Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Sealline Pro or Sea to Summit Hydraulic?
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Oldtown13 |
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MisterKrabs |
SinglePortage: "I am considering getting one of these two waterproof packs in the future. Are they designed to allow me to carry my canoe while wearing the pack?" /Checks username.....SinglePortage --looks legit. :-) I can do it with my NRS HD bills bag. |
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MisterKrabs |
mastertangler: "No hip belt? Ahhhh! I would not own a pack without a padded hip belt. Thanks! It came yesterday and I think I am so far, but maybe it's the endowment effect. I've yet to load it out to see how it carries, but I will and I've got till late September to see if it's for me. I agree that history has little to do with performance, just look at all the formerly great gear companies that are now "lifestyle" brands. (Looking at YOU, Eddie Bauer & Columbia) That said, I strongly believe that company culture leads to different outcomes in performance, either negative or positive. I know from experience that better work is done by long term, engaged employees with skin in the game, leading to things like fewer defects. NRS did a good job of marketing their company culture to me as a differentiator. I don't agree at all that the "story" has little to do with satisfaction. Assuming that either one would perform it's function to my expectations and criteria, my enjoyment of a possession is very much tied to my image of it and my feelings about it. As far as me having feelings... the jury's still out on the lack of a tumpline. |
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boonie |
SinglePortage: "I am considering getting one of these two waterproof packs in the future. Are they designed to allow me to carry my canoe while wearing the pack?" You should be able to since they close by rolling down the top 3x, so can't be overstuffed. That usually keeps it about shoulder height. |
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MisterKrabs |
GearJunkie: "Just did 50 miles by paddle and 20 miles on foot over 6 days. With the addition of a kayak cargo net I can’t say enough about the Sea to Summit 90L. Carried 60 pounds easy. Pic below is from one of the island sites on Friday bay. " GearJunkie, where did you get that shock cord net? That looks awesome. edit: found all over the web when I googled it. Thanks for the idea. |
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MisterKrabs |
My buddy and I just got back from a 6 day 50 mile circumnavigation around the weeny lake PMA. LIS, up to Slim, across to Ga-be, down through Oyster, Hustler and back to LIS. My friend brought his new S2S and I brought my new NRS. Shootout comparison to follow. |
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BAWaters |
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mastertangler |
BAWaters: "I've found the Sealine pack works great if you don't overpack it. Learned that the hard way years ago." Now there's a story. Why not share so we can all smugly assert that we would never do something like that. Here's my Seal line Pro Pack overpack story........1st time, 1st day in WCPP. I had been tripling and it was getting late in the day so I decided to strap a Watershed duffel on top of my already prodigious and heavy Pro Pack, something I had done many times before. About 3 weeks earlier my crew and I had come off a 10 day canoe trip of Isle Royale. At the very end of the trip we were horsing around a bit to aggressively. I did a spinning roundhouse kick and landed in a heap. Ouch! 3 weeks later the knee had recovered sufficiently to walk but maybe a big solo in the remote environs of WCPP was wishful thinking. I put the big overloaded pack on, stumbled a bit, and went down in another heap. Bummer. I crawled to a sandbar, set up camp and had a very long painful night until I decided to force the issue and reset the knee into its socket. A very loud "pop" and rather loud "OWWW" later I managed to get some sleep. The next morning was my first helicopter ride followed immediately thereafter by an expensive float plane ride to retrieve my canoe. Getting old, it happens. |
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mastertangler |
Fits sideways in my solo perfectly and has a number of solid grab straps for getting it out. Heavier stuff in the bottom and a couple of Watershed Duffels in each hand and I'm good for at least 1 mile. |
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Goldenbadger |
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MisterKrabs |
Here's a frustrating thing. I'm having difficulty comparing the specs of the fabric as S2S lists theirs by Denier (600D) while Sealline and NRS list fabric weight - 19oz/30oz and 21oz/34oz respectively. Pretty clear to see that the NRS is heavier material than Sealline, but no idea how S2S compares. I guess I could order multiple from REI and just not accept whichever I like less. Lastly, for those that are looking for a cheap bag, I found this in my research. Cheap TPU portage pack. |
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boonie |
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Minnesotian |
I have been tripping with a Sealline 115 and 70 for the last 10 years and they have held up great. These are not the Pro Packs by the way. One thing that jumps out comparing S2S and Sealline is how the harness is attached. I don't like the small loops the S2S has. To me that screams a tear out at the worst possible time. So, my vote is for the Sealline, though I don't know anything about the Bill's Bag. Finally, have you come across any waterproof dry bags with a harness in the 35L size that have side pockets and such? Thanks. |
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Goldenbadger |
Especially the hip belt. I don’t think the NRS compares. It’s more comparable to the SealLine Boundary Pack or Blak Canyon. |
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mastertangler |
The Pro Pack is ideal for typical BWCA or Quetico adventures. Not sure I would take it on long trips where no portage trails exist but for what we do they are terrific. No added weight when it rains, no plastic liner bags etc. Very comfortable with excellent harness and padded waist belt. Adjustable shoulder straps, numerous lash points (d type rings), several compression straps, grab handles to assist in loading and unloading. I have never had a strap tear out nor have I put a hole in one. Just don't throw them around......a beaver cutting is your main concern. Set your pack down on a beaver cutting and I can see a nice hole. Be advised, sometimes grasses can obscure beaver cuttings, so watch where you drop a heavy pro pack. I prefer a brightly colored one for visual aids........should I dump in a river or as an aid to S&R people. Tradition is sometimes overrated. And that's saying something for someone who self identifies as a "traditionalist". |
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melnik |
My Wife never said a peep about carrying the Sealine, so my guess is it carrys well. I didn't mind carrying the Frost River, without Tump or hip belt. The longest portages were 1/2-mile. The time when I most appreciated the Frost River was when putting it in the canoe and taking it out. Even though it was much heavier than the Sealine, I had no concerns about it tearing or coming apart. Of course, the Sealine never ripped or broke either, but it just didn't feel as substantial and I was much more careful with it. But it never failed, so maybe I'm just a worry wart. Has anyone ever had one of the dry bag type packs fail during a trip? I know I'd hate to have to carry a huge dry bag under my arm for the last three days of my trip because it failed. And I'm not saying it would fail, but it doesn't seem as bomb-proof as the Frost River. I know, I need to pack lighter... |
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ockycamper |
We do bring a few Maxpedition packs. . .typically for gear we need sorted in pockets and to get to quickly. These are items we don't mind getting wet. |
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MisterKrabs |
I'm looking for relative durability, though I don't expect it to be as bomb proof as my #3-21. Quality trumps cost for me, so Cabelas dry bags are out of the running due to many comments on wear in this forum. So with that said, who else has made the choice between the S2S Hydraulic and the Sealline Pro? Which did you choose (or did you pick something different?) and why, what do you like and dislike about your choice? |
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boonie |
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Oldtown13 |
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boonie |
Minnesotian: " No side pockets, but the Exped Torrent packs come in 30l and 40l size. |
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GearJunkie |
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GearJunkie |
MisterKrabs: "Thanks! Here’s the exact one. I removed two of the six hooks as they were in the way. It will sag a little if you go heavy but paracord or Velcro can fix that on the fly.GearJunkie: "Just did 50 miles by paddle and 20 miles on foot over 6 days. With the addition of a kayak cargo net I can’t say enough about the Sea to Summit 90L. Carried 60 pounds easy. Pic below is from one of the island sites on Friday bay. " https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074HDC1SD?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title |
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mastertangler |
While it is seemingly admirable to purchase equipment because of historical, employee owned etc. it has little to do with actual performance and your satisfaction while it is in usage. The added thickness of material is also probably a non factor other than to make the pack heavier. I have never had an issue with a pro pack and I have owned 2 of them over several decades. But to each their own. Part of the fun of canoe tripping, fishing or any other outdoor pursuit is doing things your own way. Hopefully you will be pleased with your decision. |
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BAWaters |
mastertangler: "BAWaters: "I've found the Sealine pack works great if you don't overpack it. Learned that the hard way years ago." That is quite a story! Hope your knee is feeling better these days. My overpacked Sealine gave me significant lower back pain toward the end of a 6 day solo. Seems as long as I keep it 55 pounds or under it feels fine. I prefer it to be between 40 and 50 though. |
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SinglePortage |
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Goldenbadger |
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MisterKrabs |
Minnesotian: " 35L dry bag backpack with pockets |
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butthead |
You could also look into nylon pack materials (CCS, Kondos, Granite Gear, and others), which absorb very little if any and dry much faster than cotton canvas, also lighter in weight. butthead |
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melnik |
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MisterKrabs |
melnik: "Is your Duluth pack oiled canvas? I have a Frost River pack, which is waxed canvas I think, and haven't had the soaking problem. But I've only used it a handful of times, and only in moderate rain. Never a soaker. I wonder if you could treat the canvas with a wax treatment to displace at least some of the water?" My pack is not oiled, and it's the heaviest canvas I've seen on a duluth pack --18 oz I think. Back when I ordered it from the back of Canoe and Kayak, it was called the "heavy duty." It gets wet in the bottom of the canoe and dries slooooooow. |
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MisterKrabs |
Pros I like the history of the bag and the company as the first manufacturer of the type. I like that the company is employee owned and manufactures in Idaho. I like the recent changes to the bag, changing to aluminum buckles and making the harness removeable. I like that the material is heavier than the Sealline Pro I like the compression straps that are lacking in the Hydraulic. I like the cost of $150 on backcountry vs. $200-210 for sealline and S2S Cons- no hip belt or tumpline I do not mind the skimpy hip belt. I've got to have that for backpacking, but I've never felt that for portaging, rather than backpacking, that my Duluth Pack was "missing" one. I might miss my tumpline, which I use regularly, but I guess I could add one. |