I've been using a cloth gun sock treated with Scotchgard for the last 30 years. It has served me well enough, but I've been lucky. Dropped my gun in the bilge of the floating blind and that did it. Time for something better. This sleeve seems much more waterproof than my old sock and, if your gun goes overboard, I think the closure will hold air long enough to retrieve it. The zippered pocket is convenient for storing choke tubes and having both handles and shoulder sling are a real plus.