Discussion: Map case options

Eric Buckley recently commented that he likes the Seattle Sports Utility Map Case. For Rogaines and ARs I'm inclined to say that every team member should carry a case with some section of the map and trade out with the navigator to eliminate general map destruction and wasted time. What map cases do people like best and how do they work with them on long races?

I recently saw a discussion on bike cases too, but I'm mostly interested in carryable cases.

I'm now a fan of the Splash Caddy with Aloksak waterproof bags. This allows you to carry multiple maps individually waterproofed - and they work. Basically, the "mapbag" is not waterproof but looks like your standard mapbag. Inside the bag, you have your maps sealed in "heavy duty" ziplock type bags that are waterproof. But, for a wet race, I tend to still take mac-tac or whatever that stuff is called, and cover my maps with it. It doesn't waterproof them, but prevents them from disinegrating should they get soaked.

The worse case scenario - outside of swimming with them - is paddling with your map bags and having them float around in the bottom of the canoe. This is the level of protection I'm seeking when prepping my maps for a long AR.

I think the biggest problem with waterproof cases isn't that they aren't waterproof, but that they are difficult to seal. They may look like zip-lok's, but you really have to lean on them to seal them up. Anytime I've had trouble it's been because I didn't seal one all the way. That can be hard to do when you're tired and your hands are cold.

Are there any map cases designed like a regular dry bag? Just roll it over a couple times/clip and go. I have not found one, but maybe it wouldn't work. I don't think it would have to be that bulky, and rolling it over couldn't make it any more cumbersome than trying to be certain the darn thing is sealed and then taking off knowing full-well it isn't.

I used to have a flexible, non-bulky, dry-bag style map bag for kayaking, and it was perfect! Waterproof AND easy to seal with cold fingers, which is a rare combination. It became discoloured over the years, and when I tried to replace it, the local stores no longer carried that brand. It was made by Ortlieb. Perhaps it is available online somewhere - I haven't done a search.

This thread made me take a look, and Ortlieb is still making map cases

However, I notice that they are rated as sprayproof, which is good for kayaking, but wouldn't work floating in the bottom of Urthbuoy's canoe - or mine! (Before adventure racing, my maps didn't need to float!)

Instead of having your map in the canoe bilge, get a clip that snaps onto round tubing, and screw a binder clip to it (the W.H.A.C.K.O. site ought to have a picture of this, but it doesn't seem to at the moment). Anyway, you snap it onto a thwart, and clip your map with it, which keeps it out of the sump, and in a place where it's a bit more readable.

I have a slightly more elaborate rotatable gizmo (homemade) that I put the map in, and I then attach the gizmo to the thwart with this clip thing. I can also hang the gizmo around my neck with clip leads if need be, and I have binder clips on the handlebars of my bike (attached with zip-ties) so I can use it while riding.