zski wrote on Dec 10^th, 2012 at 7:10pm:


For 20 years I have used a Quetico Superior food pack.  It's a wonderful pack, made even more so by plastic trays I was able to find that fit it perfectly.  Good brand!

prouboy

On the subject of 'rubber' pack or dry bags, I have a couple of Seattle Sport Grand Adventure and Free Loader 99L dry packs.  At less than $100, the price was a draw, as well as the waterproofness.  They are true roll top dry bags with a well designed shoulder harness like on a backpack, but no hip belt.  They are taller and narrower than traditional packs.

The Grand Adventure is PCV free heavy vinyl and the Free Loader is 600D urethane coated polyester.  The grand is a bit heavier duty and also heavier.  Well made and they are pretty good for a personal gear pack that doesn't get real heavy.  I've notice some strain marks around the attachment point for the straps, but haven't leaked yet.  I would not use for heavy or pointy camp gear.  I carry a patch kit with Aqua Seal and the accelerator so it would be usable in a couple hours vs. over night.  I did have a Free Loader suffer an abbrasion failure from lots of granite contact, but was an easy patch.

I still use them but feel heavy use or much portaging could lead to leaks at the stress points, so I've moved back toward the traditional portage packs and feel, with replaceable liners or bags, will get much longer use of them.  I use a heavy plastic bag for a liner and almost everything inside goes in its own dry sack.  I stay away from the vinyl dry sacks and use coated polyester as they don't cling to each other and much easier to cram into the packs as they slide past each other. 

That's my experience with the 'dry bag' style pack.  I think they are much better for river rafting type trips or ones where the amount of portaging is limited.  They were great on our Copper River trip...though I noted one of the guides used a GG#4.

pd

portage dog wrote on Dec 13^th, 2012 at 11:29pm:


Good review p_d!  I'll stick to my traditional packs. 

Thanks!

prouboy

I love my Duluth Packs and they are over 15 years old.  Nothing against nylon but they are more expensive. I had a SeaLine waterproof pack and hated it.  It just did not sit well on my back when fully loaded and it has very hot against my back.  I don't know about the others, but Duluth and Frost River guarantee their stuff for life.  You can now get them with waist belts but I find them more hassel than they are worth for short portages (les than a 1/2 mile).

I have a couple of Paul Bunyan Duluth packs.  Packs don't get any bigger.  As pointed out previously, the canvas packs are surprising water proof.  Leave the packs out all day in a rain and the inside will not be wet.  My packs are not waxed.  This doesn't mean you can leave the packs in standing water, but if they are hung up, the inside will stay dry.
The life time guarantee on Duluth Pack is not all inclusive.  The life time guarantee refers to the hardware and the straps.  The guarantee does not include wear and tear.