Aqua Modular Cool Bag System

Mention Aqua Products to any specimen angler and they will immediately tell you that the company's products are up there with the very best for both design, quality and innovation. It is surprising though how many anglers we speak to that are only aware of Aqua's range of shelters, and had no idea that the company also design and manufacture luggage and clothing.

Around 12 months ago, UKMA contacted Aqua and arranged for the company's innovative Modular Cool Bag System to be sent down for review. When the system arrived at the UKMA office, it was a scramble to whom got to review the product, so it was decided that rather than to review the product after a couple of sessions, we agreed that it would be best that each member of the team used it for a couple of months and that we would combine all the teams thoughts into the one review.

So after a year or so of regular use, it has come to that time where fingers met the keyboard to review the product.

The Aqua Modular Cool Bag System comprises of 4 separate units which are bought separately so that the angler only purchases the items that they are actually going to use, rather than to buy items that are going to just sit in the shed gathering dust. The modular system options are the main cool bag itself, a session cool bag, small cool bag and a standard cool bag. When we decided on which modules would be best suited to the typical angler, we decided on three of the four modules to be sent down.

All of the modules in the cool bag range have been manufactured to last, that is for sure. The material used is the extremely hard wearing DuPont Cordura that has been used by Aqua for a number of years now in the company's range of luggage. The Cordura material is far from being the lightest on the market, but the rigours that specimen anglers put their luggage through, it is evident that the material is not going to rip at the mere look or touch of a bramble or tree branch sticking out.

Externally on the main cool bag itself, Aqua have put thought into what the angler requires. At the front of the main bag, a zipped pocket is present that can hold a medium sized tackle box or pouch, or used to store bottles of dips/flavours or anything else that the angler may wish to keep handy during a session. On each side of the main bag, a mesh pocket has been placed that can store things like towels, empty air drying bags, etc. The mesh pockets are closed using velcro strips.

The top of the main cool bag has also had thought put into it. To enter the main compartment requires the opening of two sections. The first being a buckled top flap that stops any rain ingress into the bag by covering the top completely and overlapping the sides. The second is a 3/4 zipped flap that when opened allows unrestricted access to items inside.

Inside the main compartment, Aqua have chosen to use a bronze foil to insulate. The use of the bronze foil means that the interior is kept cool for longer. During the test sessions, some of the UKMA team found that even during the heatwaves that we had in the Summer of 2010 (however infrequent they were), after 72 hours on the bank, frozen bottles of juice or water, still had ice inside them, and other contents were still semi-frozen. One of the team found that he was designated as the "freezer man" on one session, where other anglers kept bringing items to him to store in the Aqua cool bag to keep fresh and cold as there own cool bags were not up to the task! Needless to say, that at least 3 of the other anglers upon returning home, ordered the modular system for themselves! The main compartment of the cool bag is very spacious indeed and if used on its own can easily swallow up 10 kilos of boilies, and still have room for a smaller module to keep milk fresh or other drinks. Some coolbags I have used in the past have had a plain flap that is not insulated on the top of the lined section, but Aqua have placed the bronze foil insulation on all six sides including the zipped flap.

To finish off the main cool bag, Aqua have spared no expense and fitted a seriously well padded shoulder strap. The padding will make carrying a large amount of bait to your swim less of a burden on the shoulder. The base of the main bag is flat and reinforced using a waterproof material that can easily be wiped clean before putting into the back of the car. As the bag is a rectangular form, it will sit easily and securely on a barrow without having to worry about it falling off. The dimensions of the main cool bag are 30cm(H) x 45cm(W) x 26cm(D). Priced at £34.99 it is a serious bargain for both the quality and functionality of the product.

The next module we chose is the Session Cool Bag. This is the largest of the additional modules and has been designed so it can be used as part of the main system by placing it inside the main bag - doubling the insulation properties - or as a stand alone cool bag by the addition of a rugged handle fitted with a neoprene hand grip for comfort. Constructed from the same Cordura material as the main bag and utilising the bronze foil lining, the Session Cool Bag is plenty big enough to hold 5 kilos of boilies and keep them fresh for the longest sessions. The cube shape fits perfectly inside the main bag and leaves exactly enough room to hold the Standard Cool Bag module alongside it. Dimensions of the Session Cool Bag are 25cm(H) x 25cm(W) x 25cm(D) and has a RRP of £17.99.

Obviously the final module we chose is the aforementioned Standard Cool Bag Module. The Standard module is a thinner design that has been designed to hold a couple of kilos of boilies or a 2 pint container of milk/tins of drink/etc. This cool bag module is also perfect for the predator angler in that it is large enough to hold more than enough deadbaits for a winter session, and can be placed into a normal rucksack or a bucket to keep mobile. Dimensions of the Standard Cool Bag are 23cm(H) x 26cm(W) x 11cm(D) and has a RRP of £12.99.

To finish the system, Aqua also manufacture a Small module that is the perfect size for carrying homemade corkball pop-ups that need to be forzen when in storage at home, tubs of home prepared tiger nuts, or even non-perishable products such as tea or coffee requirements! The Small module is also finished off with a heavy duty carry handle with a neoprene handgrip for comfort. Dimensions of the Small Cool Bag are 10cm(H) x 16cm(W) x 16cm(D) and has a RRP of £8.99.

The zips used on all of the modules are of the highest quality and have heavy duty pullers that make it simplicity in all conditions to open and close, even if you can barely feel your fingers.

At the time of writing this review, Aqua Products are running a superb deal on the Modular Cool Bag system, where you can purchase the main Cool Bag, a Session Cool Bag, a Standard Cool Bag and get included FREE 2 x Small Cool Bags and 2 glug pots for the princely sum of £65.97 saving £30!!! An absolute bargain!

Final Thoughts

The Aqua Modular Cool Bag system is in my eyes the perfect solution for the angler that likes to have every option covered, be it a long session where food and bait needs to be kept fresh or the angler that requires small amounts of baits or food cool for a short day time session in both summer or winter. During the hottest months of the year, using the main cool bag and the smaller internal modules together, doubles the insulation factor and will without any shadow of a doubt keep items fresher and cold in conditions where single bags would heat up due to opening and closing of a single compartment. There is nothing worse than finding that you have forgotten to zip your cool bag up after baiting up on a hot day, to find that your milk has turned.

The pricing of the products is also down to earth for such superbly manufactured goods. With other cool bags on the market being priced at around the same amount but being less customisable fo reach anglers requirements, it cannot be ignored. The biggest attraction is the modular system, and if you are on a tight budget, you can buy the main Cool Bag one week, the Small Cool Bag a couple of weeks later, and the Session module a few weeks afterwards or when you feel that you need it. As each item has been designed to be used individually as well as a complete system, Aqua have come up with the goods as a true multi-function product.

I can see myself using the Aqua Modular Cool Bag system for a good many years, as I cannot see how it can be improved on!

For information on any of the products in the Aqua range, please click the image below.