We live in a very digital age. Between our phones, smartwatches, smart TVs, computers, and other electronics, we are always connected, whether we realize it or not.
Ever had a discussion with a friend or significant other about some new holster system you’d like to try, then looked down at your phone only to see an ad for that very holster you’d just discussed?
Or maybe you’ve read the breaking news stories about Chinese hackers stealing MMS text data and recording phone calls and wondered if your private conversations were compromised (they probably were).
Whether we like it or not, our data is out there, floating around above our heads, much like Mike TeeVee in the original Willy Wonka movie with Gene Wilder.
Our phones record “private” verbal and text conversations, and browsers track our search history, which is magically converted to profile data. That profile data is then purchased (or stolen) and shared to inundate us with targeted ads and, worse, to compromise our passwords, surveil private citizens, and more.
Sadly, many of us have just resigned ourselves to letting that data roam free and to let our digital footprint do its own thing. But we don’t have to. We can protect ourselves from these and other very real threats (like EMPs and RFID hacking) without breaking the bank or befriending Bruce Wayne for access to super-secretive gizmos and gadgets.
Enter SLNT with their high-tech, low-cost Faraday packs, like the SLNT Waterproof Backpack.
Faraday Technology: A Long, Proven History
Faraday cage technology is simple, cost-effective, and (surprisingly) readily available. Made of a unique conductive material, Faraday cages block electromagnetic signals, which protects your electronics from being followed/tracked, hacked, or otherwise affected by electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) from bad actors.
Like I said, simple.
But you’d probably be surprised to know that Faraday technology has been around since the mid-1800s.
You read that right. Michael Faraday, an English physicist, first discovered what is now referred to as Faraday cages while researching and experimenting with electrochemistry and electromagnetism in the 1830s.
Neat.
Faraday Tech in the 21st century
It goes without saying that Faraday technology has come a long way since Mr. Faraday’s 19th-century discovery. It’s a bit more sophisticated nowadays. But more importantly, it’s an absolute necessity in our ever-connected and overly digital world.
Modern Faraday cages come in all shapes and sizes. There are small Faraday cages that are roughly the size of a house key, designed to protect key fobs and other small electronics from EMP scanners and hackers. And there are also extremely large cages that can fully envelop a full-size generator, protecting precious backup power supplies in the event of a high-power EMP blast.
But portable and wearable Faraday tech is where SLNT really shines.
SLNT offers a ton of high-quality and fully tested (third-party certified) Faraday gear. Think phone and tablet sleeves, wallets, cross-body bags, and dry bags. Clothing, even.
That said, I recently had an opportunity to put their Faraday-equipped waterproof backpack to the test to really see what all the hype was about. Without spoiling too much too soon, know this:
Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.
And the SLNT waterproof backpack more than lives up to that 105% (I’ve really got to stop watching Willy Wonka so much).
A Closer Look at the SLNT Waterproof Backpack
One look at the SLNT waterproof backpack, and it’s obvious that the pack is built with purpose. It’s packed to the gills with top-tier features. Think MOLLE-compatible exterior panels, oversized YKK zippers, embedded Faraday cage and RFID-blocking technology, and the like.
More importantly, though, the pack is designed to withstand a rough-and-tumble lifestyle. That said, let’s take a closer look at some of the bag’s claims to fame and see how they hold up in the real world.
Waterproof Integrity
The RF-welded seams of the waterproof exterior are clean and strong. Having had some “dry bags” in the past that leaked like a sieve at the seams, I was sure to take a close, hard look.
While the seams appeared to be solid, I’m not one to go by appearances. With a fresh blanket of snow and temperatures well below 0°F, I donned my German-made surplus snow gear and headed out for a hike in the snow-covered woods.
I also wanted to test the integrity of the roll-top closure to see if it truly sealed the bag against water intrusion or if it just slowed it. As I’m sure many of you have experienced on weekend floats and lake days, roll-top closures (and waterproof zippers, for that matter) aren’t always what they’re chalked up to be.
Testing the Limits
Naturally skeptical, I filled the tub and weighed down the bag to fully submerge it. Now, SLNT claims that their Waterproof Backpack can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in 10 feet of water with the top properly sealed (rolled three times and secured by the plastic buckles).
Obviously, my tub is not 10 feet deep, but the roll-top closure held true after 30 minutes. Neither the main compartment nor the zippered front pocket showed any signs of interior leakage.
While I was happy with that result, I decided I wasn’t quite satisfied and plunged it into a creek near my house after the snow had melted off.
I left it there to soak in the fast-moving water for about 20 minutes or so while my boy and I practiced skipping rocks and tried not to slip in the mud. Again, the seams and welds held true, and the roll-top closure was as dry as a bone.
I’ll count that as a success, especially considering my experience with comparable bags that flooded faster than the Lusitania. Not that I’m trying to make light of a WWI-era tragedy, but you catch my drift.
I will say that the roll-top seals are a bit stiff right out of the box, so it takes some work to cinch down the buckles. But aside from that, I have no complaints about the bag’s waterproof integrity. And that’s a huge win.
Adjustable, ergonomic Shoulder Straps
The super-wide backpack straps are nicely padded. Ventilated, too. It might be a moot point in cold, wet weather, but in warmer weather, the ventilated shoulder pads and back panel help facilitate better airflow, keeping you cooler and drier.
The straps are also fully adjustable, so tailoring them to fit your specific body type or comfort preference is straightforward and butter-smooth.
At 175 pounds with a 42″ chest, I’m not a large man by any stretch of the imagination, and I didn’t have to make many adjustments out of the box. I had plenty of slack still in the straps, with the sides of the backpack sitting squarely between my shoulder blades and the top of the pack just above my shoulder line.
A little high for some, maybe, but I find it more comfortable than a lower ride.
That said, the pack would surely fit those with a stockier build just as well as those who might have a smaller, more petite frame with no issue. Couple that with the adjustable chest strap, and this pack definitely makes those longer hikes across uneven terrain all the more comfortable.
Removable Interior Organizer
The removable organizer is a nice touch. While it’s fully optional and sold separately from the backpack itself, the organizer is great for packrats like me who try to maintain some level of organization despite the natural chaos of carrying a lot of gear.
Small zippered pockets within each compartment secure your small bits and bobs. I’ve found that I like to keep spare memory cards and cables in those pockets but to each their own.
I’ll also add that the semi-rigid design and open top help the organizer retain its shape, making it infinitely easier to access gear you’ve stowed in any of the three built-in storage compartments.
And despite a small Velcro retention strap on one of the pockets, there aren’t any annoying flaps or buckles to contend with to get to your stuff.
Simple and straightforward. I like it.
A Non-scientific Test of the Faraday Cage Tech
While I’ve given the bag some pretty high praise and spoken to some of SLNT’s lesser claims, I’ve not really said much about whether or not the Faraday cage tech lives up to the hype.
Well, here it is: it does its job. Meeting adjourned.
There’s little else to say, as the Faraday cage technology does precisely as it is designed to do. The bag’s built-in Faraday cage blocked signals on multiple devices (stowed inside the bag) 100% of the time.
I tested this on two Android phones, an Apple iPhone 16, an iPad, a handheld GPS, and even two-way radios. Any phone within the bag immediately went into SOS mode, unable to find a signal, and no calls or text messages were able to be sent or received.
Calls went straight to voicemail, and texts were only delivered when the phones were able to reconnect to the network after being removed from the bag.
Further, the handheld GPS kind of just wigged out before finally losing signal altogether and timing out. The same was true for the two-way radios. There was a small crackle, then silence. No transmissions were making it to the radio within the bag.
Though my tests were wildly unscientific, all of SLNT’s products are professionally tested and certified by Keystone Labs and US Military personnel. If that doesn’t toast your cookie, SLNT has been awarded multiple military contracts, and their products are trusted by travelers, business executives, and government agencies, both nationally and internationally.
That said, the bag and its built-in Faraday cage more than live up to SLNT’s claim. Simple as that.
Final Thoughts on Faraday Tech & the SLNT Waterproof Backpack
Whether you’re a country-dwelling farmer or an urbanite working a big city beat, it’s high time you reclaim your data and silence your digital footprint. While there are a lot of silly myths surrounding Faraday technology out there, the good news is that SLNT is the real deal. And I’m not saying that as some greased-up “influencer” fanboy. God no.
I’m saying that only after researching SLNT’s third-party testing and putting the bag through its paces myself.
Your digital devices are giant data troughs that are ripe for harvesting. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Faraday cage tech is your friend. Couple that with SLNT’s quality wearables and accessories, and you’re a force to be reckoned with. Seriously. Reclaim your data and protect yourself in our ever-changing digital world. The SLNT waterproof backpack is a great place to start.
