Two Ultralight Pouches Worth a Look: Fox Light Gear and Ultralight Sax

Introduction

Small pouches are one of those underrated pieces of travel gear: cheap to get wrong, annoying to replace, and genuinely useful when they are the right size and weight. After several months of testing two ultralight options, both from small cottage-industry makers, we found two pouches that earn their place in a bag for very different reasons.

The first is a water-resistant toiletry pouch from Fox Light Gear, a small handmade company based in Des Moines, Iowa. The second is a fully waterproof pouch from Ultralight Sax, based in Brookings, Oregon, made from the newer Ultra fabric. Both are simple, both are light, and both have held up well in daily use.

Fox Light Gear Toiletry Pouch

This pouch came out of a search for toiletry bag recommendations and turned out to be one of the more practical finds. It is simple, lightweight, made from water-resistant fabric, and sized just right for a minimalist toiletry kit. In the small size tested here, it measures about 8 by 4.5 by 2.5 inches deep (20 by 11 by 6 cm), and a full minimalist toiletry kit fits inside with plenty of room to spare.

Fabric, Sizes and Options

The tested version uses 300 denier ripstop nylon with a poly lining on the inside and a good quality YKK zipper. The fabric is highly water resistant, but because the seams are not sealed, it is not waterproof. Fox Light Gear also offers the pouch in Cordura and mesh, in a thinner ripstop, and in several shapes: a medium, a large, a long tube-shaped pouch, and a flat square version, plus a wide range of color options.

Ultralight Sax Ultra Pouch

The second pouch is exciting mainly because of its fabric. Ultralight Sax is another small cottage-industry company, based in Brookings, Oregon, and this pouch uses the newer Ultra material in its thinnest 200 denier version. Ultra is similar to Dyneema but with higher tear strength and abrasion resistance; one claim puts it at double that of 500 denier Cordura. The fabric is completely waterproof, and this pouch is the first experience with it here, working great so far.

The pouch itself is fairly basic, measuring about 10 by 4.5 by 2 inches deep (25 by 11 by 5 cm), with a small water-resistant YKK zipper. It could easily serve as a toiletry pouch, but it has been used here as a minimalist electronics pouch, where it holds a surprising amount and shows no quality issues so far.

What to Know About the Ultra Fabric

Ultra is completely waterproof: it will not leak through the fabric, and the zipper does a good job of keeping water out. However, the seams are not sealed, so the bag itself can leak at the seams. It is worth keeping that distinction in mind before assuming total submersion protection.

One backpacking company has already started making packs with Ultra, and early users seem to like it, though some delamination issues have been reported. The fabric has yet to appear in mainstream travel backpacks, but just as X-Pac fabric took a while to take off, packs made from Ultra may start appearing over the next few years.

Which One Should You Buy?

Both pouches work well, so the choice comes down to what goes inside them. If you want a dedicated toiletry organizer with several sizes, shapes, fabrics and colors to choose from, the Fox Light Gear pouch is the more flexible pick, and its water-resistant ripstop handles everyday bathroom use without fuss.

If you need maximum protection for electronics or other moisture-sensitive gear, the Ultralight Sax pouch is the stronger option thanks to its completely waterproof Ultra fabric. Just remember that unsealed seams mean it is not suited to being submerged.

Conclusion

Both of these pouches have been working out great over several months of testing, and both come from smaller cottage-industry companies worth supporting. Fox Light Gear covers the toiletry organizer role with impressive size and fabric variety, while Ultralight Sax shows off why the Ultra fabric is one to watch. Neither replaces the other, and carrying both is an entirely reasonable outcome.