SealLine Urban Backpack

I've owned this bag for 1 year and have put it through every imaginable test short of holding it under water.

Pros

1) Above all, it hasn't let in a drop of water and that alone makes it worth the money.

2) The tubular and sturdy design creates an excellent weight distribution that sits comfortably on my shoulders.

3) The waist strap that's easily rolled up and tucked away makes day to day use easier.

4) It doesn't have much in the way of external pocket space but I've been amazed at how much I manage to fit in the small bag.

5) "Ladder" on the front is a great place for attaching flashing rear lights (when on a bike) and other loose items

6) The roll top and single piece design allow you to pack in groceries and leave it open to prevent smashing items together (as would be necessary with a zipper design)

Cons

1) Shallow front pocket

2) When packed full, retrieving items at the bottom of the pack can turn into a deep sea diving adventure

Overall

A definite A+

I ran this bag through the ringer and back. I've certainly used it in just some casual everyday traveling situations but this bag has been dropped, banged, smashed, drowned, and then some. It has survived white water rapids, torrential down pours, dry basting heats, gail force winds, and it's true test, airport baggage terminals. It has never missed a beat. I seriously cannot think of a bag that can withstand so much harshness and still keep everything inside safe and secure. I would say that if it did become damaged that i would certainly buy another one, but i honestly think this bag will out last me. . I dare you to try and wear this bag out !!!!

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Having a fully waterproof pack for your gear can't be fully appreciated until you find yourself in a downpour without one. Seal Line/Cascade Designs recently redesigned the suspension and improved the comfort of the top straps, and this pack carries much more comfortably compared to its first generation predecessors. The only downer is that the points at which the webbing attaches to the vinyl pack aren't especially reinforced, allowing for some seam fraying over heavy use, possibly leading to strap failure. I've only ever seen it happen once though, under admittedly harsh and perhaps unrealistic circumstances.

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I purchased this bag specifically for a trip to Europe, but also use it as a messenger bag in New York. I love how it shrinks or grows depending on how much stuff you put inside, and that I fit everything for 3 weeks abroad (shoes, weeks worth of clothes, video and still cameras, computer, various electronics, papers and books) inside. It has proved to be completely rain-proof, though I have not tested its water-tightness by dropping it in water. I also purchased the organizer, which is pretty much necessary for anyone carrying papers, pens, coins or other small things that can get lost in the bottom of the bag. It works well, but should have been included.

I will say that when stuffed to the brim, a lot of tension is placed on the shoulder straps, which are the weakest part of the bag's construction. The straps themselves and their connection to the bag have held up fine, but three stitched sections on the shoulder cushion have become separated from the strap that holds it to the bag.

I have gotten many compliments on the bag (mostly, "wow, that is a COOL bag") and it is extremely convenient. I recommend it to anyone who bikes in all-weather situations, or is traveling abroad and don't want to be immediately recognized as a backpacking tourist with a giant internal frame camping pack.

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Waterproof, rugged & manly backpack; a head-turner at the beach & in the train. It doubles as a king-size travel pillow at the train & at the beach. Both the straps & the neoprene handle were able to support the +20lbs. load of beach gear to the Jersey Shore train commute this weekend. The backpack straps were comfortable to use. It has a sternum & waist straps which are both important features I look for whenever I shop for backpacks. For a large 37-liter bag, I wish that the waist strap was a little more bigger but in fairness it held the bag in place even after a quick jog to catch the train. The back foam cushion helped padded it against my spine making it easy to lug my gear. Easy to dust off the sand from the bag. Very tempted to toss the bag into the water to test it's waterproof feature. lol! I'll save that for next time.

To me this is a 3.5 star rated product but Amazon doesn't allow half-star rating. I would've given an additional full star except for these nuances I noticed while using it this weekend at the beach:

No inner pockets/compartments. Have to buy the organizer separately.

It's one big compartment with a black lining so it's very difficult to look for items in the bag even under the bright sun at the beach. Every time you dig through the bag you would need to re-organize everything just to close it back again properly.

The almost useless front pouch could only fit documents & small thin items. The material has no give. But that's the price I guess of having the backpack made of waterproof material.

Always have to push the air out of this roll-top backpack just to be able to close it properly when it's packed. Wish there was a way just to be able to let the air out without compromising it's waterproof properties.

I'm planning to order the Sealline modular attachments for this bag to make it more useful & practical. For the price of this bag, it should've come included already. This single compartment backpack is not exactly as cheap as a Jansport daypack.