I'm looking at purchasing a new DSLR for my BWCA trips. I know they are heavy and can be a pain but I want the image quality and flexibility of a good camera. I've looked at a Nikon D7100 and D5300 but are there others in other brands you would recommend in that same area? I am currently using a Sony SLT-A55VL and would also like something a bit more weather proof...

Avoid the weight and bulk, check out mirrorless cameras. It's an old article but is a camera field in expansion, lot of new bodies and lenses coming out regularly.

butthead

Sorry for not answering your question...
But I would also recommend mirror-less. Great cameras out there, and unless you are getting paid to shoot, you may not need the big grand looks of a DSLR.

I was going to add a Comparison link, but there are to many good ones out there. Do a simple search. Look into the Pro's & Con's.

Before you decide there are several questions you need to ask yourself.

What do I want to take pictures of? Landscapes, low light, wildlife action, etc?

What lens you want might be a harder question.

Do you want to get into photography more than just on your trips? How far do you want to take it?

The D7100 is a fantastic camera. A few more features than the D7000 which is what I use for my recent trips. I pair that with an 18-300mm lens to it. The camera lens combo weighs 3.5 lb and I carry it in a size 1300 Pelican case. Total weight with extra battery is just under 7 lb. Before that I carried two camera bodies/lens and a big Pelican case @ 38 lb. For me, this is the ultimate compromise between size, weight, cost and quality.

But it is really up to what you want out of a new camera and how much it will be used on canoe trips vs year round use and how much you want to put into it. But if your choice is between the 7100 and the 5300 go with the 7100. Or better yet buy the D7000. They are really discounted right now and you can get a body for about $700. That is a really good price for a great camera.

That looks like a great travel case. It fits your camera very well. I'm pretty much settled on the D7100 with the 18-140 lens. I really like the traditional camera styles even though they are heavier. I looked at a couple of mirrorless designs and they don't quite have the appeal to me of the DSLR. I really like using a viewfinder for fast shooting of moving birds and wildlife and the liveview for landscapes.