SealLine Wide Mouth Duffel Bag

After years of using a regular dry bag, the change to the 40L roll-top duffel has been welcome. It is much easier to find what I'm looking for quickly and the wide opening makes getting bulky items in and out a breeze. The little side pocket is nice for things like sunscreen and lip stuff. For may daily boat gear, I don't think there is a better option out there.

This is the perfect dry duffel. I have the 40L, its large enough to fit my overnight gear. Vinyl material stands up to the rigors of the outdoors. I much prefer this to the backpack-style dry bags for ease of access.

We have two of these, a Large and an Extra Large. The XL is HUGE, and I almost returned it because I'm not certain I'll use it. The construction is highest quality. I use the Large every time I canoe camp for that gear that absolutely cannot get wet. The risk is that I'll put too much in the bag so it's too heavy to float and then I'd lose it anyway if the canoe capsizes. I never leave home for a canoe trip without this bag.

Ibought the 80L and decided it was too large for what we wanted to use it for, but I decided to keep it and buy the 40L because I do a lot of solo remote canoe camping with a sometimes-wiggly dog in the boat. I have other SealLine products that have held up for literally 30 years, so I'm confident these two new bags will be awesome. They are hefty and "serious" - much more than would be needed for just a water-resistant bag. I'm psyched to use them this summer and for 20-30 summers to come!

40 liter wide mouth duffle was well made, but not what I expected from the tech specs. Actual outside dimensions were 9.5 w x 14 h x 21 long and the ends are full radius, so it is only 21" long for the center. Usable length was only about 18 - 19" so it didn't meet my needs. It has an outside pocket made of water proof materials with a high quality water proof zipper, but they put a drain hole in the pocket, so it is useless as a water proof feature. But backcountry return policy is the best I've encountered, so these guys will be my first stop for future gear.

October 19, 2009

BackCountry.com
2607 S. 3200 West
Ste. A
Salt Lake City, UT 84119


Greetings. First, I want to say I am copying this letter to Cascade Designs, not in an effort to critisize a product but rather to improve a product I have been waiting to be manufactured for many years.

Let me digress to 20 years ago when I purchased my first SealLine bag. My fellow canoeists love the line of products. Since that time, I have purchased many, many pieces of gear from Cascade. In the early days, the long gear bags (with roll top) definitely kept gear dry, but were cumbersome in removing gear from the bag, often times having to remove the entire contents to get to a sweatshirt in mid-bag, for example.

Needless to say, I was excited to discover that SealLine had finally manufactured a Wide Mouth Duffel. I immediately ordered one from BackCountry. I chose the small size for day trips, having already owned the large size zip duffel for longer excursions. (Note...my girlfriend loves the wide-mouth bag and is heartbroken to see me send it back.).

The reasons for the return are these:
•For a duffel bag, the bottom is narrow. It constantly wants to tip over on its side when loaded.
•No shoulder strap is included, or even available as an option even though “D” rings are on the piece itself.
•The zip pocket on the side of the bag is nonsensical. When I first saw its photo on the internet, I thought, “What a great place to store a small camera or a cell phone.” Unfortunately, there is a drain hole in the bottom of the pocket. What purpose could this possibly serve? To dry out a pair of paddling gloves? There may be a reason, but I am yet to find it.
•Finally, the plastic tubes on the carrying straps don’t match the quality of the Sealine designs. I would rather see a snapping device, designed for keeping the straps together.

I have read the internet comments, and many say to buy the larger bag. Please don’t stop making the smaller version...it’s perfect for day trips on the river (incidentally, I live in the Ozark Mountains where we have thousands of miles of rivers and we canoe them nearly ever;y week of the year.).

If modifications are made to the wide mouth duffel, I can sell a ton of them for you to my fellow river rats. Please, please keep me informed of any such changes.

All my best, and with heartfelt consideration,


Jay Nicholson
cc: Amber
4225 2nd Avenue So.
Seattle WA 98134
USA

I used this bag for a two week trip around Greece, it had enough space for my stuff and some bulky close I did not expect to have to bring.

The stay dry folding opening is a bit tough to seal right if too much stuff is in there, but aside from that it was a good bag that you can stuff plenty of whatever you need in there.

To make it even more streamline it could you use strap tie-downs to put the extra straps away.

I really like the bag. It's a tough bag, and can take a beating.

I bought this for a canoe trip in Maine. Worked very well and kept clothes and other stuff dry in a real down poor of rain. Liked the wide mouth for easy access. I would only recommend you get the large model. Unless you have some specialty item to protect I think the small would be to small to be very practical.