Thumbs-up for SWAYGO...

[CaverScott]

Wow! See that? The packs never got in the way, rode comfortably on the cavers' backs.......
....and the cavers were able to make it through that passage without ever having to take off their Swaygos! Way to go Swaygo!

[chaz]

I have never gotten anything that fast! Thank you Scott! I am ready to go for this weekend! I transferred everything from the ol' pig and then added to it! Now I know why you call it "the Sink"...cause if you wanted you could carry the kitchen sink! One Happy Caver, Chaz

[Marbry]

The are only two real things to watch for from what I've found. One is that they aren't big enough. I'll be getting another sink pack and piggy-backing them both to carry all my crap now that my knees are in better shape and I can actually cave again. But we've had that conversation... ;-)

The other is the closure. I'm pretty sure it's at least partly my fault, but the top (or bottom depending on perspective) edge that the buckle is attached to is peeling off on one side. I think this could be avoided by not ever using the closure loop as a handle since I think this may be what got it started. Either that or I hooked it on something and pulled too hard.

Especially with the pack full now I have to be extra careful about getting enough material under there and rolled up to make sure it stays that way. If I don't it will window shade open. Not that it's keeping me from using it of course.

I think I've only used my other packs 2 or 3 times since getting the Swaygo several years ago.

[Scott McCrea]

The other is the closure. I'm pretty sure it's at least partly my fault, but the top (or bottom depending on perspective) edge that the buckle is attached to is peeling off on one side. I think this could be avoided by not ever using the closure loop as a handle since I think this may be what got it started. Either that or I hooked it on something and pulled too hard.

The coated webbing peeling off is probably a warranty issue. I'd be happy to take a look.

And of course, as with dry bags and anything with a roll down closure, you have to leave empty space to allow for the rolls. Or you could just not put so dang much stuff in.

[baa43003]

I think I may have enjoyed THE perfect cave gear ensemble during a through trip in Donaldson Cave at Convention: A SWAYGO pack, Joop boots, and a Sten light.

Extremely happy with, and highly recommend all 3.

P.S. I've been to lots of good conventions but this one was the best. Thanks Indiana crew and all of the volunteers!

[wendy]

I think I may have enjoyed THE perfect cave gear ensemble during a through trip in Donaldson Cave at Convention: A SWAYGO pack, Joop boots, and a Sten light.

Extremely happy with, and highly recommend all 3.

P.S. I've been to lots of good conventions but this one was the best. Thanks Indiana crew and all of the volunteers!

well i used my joop boots and my swaygo pack at convention, and ditto i am a happy caver

[LostCaver]

Another great use of the Swaygo is as a floatation device.. It comes in very handy when negotiating the many lakes of Webster Cave

[Marbry]

The other is the closure. I'm pretty sure it's at least partly my fault, but the top (or bottom depending on perspective) edge that the buckle is attached to is peeling off on one side. I think this could be avoided by not ever using the closure loop as a handle since I think this may be what got it started. Either that or I hooked it on something and pulled too hard.

The coated webbing peeling off is probably a warranty issue. I'd be happy to take a look.

And of course, as with dry bags and anything with a roll down closure, you have to leave empty space to allow for the rolls. Or you could just not put so dang much stuff in.

Ahh, so that means you're going to come help me carry it? Can we put all the extra lead in your pack then?

[pebblepoint]

On Saturday, we explored a new cave that ended in a sump that needed to be looked at. Buddy Gary tried for 10 minutes to get across the water but didn't feel comfortable because he was basically sinking.
Leader, Kris took off his Swaygo and gave to Gary as a float. Gary sunk it to his waist and used it as an inner tube to cross the water.
Worked like a charm.
I think there's a 41st anniversary present here!
don

[Jeff Bartlett]

Another great use of the Swaygo is as a floatation device.. It comes in very handy when negotiating the many lakes of Webster Cave

on a recent survey, one of the shots was in an ear dip that inconveniently took a 90-degree turn, necessitating a station right in the middle of it.

the station was off the ceiling on a 6" standoff. i was doing foreshots. the person who did the backshots to our previous station managed to drop his helmet into the 3.5' deep water, instantly killing his PT apex. unfortunately, the only way to have one's nose and eyes above the water line was to remove one's helmet.

so when i arrived at that station to take the foreshot, my task was to remove my helmet without submerging it or bonking my head on the ceiling too bad, then hold the suunto and the standoff in order to take a reading.

since i only have 2 hands and pretty much knew i wouldn't be able to use my survey light, i used my borrowed Swaygo as a "raft" and put my helmet on it, headlamp on. i then used my left hand to point the headlamp back at me while holding the suunto and standoff in my right hand to take the shot.

the helmet never got wet, the shot was good, and most importantly i was able to move quickly so i could get the hell out of that cold water.

returned the borrowed Swaygo and bought my own last week. can't wait to drag it underground with me.

[Scott McCrea]

Cool story! Did you get any pics of the floating helmet? That would make an excellent entry in the Swaygo in action photo contest.

[NZcaver]

the person who did the backshots to our previous station managed to drop his helmet into the 3.5' deep water, instantly killing his PT apex.

Not to wander off topic, but do you know if your friend had done the caver's waterproofing mod on his Apex? I'm curious to know...

He should be able to get that one replaced under warranty, through either the manufacturer or retailer.

[Jeff Bartlett]

Cool story! Did you get any pics of the floating helmet? That would make an excellent entry in the Swaygo in action photo contest.

Scott - hadn't even though of that, we ARE planning on going back and taking some photos of that portion of the cave, just for the sake of illustration - it's a ~40 foot stretch of roughly 8-10" of air space where you follow a ceiling channel, then a quick break when the channel opens up, then another ~30 foot stretch.

maybe we'll do a recreation of it next time we go back - i sure as hell don't want to re-do that shot =)


NZ - he had not, this is the same trip that killed my apex (see other thread) and i've most certainly performed these modifications (shortened screws, lubed gasket, tightened head unit back up) on my replacement... but i've also learned that there's basically no reason to let an apex dunk unless you have to and are willing to deal with the consequence.

[Lava]

Love my Swaygo Sink pack, but a few things annoyed me about it so I had to make some changes.

I'm always trying to smash as much stuff as I can in there, so I always had the straps on the highest set of holes. Not to mention the straps went over my big shoulders easier that way. Seeing as I never changed the position of the straps, why have the biners? The tubular webbing eventually became VERY difficult to pull through the hole when I wanted to use it in tether mode, not to mention webbing has "sides" that cause you to have to flip a strap over to get it onto the correct side for comfort. And I hang my pack tethered from my harness leg loops when I frog, and it hits my feet a bit when I stand. So I swapped the webbing for 7mm accessory cord tied directly into the holes, with a little extra slack so the pack hangs down a little further and slings onto the shoulder easier. All problems solved. Regarding the comfort of accessory cord, I figure if you're wearing the pack for long enough periods for accessory cord to dig into your shoulder, you're probably doing too easy of caves!

And I sometimes have to carry heavy things (like huge batteries for Willie Hunt's flashes) on ascent with someone tandeming below me, so that Fastex buckle freaks me out. Especially since I have smashed plenty of Fastex buckles in my time. Am experimenting with swapping out the buckles with an oval non-locking biner. A bit heavier, but at least it won't be the bottom catch that fails.