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NRS has long been a reliable source of kayaking gear. Living on the Great Lakes surrounding Michigan, I have embraced the open water opportunities that I am fortunate to have nearby. NRS has been an integral part of those activities from dry suits, personal floatation devices and safety beacons. When I was in the market for a new deck bag for my touring kayak, NRS was my first stop. I chose the NRS Taj M’Haul Deck Bag for its large storage area and functional outside pockets.
As I prepare for our next big expedition in Pukaskwa National Lakeshore, I will make sure that we have the right gear for staying fueled and safe. During the 110 mile paddle, we are likely to encounter rough waters, rain and water temps below 40 degrees. Taking your kayak skirt on and off to access your food, drinks and safety equipment is not only annoying, but also dangerous in cold waters. I’m counting on the Taj M’Haul Deck Bag to keep my items safe and secure on the deck of my kayak.
The Basics of the Taj M’Haul Deck Bag
Aside from the catchy name, the Taj M’Haul has many convenient features with plenty of storage for a long paddling trip. The overall size is 17″ long by 5″ high. The width tapers from 13″ to 11″ to fit the shape of your kayak. The bag has a large zippered compartment with a removable dry-bag that attaches to the inside of the compartment with hook and loop. The dry bag has a waterproof HydroLock™ zip-seal with a hook and look strap to secure the top. I thought the removable dry bag was nice feature so I can grab my dry clothes and snacks as I get out of the boat without the risk of dropping them in the water.
On the edge of the main compartment, facing the paddler, is a second small zippered pocket where you can stow smaller items like keys, energy bars or a cell phone. It’s nice for a quick snack while still paddling. Each side of the bag has a stretchy cylindrical pocket that will fit your pump, water bottle or other long objects. I would’ve liked to see these pockets with an adjustable strap to secure items a little better as I assume the elastic material will stretch out over time.
On the top of the bag, there is a third large stretch pocket that would be a great place to stow your gloves and hat or an extra jacket. This top pocket has a clip with an adjustable strap that would be handy to secure your items in place. It also has adjustable bungee lacing over this top pocket to really keep your items in place.
Attaching the Taj M’Haul to your Kayak
NRS offered to two methods of securing the Taj M’Haul Deck Bag to your kayak. There are two, 3-inch hook and loop straps on the underside of the deck bag that you can slide under your deck rigging and (sort of) secure your bag in place. This alone is not enough to keep the bag stable in waves and roll overs. Also attached to the deck bag is 4 clips attached with nylon straps, one on each corner of the bag. My problem with these corner attachment straps is that they are not adjustable. I wasn’t able to reach the safety line on either side of my kayak with these clips and ended up, initially, clipping them to my elastic deck rigging.
Even with these attachment points, the bag slid from side to side if any type of pressure was applied. If you have ever kayaked Lake Superior, you know you are going to be taking some waves. The attachment wasn’t satisfactory and I ended up fashioning an extension to secure the bag to my non-stretchy safely lines. With the modification, the bag was attached securely and will be securely in place, even in the event of a roll-over.
Optional Accessory for the Taj M’Haul Deck Bag
NRS added an optional accessory attachment point to the paddler face of the bag. It is a Duraflex Mod-u-lox attachment point. Looking at the NRS website, I was a little disappointed to find that the only accessory they offer is a can sized drink holder. I would like to see a radio clip, paddle attachment or other options offered. I may be able to find additional items on the Duraflex website but I felt like NRS should have better options than an attachable can holder.
The Quality of the Materials
The Taj M’Haul Deck Bag really feels like a quality product when you hold it in your hands. The nylon webbing is dense and neat. Stitching on the bag overall reflects careful work. The large zippers work smoothly and look to be of tough plastic. They have large, looped zipper pulls that can easily be manipulated with gloved hands. Proper care should keep this bag around for a long time. Even the elastic bungees on the top of the bag are thick and appear to be high quality.
The dry bag on the inside of the bag feels thin in my hands. I am hopeful that the bomber polyurethane Infinity float bag material, with the waterproof HydroLock™ zip-seal closure will keep my gear totally dry for a long time.
Inside of the large zipper pocket is removable plastic piece to hold the shape of the bag. The rigid dome is convenient for finding items in the bag without having to dig around. I thought this could have been an integral part of the design rather than a removable piece. The shape and design are such that small items can get “lost” between the plastic support piece and the bag itself. The support dome can be removed so the bag can be stored flat, however, now you will also have a large piece of plastic to store, much larger than the bag when flattened.
Features and Specifications
| Material: | 400-denier nylon |
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| Dimensions: | 17″ L x 5″ H |
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Final Thoughts and Recommendations
The Taj M’Haul Deck Bag has all the space for everything you would need for a day of paddling. Once I had it securely fastened to my kayak deck, it was a fantastic bag. Everything I need is close at hand without removing my kayak skirt. Calories and fluids are easily accessible. Extra clothing, pump and sponge are right there in front of the cockpit instead of rolling around in my kayak. I now feel organized, safe and ready for a big expedition.
NRS has SO MANY fantastic products to make your paddling experience safer, more comfortable and more awesome in every way. The Taj M’Haul Deck Bag is reasonably priced at $127. I recently saw it on the on sale for $102.40. That’s a steal! Check out the Taj M’Haul Deck Bag and all of NRS top-of-the-line products at www.nrs.com.