Anyone with firsthand experience on these? I know the reputation was somewhat sketchy, just wondering if they’ve improved in the last few years. Seems like it’s a good deal for a 120L pack.

Cabelas pack

Based on reviews it's not worth the risk.

I had one given to me 3, maybe 4 years ago. Not sure what kind of prior treatment it received but I wasn't very impressed. Straps were fine. Heavier than I anticipated which I translated into durability. I patched a very minor hole with gorilla tape and it held fine. The problem was a seam loosened along the bottom and was not repairable. Despite not knowing the previous history of the bag, I don't have enough confidence to buy a new one and, to be fair, I simply prefer other options: backpacks with two separate 3-4 mm contractor bag liners.

I have the current version in the large size and I love it. It's been on six trips of 5-7 days and several shorter trips and is still as good as new. My trips don't involve long portages, however. FWIW, I think most of the poor reviews are for the older version.

We have one of the larger/older version Cabelas bags. It was named the S.O.B. We struggled with it the first year because we did a very poor job of packing it. As we learned from our mistakes and did a better job packing, we continued to use it. You can get a lot of "stuff" in it, you just have to be smart about it. As far as durability, it has lasted us a long time with no problems.

I've had both the old large (sold them both) and still have the smaller, old version of what you're looking at. My feedback is this: you get what you pay for. I just needed a waterproof bag for some gear, and this was what I could afford at the time. After 4 or 5 trips it is no longer waterproof, has several small pinholes on the bottom. Still have it as a back up if someone needs a pack, but it normally stays home. Like so many people on this site, I've become a convert to CCS and don't intend to purchase packs from anyone else.

I had one briefly and sold it or gave it away, I don't recall. It was heavy and hard to pack. The bag itself was very stiff and in my opinion was uncomfortable to carry and did not conform well to a canoe shape. I prefer to use a CCS pack with a 5 mil liner. The only thing that I want/need to keep dry are my clean clothes and sleeping gear and I keep those in dry bags as a secondary precaution. Chances are your dirty clothes, tarp, tent, etc. are going to be damp (and stink) so I don't pack them with my dry, clean items. My other gear doesn't need to be kept dry.

I have one. It's not a terrible bag, but it's not a good bag either. It's a big bag and it keeps my stuff dry (so far), that's about the only perks I can talk of. Oh and it was cheap, that was the other perk! You get what you pay for tho. I'd rather just buy a CCS Pioneer, you'll spend like $100 more but it'll last you easily 20x the lifetime of the BW Pack from Cabelas. In fact if you rip it or tear it, just send it to Dan for a small repair fee (if at all) and you'll get your backpack in near new condition! Pass that baby down to your son/daughter someday who by then will be very hooked on paddle country, and will be attached to this pack anyways!!!

I Wonder who they’re selling these to if it’s not people on this site!! I think they’re missing their target market!

AlSG: "I have the current version in the large size and I love it. It's been on six trips of 5-7 days and several shorter trips and is still as good as new. My trips don't involve long portages, however. FWIW, I think most of the poor reviews are for the older version. "

That’s what it seems - that older ones have a bad reputation. Seems like you’re newer one is good though.

I like mine. If you want to use before you buy; let me know.

We have one that is about 4 years old and used it for maybe 6 trips. I would not say it is great bag but its not bad. We picked it up as an extra bag because we couldn't quite fit everything in our granite gear portage bag. Patched one small pinhole but no other issues with durability so far. We limit that pack to sleeping bags, clothes, sleeping pads, and such items. Seems to make it easy to pack and limits the amount of weight.

I had one that I used on two trips and gave it away only because it was too heavy and cumbersome to carry when I had everything in it I need. It was difficult to find things and felt like I was always digging to find what I was looking for. It held up fine for those two trips and was in nearly new condition when I gave it away. I just decided I’d rather have two smaller packs than a huge one that I struggled to carry and had to empty everything on top to get to something on the bottom.

I've had one for probably 15 years. No issues with the straps or losing waterproofing as others have had. I do agree it's hard to pack. It's actually too big for me on my solo trips these days due to me down sizing other gear but I continue to use it and just roll the top down further.

JD

I bought my first Boundary bag in 2001. That version didn't have a waist strap. Uncomfortable but did the job. After several improvements over the years, I still use them.

But like anything else, they have their problems. If you pick them up by the strap when fully loaded, the bottom strap can break away. Always use the handle or top of the straps when moving them. The top can rip when packing if you open it too wide. Before Bass Pro bought Cabelas, the bags had a lifetime warranty. Now they don't.

The reason I recommend them to guys going with me to Quetico is that most of them will only make one trip with me. The bags always work great for them for the trip and fit their budget. I prefer using them and then replacing them if needed rather than use a plastic bag liner in a canvas bag. I know the canvas bags are better in the long run for several reasons, but I live in Arkansas and only make one trip up north a year so the Boundary bags work for me.

Terry

I clicked the link and noticed something. I don't mean to throw shade at the OP, because it's quite possible he copied and pasted this link from another website -- but just an FYI, if you use that link and make a purchase, somebody is getting a kickback through AvantLink, an affiliate marketing program. I find this kind of program to be the scourge of the internet. There are so many blogs and websites and Youtube channels disguised as objective "gear reviews," providing a nice handy link where you can purchase the reviewed items via Amazon, Cabela's, REI, etc. If the link has anything other than the company name at the start of the URL, you should be aware that the gear reviewer receives a chunk of the sales made via their unique affiliate links.

The link in the OP should read: https://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-BOUNDARY-WATERS-BACKPACK/2398089.uts?avad=5434_b195c0349&WT.mc_id=al4468&Subid1=SID&adname=ale&adtype=ale&adid=NA&utm_medium=AFF&utm_source=4468&rid=12&WT.tsrc=AFF

instead of : https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=ale&ti=1861&pri=0&pw=5434&mi=11469&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fproduct%2FCABELAS-BOUNDARY-WATERS-BACKPACK%2F2398089.uts

We have a larger one and a smaller one and have used them for several years without too much problems. They have gotten a hole or two that we have patched with duct tape. They are a little heavy and stiff - we used them for our food/cook stuff bag and they have worked well enough for that.

mine straps ripped off first trip. It fits perfectly in a GI duffel bag with back pack straps and love that set up.