If anyone lives near the OH or WV Cabelas stores, just noticed in their flyer they're having 20% off of their Boundary Waters backpacks and duffel bags starting May 2nd until the 9th (I think the 9th), in store only though.

I would caution against anyone purchasing the Cabelas BW waterproof bags, both the backpacks and duffels. I normally purchase, use and like much of my outdoor gear from Cabelas but these bags are junk. Within a year or 2 of normal use the seams will fail.....period.

For the same price or a bit less, I'd go with the Seattle Sports or Seal Line versions.

quote LuvMyBell: "I would caution against anyone purchasing the Cabelas BW waterproof bags, both the backpacks and duffels. I normally purchase, use and like much of my outdoor gear from Cabelas but these bags are junk. Within a year or 2 of normal use the seams will fail.....period.


For the same price or a bit less, I'd go with the Seattle Sports or Seal Line versions."

Just curious but what is your sample size on the failure rate?

Used a Cabelas BW waterproof bag as my main pack for 3 years with no problems. I changed to a used Granite Gear #4 pack because I wanted a better canoe friendly shaped pack with more comfortable straps. The Cabelas bag was long and narrow. The Cabelas bag is now my BW backup and I use it for canoeing when not far from home and weather is iffy.

quote SevenofNine: "

quote LuvMyBell: "I would caution against anyone purchasing the Cabelas BW waterproof bags, both the backpacks and duffels. I normally purchase, use and like much of my outdoor gear from Cabelas but these bags are junk. Within a year or 2 of normal use the seams will fail.....period.

For the same price or a bit less, I'd go with the Seattle Sports or Seal Line versions."

Just curious but what is your sample size on the failure rate?"

Actually, quite a few people here over the years have attested to having problems with Cabela's BW bags. Many have used them successfully, but enough people have had problems to give a person second thoughts. I stopped in Cabela's in Wheeling one day thinking I might buy one, but it did not compare well with a Seal Line I had rented in the ADK's and I decided against buying.

I have a Cabelas Boundary bag as well as a Seals boundary bag. Have taken both on BWCA trips for several years. No problems with either. We don't overload the bags, throw them around or put sharp stuff in them.

If the Cabelas bag ever has the problems mentioned, they will take it back and give you another. They really stand behind their products

quote LuvMyBell: "I would caution against anyone purchasing the Cabelas BW waterproof bags, both the backpacks and duffels. I normally purchase, use and like much of my outdoor gear from Cabelas but these bags are junk. Within a year or 2 of normal use the seams will fail.....period.


For the same price or a bit less, I'd go with the Seattle Sports or Seal Line versions."

Amen...Mine was junk, did not make it one trip. They did give me a new one free of charge, but I will not take it to the B.W.

I have one,it's worked very well on 2 BW trips and 20 river floats, and I plan to add to it's resume'. Nevertheless, 104 bucks is not really a bargain price for that pack. I got mine when they discontinued the blue color for about 80. Yeh, I look like a friggin tourist, but whatever. I highly recommend this unit for river floaters, it's basically a giant dry bag and at almost 8000 CI it can get really heavy if you're not dilligent. Like I said, I'm fine with the pack but I think you can get a lot better value with used outfitter gear if you shop hard.

quote SevenofNine: "

quote LuvMyBell: "I would caution against anyone purchasing the Cabelas BW waterproof bags, both the backpacks and duffels. I normally purchase, use and like much of my outdoor gear from Cabelas but these bags are junk. Within a year or 2 of normal use the seams will fail.....period.



For the same price or a bit less, I'd go with the Seattle Sports or Seal Line versions."

Just curious but what is your sample size on the failure rate?"

Many years ago I purchased 4 of the extra large backpacks for use on BW trips for me and my 3 sons. I also purchased 4 of the extra large duffle bags for use on my southern Missouri float trips.

Of these 8, only 1 of the duffle bags survived more than 2 years worth of trips without a seam failure. I think my younger son still has his duffle bag and uses it. Because of the past failures he is extra careful when putting it in the canoe or when taking it out at camp.

In contrast we've now used our Seattle Sports Canyon Packs for 5 years now (multiple trips per year) with zero failures.

Cabelas BW Packs and Duffels have been the subject of previous threads on this forum and from memory I am not the only one who has experienced seam failures.

quote markaroberts: "I have a Cabelas Boundary bag as well as a Seals boundary bag. Have taken both on BWCA trips for several years. No problems with either. We don't overload the bags, throw them around or put sharp stuff in them.


If the Cabelas bag ever has the problems mentioned, they will take it back and give you another. They really stand behind their products"

I do agree that Cabelas stands behind their products and have not let my experience with this particular product stop me from shopping there.

I've never owned one but have read in other threads on this forum that their BW down sleeping bags are junk as well. By contrast their Alaskan Guide down sleeping bags are absolutely wonderful.

Mine has made it through 10 BWCA trips and a few car camping trips. Not a single rip or hole yet.

I've had one for many years, no problems. Not very comfortable, long and skinny as mentioned. But, can hold the kitchen sink if needed. Mine has been fine...

quote maxxbhp: "Nevertheless, 104 bucks is not really a bargain price for that pack. I got mine when they discontinued the blue color for about 80. Yeh, I look like a friggin tourist, but whatever. "

HA! I purchased mine at the same time and am sporting the same look.

Just picked up a 110L(!) Seattle sports omnidry portage pack on Amazon for $45(!). Admittedly, no field test yet, but it sure seems durable/trustworthy! Happy to see favorable mentions of of Seattle sports in this thread, but at that price I'd still be happy even if it only lasts a few years...

I don't buy anything Cabela's brand anymore. Not their sleeping pads. Not their sleeping bags. Not their clothes. Nothing. It won't last. Trust me. When it comes to camping gear I suggest going name brand. You might pay a bit more but you will get the best quality for which it was originally intended.

Got mine in 2002, been on numerous trips since then without an issue. I don't overload it though, itt typically carries 40-45lbs.

JD

On a Cabelas note, the one in Hammond, IN has a lot of their dry bags on sale as well as, I believe, the MSR PocketRocket for $20 ~50% off.

quote Intrekid: "Just picked up a 110L(!) Seattle sports omnidry portage pack on Amazon for $45(!). Admittedly, no field test yet, but it sure seems durable/trustworthy! Happy to see favorable mentions of of Seattle sports in this thread, but at that price I'd still be happy even if it only lasts a few years..."

The only problem with the Omnidry bag is that it doesn't come with a lumbar belt. My brother in law bought one as their second pack when his son came on our trip last year. It holds alot of gear and didn't develop any leaks. The shoulder straps could be a little wider with a bit more padding.

It's half the price of the Canyon Pack which does come with better should straps and a lumbar belt.For my money though, I much prefer and use the Canyon Packs.

IMO both a superior to the Cabelas BW packs in quality and durability.

quote Sheepdogged: "I don't buy anything Cabela's brand anymore. Not their sleeping pads. Not their sleeping bags. Not their clothes. Nothing. It won't last. Trust me. When it comes to camping gear I suggest going name brand. You might pay a bit more but you will get the best quality for which it was originally intended."

I'm not a fan of the Cabelas BW packs or sleeping bags but would not agree that all their camping stuff doesn't last.

In my experience any of the gear that carry the Alaskan Guide stamp is a superior product. You can't buy a better dome style tent IMO for any price. They are not backpacking tents so I wouldn't recommend them for use in the BW. Our group does bring 2 of the 6-man tents but we split the load up to make the extra weight of these quality tents manageable. We never worry about tent failure no matter how heavy the rain or strong the wind.

quote LuvMyBell: "

quote Intrekid: "Just picked up a 110L(!) Seattle sports omnidry portage pack on Amazon for $45(!). Admittedly, no field test yet, but it sure seems durable/trustworthy! Happy to see favorable mentions of of Seattle sports in this thread, but at that price I'd still be happy even if it only lasts a few years..."

The only problem with the Omnidry bag is that it doesn't come with a lumbar belt. My brother in law bought one as their second pack when his son came on our trip last year. It holds alot of gear and didn't develop any leaks. The shoulder straps could be a little wider with a bit more padding.


It's half the price of the Canyon Pack which does come with better should straps and a lumbar belt.For my money though, I much prefer and use the Canyon Packs.


IMO both a superior to the Cabelas BW packs in quality and durability."

Yeah, the lack of waistbelt is definitely the biggest con I could find. I told myself that my next pack would have one, but at that price I couldn't resist. The enormous size seems like it could go either way- large enough to hold everything for a week+ on the water, but too large to pick up and portage... Either way, for $45 I feel pretty darn good about it!

Oooops

We have used the cabelas bw bag for over 60 days and over 400 miles in the bwca and quetico with no problems whatsoever. We use kondos bags for our heavy stuff and the cabelas bag for stuff we want to keep dry. They are definately not made the best but seem ok if you are easy on them.

This pack made two trips. Noticed the back was coming off as I was getting ready for a third trip. No time to take it back so I sewed it. First it was just the top, but by the end of the third trip the bottom was coming off. The other side is sewn too, but with black thread. Lucky it didn't come off during a trip as it took a pliers to push the needle through all that. PS- I know I'm not great at sewing.

Mine is an older model, green, and no back pad sewn on. Wonder if changes they have made to them reduced the quality?

JD

Well I started this thread just for sale awareness, sure escalated from there, huh? =)

Went to Cabela's over the weekend. They also had the Seal Line Pro Pack 115L on sale as well. Ended up getting the Seal Line after checking both out, the straps, waist belt, backplate, and sewing all seem to be much higher quality. Not to mention the thing is cavernous. Hopefully it holds up on my upcoming (first) BWCA trip!

I have 2 Seal Line packs that are 15 years old. Still going strong.

I tend to travel in larger groups and use them for food packs. Still keeps food nice and dry.

quote tombo131: "Well I started this thread just for sale awareness, sure escalated from there, huh? =)


Went to Cabela's over the weekend. They also had the Seal Line Pro Pack 115L on sale as well. Ended up getting the Seal Line after checking both out, the straps, waist belt, backplate, and sewing all seem to be much higher quality. Not to mention the thing is cavernous. Hopefully it holds up on my upcoming (first) BWCA trip!"

I have 1 Seal Line pack and 3 Seattle Sports Canyon Packs. Both are excellent quality and have held up well for many trips/many years now.

Of the two you compared, you made the best choice IMO. It will serve you well for many years.

LuvMyBell: "I would caution against anyone purchasing the Cabelas BW waterproof bags, both the backpacks and duffels. I normally purchase, use and like much of my outdoor gear from Cabelas but these bags are junk. Within a year or 2 of normal use the seams will fail.....period.


For the same price or a bit less, I'd go with the Seattle Sports or Seal Line versions."

Not to resurrect the dead...These are cheap crap packs. Shoulder straps pulled out 4 portages in with 8 left. I had to use the tensioning strap to carry the rest of the way.

Cabelas no longer has return and replace policy...they offered me 45% off the exact same piece of junk I just written a review on saying I would never buy again.

I wonder if these packs are being made more poorly than in the past. We had one the first 5 years or so of our BW travels. It held up well to about 70 days of travel, moving almost every day. We weren't rough with it but packed it full to about 40 lbs. We still have it, but switched to a Seal LIne Pro, which is definitely a far superior bag, but it is still perfectly serviceable.