Looking for input into a waterproof portage pack I can wear WHILE also carrying the canoe.

Currently using one of these seattle sports models:
seatle sports portage pack
Its cheap, waterproof, huge capacity, but has zero support. I absolutely hate it.

The wife uses one of these, which is too tall for me to wear while also carrying the canoe:

Seal Line portage pack

I love this thing! I love that she can carry 70+ pounds as well, but it just doesn't work with a canoe on my shoulders.

thanks in advance for the suggestions

PS - I've reviewed specs for CCS and they do not appear waterproof nor anywhere near the capacity I'm after.

Why not use a portage pack and put a dry bag inside? Or a pack liner?

Or if you want to stay with dry bag only check out the SealLine Boundary pack also on Amazon. Looks like the top is even with the shoulders.

quote Nozzelnut: "Why not use a portage pack and put a dry bag inside? Or a pack liner?"

+1

What is it? Links dont work.

Seatle Sports SeaLine

Sure do work.

butthead

quote butthead: " Seatle Sports SeaLine


Sure do work.


butthead"

thanks - fixed my links!

Yer welcome!
Don't have any pack advice as I use only backpacking packs and double portage.

butthead

We sometimes use waterproof bags in our regular portage packs - especially when 2 of the kids are sharing a pack. We would rather have several lighter packs than one monster. On a good/easy portage 2 light packs can be carried together.

Granite Gear Immersion

This sounds like what you are looking for but has been discontinued. You might be able to track one down.

Also it made me LOL how you preemptively ruled out CCS packs. That is how every pack thread goes around here.

I'm curious, because I single portage with a Seal Line 115 liter pack and I haven't had any problem with the canoe hitting the pack. I'm 5'10" and the pack with all my stuff is packed at my shoulder height. What size Seal Line do you have already? Maybe you need to get rid of some stuff.

Any portage pack is watertight, it's just that the packs that have internal liners instead of waterproof outer shells last much longer and are much more comfortable to portage.

The CCS guide is larger than anything I would ever need in the bwca. Exactly what type of capacity are you after ? Maybe canoe trips and portaging aren't your cup of tea if the gigantic CCS "Guide" or #4 pack isn't "near the capacity" you're looking for. Compare actual measurements of packs, not stated volume.

If a CCS guide and #4 pack are nowhere big enough for you, you're beyond help.

quote tarnkt: " Granite Gear Immersion


This sounds like what you are looking for but has been discontinued. You might be able to track one down.


Also it made me LOL how you preemptively ruled out CCS packs. That is how every pack thread goes around here."

YES! - this is what I'm looking for......and apparently amazon can't find one either!

thanks for offering a suggestion rather than a lecture or other insinuations as well!

quote Minnesotian: "
I'm curious, because I single portage with a Seal Line 115 liter pack and I haven't had any problem with the canoe hitting the pack. I'm 5'10" and the pack with all my stuff is packed at my shoulder height. What size Seal Line do you have already? Maybe you need to get rid of some stuff. "

ya know - it may be that the obvious solution (which escaped me, but not you) is to buy another SL 115 and just put less stuff in it. I'll have to experiment by taking the one I have and seeing if I'm able to cram what I usually carry in my SS pack to see how it works out.

Was really hoping to find something that would fit the volume by being wider (as opposed to taller) but it may be that the market doesn't offer anything.

thanks for the input my friend!

quote Grouseguy1: "Any portage pack is watertight, it's just that the packs that have internal liners instead of waterproof outer shells last much longer and are much more comfortable to portage.

The CCS guide is larger than anything I would ever need in the bwca. Exactly what type of capacity are you after ? Maybe canoe trips and portaging aren't your cup of tea if the gigantic CCS "Guide" or #4 pack isn't "near the capacity" you're looking for. Compare actual measurements of packs, not stated volume.

If a CCS guide and #4 pack are nowhere big enough for you, you're beyond help. "

>>>"Any portage pack is watertight"

honestly asking here because I haven't seen a CCS pack in person....are you saying that the liners are submersible? My SL and SS packs are submersible, and that's really what I'm looking for to replace the SS pack.

And yes, I use drybags, etc, I'm just trying to avoid too many layers of redundancy/weight if possible.

I do not think you need a waterproof pack. I have swamped a couple times using CCS packs lined with the large plastic liner bags sold at various outdoor stores. Everything inside the packs stayed dry.

quote BobDobbs: "

quote Minnesotian: "
I'm curious, because I single portage with a Seal Line 115 liter pack and I haven't had any problem with the canoe hitting the pack. I'm 5'10" and the pack with all my stuff is packed at my shoulder height. What size Seal Line do you have already? Maybe you need to get rid of some stuff. "

ya know - it may be that the obvious solution (which escaped me, but not you) is to buy another SL 115 and just put less stuff in it. I'll have to experiment by taking the one I have and seeing if I'm able to cram what I usually carry in my SS pack to see how it works out.


Was really hoping to find something that would fit the volume by being wider (as opposed to taller) but it may be that the market doesn't offer anything.


thanks for the input my friend!"

My reply did sound like a lecture. Sorry about that! I just think if you ever saw a CCS Guide pack you would laugh and say it's enormous. Too large for me to use, mine stays home most of the time.

The plastic packs I've used get holes in them, which is why I prefer an internal liner.

quote Frenchy19: "I do not think you need a waterproof pack. I have swamped a couple times using CCS packs lined with the large plastic liner bags sold at various outdoor stores. Everything inside the packs stayed dry."

Easy and good way to keep contents dry. Far as submerging a pack, water weighs 2 pounds per liter. A large pack filled to 90 liters will need to weigh 180 pounds to get submerged.

butthead

+1

OR, try going small with Klymit 25L splash
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/klymit-splash-waterproof-pack klymit splash

quote Grouseguy1: "
My reply did sound like a lecture. Sorry about that! I just think if you ever saw a CCS Guide pack you would laugh and say it's enormous. Too large for me to use, mine stays home most of the time.

The plastic packs I've used get holes in them, which is why I prefer an internal liner. "

so - you have used the rolltop type packs and were dissatisfied, and then switched to the guide? Your comfortable with submersion protection using the guide plus a liner?

- I'm afraid this is is now a CCS thread LOL

quote IBFLY: "+1


OR, try going small with Klymit 25L splash
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/klymit-splash-waterproof-pack klymit splash "

way too small, but thanks for the rec!

quote BobDobbs: "

quote Grouseguy1: "
My reply did sound like a lecture. Sorry about that! I just think if you ever saw a CCS Guide pack you would laugh and say it's enormous. Too large for me to use, mine stays home most of the time.


The plastic packs I've used get holes in them, which is why I prefer an internal liner. "

so - you have used the rolltop type packs and were dissatisfied, and then switched to the guide? Your comfortable with submersion protection using the guide plus a liner?


- I'm afraid this is is now a CCS thread LOL"

Correct. Packs aren't heavy enough to be fully submerged though. Use a chip clip or something similar to clip the top of your rolled up poly liner.

quote BobDobbs: "- I'm afraid this is is now a CCS thread LOL"

Ha! Impossible to prevent.

In all seriousness though I am a fan and go the liner route with no issues.

I want from a Seal Line 115 liter to the Granite Gear Quetico which is about 82 liters. Used a plastic bag liner and it worked great. We do double portage so I had a 25 liter Seattle Sports dry pack which wasn't full but came in handy for day trips.

Just a bit sidetrack, ever do a check on pack size? Often the stated volume has little to do with the measured dimensions. Packs will list height width and depth, yet list a volume based on those figures, a cylindrical volume considering the bulging pack, or a combination. Do a little math, answers are interesting.

"CCS Guide
26"H x 19"D x 12"D
5700 cu. in.
Top pocket adds aprox. 550 cu. in."

"Granite Gear Superior One Capacity:
121 liters | 7400 cubic inches
Dimensions: 20x25x11 inches | 51x63x30cm"

"Sealine Canyon Boundary
12.5 in / 32 cm x 18.5 in / 47 cm x 30 in / 76 cm
6940 cu. in / 115 liters"

"Duluth Pack Paul Bunyan
Dimensions: 29H x 28W x 6D
Capacity: 9,420 cubic inches : 154.37L"

All from makers specifications.

butthead

This youtube video is a test of how long a regular portage pack filled w/ bwca camping gear will float if a canoe capsizes. It floats for many hours and if you use a liner (I use a contractor garbage bag) your stuff inside the pack will not get wet.

quote ducks: "This youtube video is a test of how long a regular portage pack filled w/ bwca camping gear will float if a canoe capsizes. It floats for many hours and if you use a liner (I use a contractor garbage bag) your stuff inside the pack will not get wet.


"

whatever I go with, I won't pick green....that was hard to see in some shots.

thnks!

Blue barrel with appropriate carrier

This may or may not be pertinent to the way you're packing, but I use space-saver bags for my clothes. Once you suck the air out, they become much smaller so your clothes take up less room, the bags slide in and out of your pack easily, plus they help your clothes stay dry.

quote krick: "This may or may not be pertinent to the way you're packing, but I use space-saver bags for my clothes. Once you suck the air out, they become much smaller so your clothes take up less room, the bags slide in and out of your pack easily, plus they help your clothes stay dry."

Can you please explain this to me a bit more? This is not the first time I have heard this suggestion so I must be missing something. So I put my clothes in a space-saver bag and suck the air out. It compacts it down nice and small and a can fit it into my bag. Fast forward a day into my trip, I open this bag to get out and article of clothing, I break the seal, and now I have lost the compacted benefit of the space-saver bag. What is my next step? I have no way of getting the air out in the middle of no where, how am I getting those clothes back into my pack?

Most space saver bags do not require a vacuum to purge the air. They have a purge valve like a sleeping pad. You squash the bag as best as you can & close the valve before releasing pressure.

I use a Seal Line Black Canyon Boundary 70-Litre Duffle Bag. I portaged it with the canoe on some pretty rough portages in Wabakimi the last 2 years. It has a pretty good harness with sternum strap and waist belt.
Black Canyon pack

We use compression dry bags with eVent fabric bottoms. You do the roll top to close them, compress them with the strings/straps (depending on the bag) and the air goes out the bottom. It's very easy. We use one for our sleeping bag and one each for our clothes. Mainly the compression makes it easier to load the pack, it's just easier to compress each thing separately than to try and squash the pack when you are trying to close it. The dry bag part is the most important thing and our packs are dry bags! When it comes to a dry sleeping bag and clothes, we're just belt and suspenders sorts of people.

quote BobDobbs: "

quote tarnkt: " Granite Gear Immersion



This sounds like what you are looking for but has been discontinued. You might be able to track one down.



Also it made me LOL how you preemptively ruled out CCS packs. That is how every pack thread goes around here."

YES! - this is what I'm looking for......and apparently amazon can't find one either!


thanks for offering a suggestion rather than a lecture or other insinuations as well!"

I scored one of these about seven or eight years ago for a good price. I love the fit and I love the size, however I did have to have it replaced under warranty for some flaw in the harness.

That said, I also have a Cabelas Boundary pack which hardly ever gets used. Mostly I use regular canvas pack and plastic liner. I've survived two storms with sheets of rain so heavy I couldn't see 25 feet and yet all gear was dry. Agree they make rummaging difficult, but they do their job.

I posted this on another old thread last week. This is my preferred canoe camping gear storage/portage pack. If you pack small, you can probably manage to get everything in it. My friend and I each have one and other than the small drybag we each carry with easy-access essentials, we can fit all of our gear into them. We do have some shared gear that probably winds up taking less space than two people each packing solo gear (one tent, one stove.) It's not the most spacious, but it does swallow a lot of gear. And his has a roll-top so it makes it watertight. The shoulder straps and hip belt make for an easy portage. It's not quite as comfortable as my Dana Design backpack, but it's not being asked to sit on my back for 8 hours of hiking up mountains. It's just got to make it from lake to lake.

Seattle Sports Canyon Bag

I don't solo or single portage. Own GG Superior One and Kondos Outfitter Special. BUT if I am carrying canoe it is the GG Quetico or a Gobi Wextec 60 litre roll top. The Gobi holds wardrobe for two (in May) and all other packs have contractor bags and spare zip ties. Never worried.

I'm just going to be Mr Blunt guy. Who told you you needed a waterproof pack in the BW? It's unnecessary and ridiculous over kill. Like many have said. Get a a real portage pack, get some plastic pack liners, get water proof stuff sacks for you sleeping bag and clothes if you really want to go all in. Everything else can get wet if you dump. Your food should already be well sealed so that shouldn't be an issue.

quote Blatz: "I'm just going to be Mr Blunt guy. Who told you you needed a waterproof pack in the BW? It's unnecessary and ridiculous over kill. Like many have said. Get a a real portage pack, get some plastic pack liners, get water proof stuff sacks for you sleeping bag and clothes if you really want to go all in. Everything else can get wet if you dump. Your food should already be well sealed so that shouldn't be an issue."

100% agreed! I just use big garbage bags as liners for the inside and bring some extra if it's really going to poor and put the packs in the bags while in the canoe (again, only if it's really poring down with rain).

Yep

I respect the previous opinions but...we bought the Seattle Sports medium sized waterproof pack several years ago and used it that summer on our BWCA trip. We found it so useful that we bought two more. Doesn't hurt that you could find them at the time on Sierra Trading for a ridiculous 23 bucks. they are not the most comfortable packs in the world and could be improved by a waist belt but are WATERPROOF and DURABLE. Because of the reduced capacity compared to the large it is possible to portage them with Kevlar canoe. We are not particularly ambitious BWCA paddlers at our age so we take the number of portages that makes it the most comfortable for us. Carrying this pack with an armful of paddles, life jackets, etc. makes that second trip a nice walk in the woods.

Those that say you don't need a waterproof pack in the BWCA, I agree. But I am all about increasing the odds in favor of being comfortable and no surprises. Frankly I am surprised at anyone who still lines their pack with a heavy duty garbage bag and counts on that as a water proof liner. That was necessary 20 years ago but now is the dumbest idea ever, subject to fingers poking through the liner, rips and tears, and absolute darkness when searching for gear in your pack. We use the Seattle sports medium waterproof pack for our food packs and they hold food, cook gear, stove, utensils, etc for a 5-6 day trip without any trouble and have proven to be up to the task of being dragged around portage landings, hoisted up in a bear tree at night, and left out in the elements the rest of several trips. Not sure if they are still available, glad I got a couple as they will last us a long time.

quote lindylair: "Frankly I am surprised at anyone who still lines their pack with a heavy duty garbage bag and counts on that as a water proof liner. That was necessary 20 years ago but now is the dumbest idea ever, subject to fingers poking through the liner, rips and tears, and absolute darkness when searching for gear in your pack. "

Seriously? I wonder if you're thinking of the wrong type of garbage bags. We're not talking kitchen garbage bags here. We line our packs with heavy duty contractor bags. They're large, they're durable and they're very cost effective. Most of the time, we could use the bags for 3 or 4 trips. Probably more if we didn't just feel like using a new one. I don't recall ever having one puncture.

And in 30+ years of tripping, we've never dumped. (I'm drinking jinx serum right now.)

We use the contractor bags to carry broken tile and mud floor demo from upstairs baths. A sharp sliver will poke through but you really have to TRY to poke a finger through. Not a hole on a trip yet although every couple years we change them out because we always have some around. I trust them like I do a Sealine 115 Pro for all practical purposes.

Been using these for 20 years never a problem.

quote lindylair: "... they are not the most comfortable packs in the world and could be improved ...
Those that say you don't need a waterproof pack in the BWCA, I agree... was necessary 20 years ago but now is the dumbest idea ever..."

So, not wanting to carry an uncomfortable pack is the dumbest idea? Our last trip had about 20 miles of portaging, and one of the worst parts was carrying an uncomfortable waterproof pack. A thick liner is unlikely to leak, but just in case, all critical gear gets double protection. For example, clothing and sleeping bags go first in waterproof roll-top sacks then inside the liner.

The Canyon Bag is very comfortable. The shoulder straps, hip belt, and chest clip are all comparable to a middle of the road budget backpack. I have to think it carries as comfortable as any portage pack. I've never used the typical rectangular portage pack, but based on what I've seen, the Canyon Bag is better designed for comfort.

That said, I probably wouldn't have a problem with a traditional portage pack if it was packed properly, but I'm with Lindylair.... might as well minimize the dousing risk for similar carrying capacity and equal or better carrying comfort. But I also put my sleeping bag in a supposedly water resistant compression sack then put that in a giant zip-loc storage bag with my clothes. I don't want to take any unnecessary risks where my sleeping bag and clothes are concerned.

A contractor bag would definitely hold up to most incidental abuse that will come its way. it's as durable or more durable than a tent footprint.

quote BuckFlicks: "The Canyon Bag is very comfortable. The shoulder straps, hip belt, and chest clip are all comparable to a middle of the road budget backpack. I have to think it carries as comfortable as any portage pack. I've never used the typical rectangular portage pack, but based on what I've seen, the Canyon Bag is better designed for comfort.


That said, I probably wouldn't have a problem with a traditional portage pack if it was packed properly, but I'm with Lindylair.... might as well minimize the dousing risk for similar carrying capacity and equal or better carrying comfort. But I also put my sleeping bag in a supposedly water resistant compression sack then put that in a giant zip-loc storage bag with my clothes. I don't want to take any unnecessary risks where my sleeping bag and clothes are concerned.


A contractor bag would definitely hold up to most incidental abuse that will come its way. it's as durable or more durable than a tent footprint.


"

I have that Seal Line, and it's probably the most uncomfortable pack I own.

I'm not talking about the Seal Line... I've never used that pack.

Take a look at the link I posted for the Seattle Sports Canyon Pack up higher in the thread. Just looking at it compared to a Seal Line, I can see that it's designed to be comfortable to carry, far more than the Seal Line was. I've never seen a Seal Line, but there's no way I would want to carry that with a full load. The Canyon Pack has better shoulder straps, and an actual full-on backpacker's hip belt. Not just a lash strap with a buckle on the end.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of their favorite gear. The traditional style portage packs have clearly stood the test of time. But the Canyon Pack is what I believe the best answer to the question posed in this thread: a waterproof pack that can hold enough gear for a single portage.

You need to compare the Seattle Sports Canyon Pack with the Seal Line Pro Pack. That's apples to apples. On Amazon, the Seall Line Pro has 48 reviews and is rated 4 1/2 stars. The Seattle Sports Canyon Pack has 8 reviews and is rated 3 stars.

What drives your choice of pack is what type of camper you are. I our case (we take up groups of 10 to 18 every year) we operate with the guiding principle of "plan with the idea that everything will get wet. . .either in the water or rain". All of our guys have Seal Line type packs. This also allows for leaving the packs out from under the tarps when raining. Straping in the packs acts the same as flotation bags in a canoe.

We don't portage much. . .in fact the last 3 years we have paddled to base camps without portaging... .then portaged empty boats with only day packs and fishing gear for day trips.

If I was going to do a LOT of portaging, I too would get the lightest possible pack I could find and use a waterproof liner in it.

One other thought. . . several have suggested that there is no need to choose packs based on capsizing anymore. That logic is the same as not wearing seat belts. Our group has only had 2 canoes capsize in 9 years of bringing multiple groups up each year. However, as a trip leader I KNOW that if a capsize happens, everyone's gear remains dry. I also don't like all the packs under the group tarp either.

It's entirely possible I misunderstood Cycle003's intent. It appeared to me initially that it was a direct response to my product review for the Canyon Pack. On second look, it may appear that Cycle003 was agreeing with me that the Seal Line was indeed uncomfortable.

All said and done, I prefer a waterproof pack, for the reasons you (Ockycamper) listed: you can close it up and not worry about rain getting any of the contents wet in camp, and it will help keep the canoe afloat in case of capsize... in addition to my original reasons.

Weight probably isn't as much of a concern if single portaging is the goal. Difference between a traditional portage pack big enough to single portage + a liner and a waterproof pack is probably not enough to matter in the long run.

The Seal Line Pro isn't the Seal Line that was linked earlier - the earlier link was for the Boundary duffel, which is definitely not apples to apples. The Pro is certainly more apples to apples, and I would not hesitate to use that Seal Line Pro - though the hip belt isn't quite as beefy as the Canyon Bag, it definitely looks up to the task.

I put very little faith in Amazon reviews ... and one of them is mine. Most bad reviews for products on Amazon are from people who don't use the product properly.

First, to each his/her own. I have no investment in which pack people carry.

Aside from comfort issues, the problem I see with waterproof packs (and I own 2) is that I feel if it gets a hole or tear, it would need to be trashed and replaced because I wouldn't trust a patch. The waterproof pack is subject to abrasion during nomal use. Alternatively, I just replace liners every couple of years. It's also harder to test the pack for small leaks than the liner.

Also, the notion that these waterproof packs are more reliable for dumping is likely not true. Our canoe camping strategy is to always expect for the packs to get wet, and we pack accordingly with at least 2 layers of protection for critical gear. There was a report where this guy actally submerged a number of dry bags/boxes, and I seem to recall almost none of them keeping water out for extended periods.

Finally, the waterproof packs typically lack some conveniences. They usually don't have exterior pockets. I am also hesitant to put pointy or sharp objects in them. Where do you put your saw and hatchet? In the pack? What about wet stuff? With a lined pack, wet gear goes outside the liner but in the pack. For that reason, I sometimes even put a liner in the waterproof pack.

Anyway, there are some benefits of a waterproof pack, but after 3 years using one (Sealline Black Canyon Boundary Pack), I'm ready to hang it up.

I don't typically have campfires, so I don't carry a saw or hatchet. Valid concerns for those who do, though. I'd hope that those items have some sort of sheath.

Lack of external pockets is a drawback, but not a deal-breaker for me for portage packs. Odd, because my hiking backpacks MUST have multiple external options.

I've had my Canyon Pack for somewhere around 15 years. Not a single leak/puncture yet. It's been a champ.

Wet stuff: In addition to the waterproof pack, just about everything that needs to stay dry gets packed in zip-top bags to prevent cross-contamination from wet stuff like a tent or rain gear, and to make sure it stays dry outside of the pack while in camp. The zip-top bag idea actually started as a way to keep wet clothes from getting dry clothes wet in my hiking pack. Then it evolved to a way to keep my dirty clothes separated from clean clothes, then it evolved into an overall organization/waterproofing system. That carried over to my canoe system as well. Can't be too safe.

I use these for clothes and my sleeping bag:




It's a system that works for me quite well.

This might work for you.
It opens from the side so it is easier to get things in and out. I use this one for my firefighting gear, but not canoeing. Northface waterproof pack

quote BuckFlicks: "I don't typically have campfires, so I don't carry a saw or hatchet. Valid concerns for those who do, though. I'd hope that those items have some sort of sheath.


Lack of external pockets is a drawback, but not a deal-breaker for me for portage packs. Odd, because my hiking backpacks MUST have multiple external options.


I've had my Canyon Pack for somewhere around 15 years. Not a single leak/puncture yet. It's been a champ.


Wet stuff: In addition to the waterproof pack, just about everything that needs to stay dry gets packed in zip-top bags to prevent cross-contamination from wet stuff like a tent or rain gear, and to make sure it stays dry outside of the pack while in camp. The zip-top bag idea actually started as a way to keep wet clothes from getting dry clothes wet in my hiking pack. Then it evolved to a way to keep my dirty clothes separated from clean clothes, then it evolved into an overall organization/waterproofing system. That carried over to my canoe system as well. Can't be too safe.


I use these for clothes and my sleeping bag:





These work great. Nice low cost option.

It's a system that works for me quite well."

I have the extra large version of that North Face duffel. It's how I get my gear from home to the trailhead, never had a problem with it. It even has shoulder straps so you can lug it through an airport and still roll a suitcase. That panel is a big zipper and will keep out rain and splashes, but it's not watertight against submersion. I highly recommend it for many uses, but I'm not sure I'd use it in my canoe over the Canyon Pack, which is pretty much the same material. If you're looking to find something to just keep out the rain and splashies, then it'll perform admirably.

I absolutely love my North Face duffel. They also make a rolling suitcase out of the same material and styling that conforms to carry-on standard sizes that I've thought about getting... but I have a pretty sweet Swiss Army carry-on suitcase and I can't justify the expense.

sorry for bumping an old thread, but I thought at least some of you who helped me out with advice would find it humorous that I ultimately ended up with a CCS pioneer.

It looked so nice out of the box I was tempted to load it up and tromp around the neighborhood like a gear queer. This thing is definitely going to make our Sept trip a helluva lot more enjoyable!

thanks again for the help folks!

quote BobDobbs: "sorry for bumping an old thread, but I thought at least some of you who helped me out with advice would find it humorous that I ultimately ended up with a CCS pioneer.


It looked so nice out of the box I was tempted to load it up and tromp around the neighborhood like a gear queer. This thing is definitely going to make our Sept trip a helluva lot more enjoyable!


thanks again for the help folks!"

I use a GG Traditional #4 with STS Event waterproof stuff sacks for clothes and sleeping gear. I also use a waterproof liner bag to keep it waterproof. I use a smaller 35L waterproof backpack for small gear like camera etc and for day trips to hold some food rain gear etc.

This is also an option if you are still looking for a waterproof backpack. Waterproof portage pack

Next time I need to buy a new portage pack, I'll likely be going with the CCS Pioneer as well.

My Canyon Pack is still holding up, though. I did notice that they don't make it anymore and it's hard to find.

quote BobDobbs: "...but I thought at least some of you who helped me out with advice would find it humorous that I ultimately ended up with a CCS pioneer."

And you'll never look back. Great product.