SealLine Wide Mouth Duffle Bag

October 19, 2009

BackCountry.com
R607 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
T225 2nd Avenue So.
Seattle WA 98134
USA

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.