Perfect Wetsuit Storage Bag

I always leave wet wetsuits in my car. They stink really bad after a while. But, I never want to be without my wetsuit and a board. My wife hates the smell. So, she found me this bag at Costco for $8.00. It's called a Keep Cool, and it's intended to be a plyable, crushable ice chest. Since it's watertight, has a strong zipper, and is made very well (outside is a strong nylon, canvas-like material), she got it for me to store the wet suits. This is perfect because I don't want to store a rigid plastic box in my car, as it takes up too much space. Sadly, it's made in China. I'd pay $20.00 for it, but is only $8.00 (probably b/c it's made in China). I've used it for the past 1 year and it's never torn or leaked. A much better deal than paying $50 to $100 for a bag that has branding all over it. Pictures are below.



If you cannot view the images above or want to see larger images, check out the Picasa web album of the KeepCool bag.

Surfboards Made in China

Several Costco stores in Orange County, CA, have been selling genuine shaped-foam-and-glassed boards made in China for a few years now. First, there was Realm, and now Counter Culture. The short boards are usually around $200 each, while long boards are about $400 each. The models available tend to be like a fish, a "speed" board, a funboard, and a longboard. Costco is also the home of the $99 relatively stiff foam longboard (always and only in blue). Not bad for a beginnner or kid board, I suppose. You can see these everywhere in the water now, so they must be of OK quality. Anyway, all of these boards are about half the price of non-custom boards you'd find in a surf shop. Is this good or bad? What's your thought? Would you buy one? If clothing companies make clothes in China, shouldn't it be ok for surfboard makers as well? Do any local popular board makers do their shaping and/or glassing in China? Drop bfs a note and give us your thought.