use tarpaulin is cost. Tarpaulin is the cheapest material to foist upon a gullible surf public. The stuff reminds me of a lightly laminated potato sack. The surf accessories companies need to come up with a stronger material because spending $80-$100 for a bag that is only going to last several seasons is going to get old quick, especially given how long most people keep their longboards. But they don't care to innovate and companies such as Progress Project will step in and offer a quality product.
The Progress Project bag has several features worth noting. It has an expandable tail area to accommodate glass on fins in longboards. Johnson does this without having to add a second zipper like the Ocean Earth bag. The bag also has a tail pocket within the board bag that further envelopes the tail of the board. The zippers of course are YKK, the best in the business and the stitches are super strong, akin to the beautiful welds that you see on a finely handcrafted bicycle. You just know it when you feel it. Another notable factoid about the company is it donates a portion of its sales to environmental causes.
First Impressions
So far, so good. The bag has hit the parking lot at Blackies and has been in the fine dirt of the Sano parking lot, and aside from a few nicks caused by loading my board while the bag was on the ground, there is nothing really to write about. The white bottom tends to get dirty, but that is an indication that you are going surfing, and the bag is doing what it was intended, to protect the board. And with the cost of good longboards hitting the $1000+ mark, and even used ones going for $750, spending an Uncle Ben and some change is a wise investment to protect your board. The Progress Project longboard bag exceeds in quality any other boardbag in the $120 price range. I'll be updating this page in a few months to let you know how the bag is holding up, but I suspect it should do just fine.
9'2" Progress Project longboard bag
$130
$20 shipping
TheProgressProject.org
