I realize this is a bit of a dead horse, but I'm getting out a new stick to beat it with.

I have made up my mind to get a 100+ liter dry pack I can carry like a backpack. MEC (Canada) currently has a sale on for the SeaLine boundary bags (25% off until July 23, 2022) and I am tempted.

Oddly enough the SeaLine boundary 115L on sale is only a few bucks more than the full tag price of the Eureka! SS15 canoe pack, so you'd think it is a much, much better bag. However, I'm struggling to see how it is that much better.

But I figure I'll go for the SeaLine except I can't find any solid information on the SeaLine's waist belt that isn't years old. And from what I understand they have updated the carrying harness on the Boundary bag recently.

I have found pictures of the Eureka!'s waist belt, but it is very unclear what the waist belt on the SeaLine Boundary 115 are like these days.

So! While I am very happy to hear feedback on general comparisons from those who have used new(er) versions of both, I am really just trying to find out how the carrying system, and wait belts in particular, compare. As far as genera specs goes it seems like a toss up between the two and I'd do fine either way, it really is down to the carrying harness.

If you have either of those bags, can you tell me how they handle bulky/heavy loads on longer portages? Pictures would be amazing! Especially of the SeaLine Boundary 115L bag.

Thank you!

myself, i'd go for Eureka, even at that sale for the Sealline!
sorry, i put the ! in the wrong place.
the ss115 has really useful handles, always carried fine for me, even better than some (hip-belted) canoe packs. usual familiar working design.

i'm sure they'll both be fine. looks like sealline's Bound changed up the harness and threw something on for hipbelt. you're concerned with long ports big loads. in that case,
i'd buy the Bound right now, load it up as if on trip. walk the block a few times. lots of stairs or hills too, take it on and off occasionally.
keep it clean.

if it feels fine, nice, good price (compared to the price it was dropped from).
if it doesn't, instant refund.
and the SS115 may be on discount by then for $110 (with new chances for feeling fine).

don't underestimate those handles.
1% of your relationship with the pack is at the ends of ports. but at those ends is where you're 90% awkwardly standing, and postured, while trying to move the thing.

I'd say go with the Eureka. I've got the Eureka 115L and the SealLine Pro 115L and I'd say those two are more or less comparable, but it looks like the boundary is one level down from the Pro, and it doesn't have the padding and hip belts quite like the Pro. If my SealLine didn't have the same padding and hip belt, then I'd pick the Eureka 100% of the time, especially with the handles that remogami is referring to.

You could also consider the MEC Slogg, there are a few things I like about them over the standard Boundary Bag.

What things? Good grab handles, especially on the sides where for me they are perfectly placed as anchor points, better tie down strap system, tough material (not as good as their deluxe version), hip belt is quite nice and removable if you are in a situation where you don't need it.

Unfortunately the current MEC sale only applies to the black version which might just be the worst colour ever chosen for a dry bag (even worse than the puke green that I have).

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"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

I would stay away from Sealine, I’ve had awful luck with their straps breaking. So far my Slogg is doing well…much cheaper too.

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"It's healthy to be dirty" - Lars Monsen

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I just ordered the MEC Slogg 115, even though it only came in black. Between the harness and the price (on sale) it made the most sense. If it hadn't been on sale I would have gone for the Eureka!, it seems like the most bang for the buck (at full tag price, anyway) and I like the dimensions better (wider/deeper and less tall). But on sale the Slogg became the winner.

Now I just need to plan the first adventure for it!

The Slogg is a good choice. No matter which brand you buy they will likely develop (easy fix) pinholes over time. The other thing that generally goes is the webbing straps, sitting in a canoe all day means a huge amount of UV exposure, eventually a strap will break.

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"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

I have had a Eureka for quite a few years. The first one was defect but they replaced it w/o hesitation.

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Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.

Just one more vote for the Slogg 115. I have an older "Deluxe" version with the internal aluminum frame and it's been a great pack for years now. https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5030-381/ ... 5-dry-pack

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Have canoe, will travel.

I'll cast my vote for the SealLine. I still have a SealLine 115L that I bought 25 years ago. It has one rip on the hip belt, but is otherwise still in perfect working order, still 100% waterproof, and still floats if I need it to.

I can't think of any other gear I own that's been put through the abuse that pack has and still functions as if new.

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If you ate today, thank a farmer.

I have had the Eureka for 12 or so years now and all the straps are gone so I got a Slogg HD to replace it. I prefer my Ostrom Wabakimi with a dry bag inside of it however but the Slogg is good for shorter trips with less weight.




Now I believe it is called the Slogg HD 115

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5063-651/ ... our=Yellow

the Slogg HD is the new Slogg Deluxe?
And the OP bought the Slogg HD for $145? Fantastic buy.

I had the 70l Slogg HD. It lasted 2 trips before the harness started delaminating and pulled away from the PVC. The rolltop closure was also very stiff and it leaked when sitting in bilge water on both trips. Even when rolled 4 times. I'm thankful for MEC's rock solid guarantee and returned it for a full refund. Maybe I got a bad bag. I replaced it with the 70l Sealline Propack. The Propack has only been on a couple of trips. But the harness is much more comfortable for me. The roll top is more supple and the sealing strips make for a more water tight roll. Well in theory at least. So far so good. No leaking and no delamination. I do thing the Slogg has more convenient grab handles.

I also have an Ostrom Quetico which I think is something like 90l. It's just OK. Of course it is very well made but it carries a bit like Santa's sack with cushy shoulder straps. I prefer the harness and more structured shape of the Sealline Propack.

It is nice to see there is a pretty loyal camp for each option out there. I get the impression you can't truly go wrong with any of them, barring a few lemons among all brands, so at CAD145 I'm pretty pleased with the deal we got on the Slogg HD 115s. Time will tell what camp we end up in!

All the input is very much appreciated. Thanks a ton!

Just a short update after using my MEC Slogg HD 115 for a few trips. I sure wish the brightly coloured one had been on sale, but that is just about all the negativity you're going to get from me. It has been awesome, fully waterproof, swallowed most, if not all, my gear with ease and it wears like a normal backpack. Awesome all around. I felt so comfortable about its capacity and waterproofness that I brought a full on pillow on my last trip of the year. How's that for back country luxury!