Sadly, our Sealine packs have become one of the very few camping purchases we can’t recommend.
We were so excited when we purchased our new dry packs. We use them for camping and also for backpacking into our cabin in the winter. It is nice to know that our stuff will be dry even in rain and snow. They do hold a lot of things, especially now that they have been used for a while and have stretched a bit.
However, there are things we don’t like. They didn’t have a system on the outside to tie things on. We added one. There are no grab handles on the bottom of the bag, which is essential for putting the bags into a canoe. We added our own handles.
Now the tabs with the hooks have pulled off both bags – this happened on four tabs on each bag, after just one season.
We used glue and gorilla tape to put the tabs back on and it seems to work. We admit to adding handles and straps and using carabiners on the tabs, but it is still a design flaw. What are tabs for anyway? Backpacks should have at least a handle on the bottom.
Initially we were planning on buying the MEC bags that our friends love. The MEC bags got the best rating of all waterproof bags. Unfortunately they were discontinued the year we were needing them. Then last year we noticed people on a portage with MEC bags and we started asking them about them. Their bags were new. I guess they started making them again. We are not spending more money on bags, but before you shop do some research and check out the MEC bags.
Note: We purchased a day pack that we love for $59.00. Stahlsac Storm Waterproof Backpack. We know 6 people with this pack, all happy. It holds a lot of stuff and the inside glows in the dark making it easy to find things! Only complaint – there are not enough outside pockets.