Earth Pak Original Waterproof Dry Bag 20L, Roll-Top Closure, 500D PVC, IPX5 vs Retevis RT97S Portable GMRS Repeater
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right kit component for your needs.
Earth Pak
$28
Retevis
$340
Verdict
It's a Tie
The Earth Pak Original Waterproof Dry Bag 20L, Roll-Top Closure, 500D PVC, IPX5 and Retevis RT97S Portable GMRS Repeater are evenly matched. Your choice depends on which features matter most to you.
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Earth Pak Original Waterproof Dry Bag 20L, Roll-Top Closure, 500D PVC, IPX5 | Retevis RT97S Portable GMRS Repeater |
|---|---|---|
| Kit Role | waterproof dry bag | GMRS repeater hub |
| Category | case | gmrs-repeater |
| Renter Install | No installation — roll top and clip | permission required |
| Building Fit | Flexible; fits in any bag or evacuation kit | licensed RF relay |
| Max Power | N/A | 5 W |
| Channels | N/A | 8 |
| Clear LOS Range | N/A | N/A |
| Coverage | N/A | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A | N/A |
| Water Resistant | Yes | No |
| SOS Button | No | No |
| Weather Alerts | No | No |
| License Required | No | Yes |
| Subscription Required | No | No |
| Subscription/mo | 0 $ | 0 $ |
| Price | $28 | $340 |
| Rating | 8.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Pros & Cons
Earth Pak Original Waterproof Dry Bag 20L, Roll-Top Closure, 500D PVC, IPX5
Pros
- 500D PVC construction is genuinely rugged and flood-resistant
- Roll-top closure is foolproof and requires no zippers to fail
- IPX5 rated — handles high-pressure water spray from any angle
- Floats if submerged briefly (5–10 sec)
- Under $30 — low-cost insurance for expensive electronics
Cons
- Not rated for sustained submersion — not for diving or flooding scenario where kit is underwater for minutes
- 20L is adequate but not large enough for full kit in one bag
Retevis RT97S Portable GMRS Repeater
Pros
- Adds a real RF relay layer no handheld can provide
- Purpose-built GMRS repeater with built-in duplexer
- Portable AC/DC format can support temporary building or neighborhood drills
- Pairs with repeater-capable handhelds like the BTECH GMRS-V2
- Best fit for licensed building captains and prepared neighborhood radio leads
Cons
- Not a renter gadget; needs permission, antenna placement, and power planning
- No organization-wide license shortcut; unrelated GMRS operators still need their own licenses
- Shared repeater use needs a responsible licensed operator, call-sign discipline, and written operating rules
- Bad antenna placement inside concrete can erase the benefit
- More complex and easier to misuse than simple handheld radios
Our Verdicts
Earth Pak Original Waterproof Dry Bag 20L, Roll-Top Closure, 500D PVC, IPX5
At under $30, the Earth Pak 20L is the most cost-effective way to protect phones, documents, radios, and chargers from hurricane storm surge and driving rain. The 500D PVC and roll-top closure handle IPX5 conditions reliably; just don't expect it to survive full submersion for more than a few seconds. Buy two and seal the electronics separately.
Retevis RT97S Portable GMRS Repeater
The RT97S is the advanced GMRS product OutageKit was missing: a repeater for a licensed building radio lead trying to make floor-to-lobby or neighborhood RF coverage more reliable. It is not for casual renters, condo-board blanket use, or internet-linked networks, and it does not bypass GMRS licensing or station-identification rules. It belongs only when a responsible licensed operator can place the antenna, power the unit, and run a written channel plan.