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SealLine Urban Backpack : Preview
April 14th, 2008 by Arleigh 
Last week I took delivery of two bags from SealLine, their Urban Backpack and Shoulder Bag. The first one I really will be testing out the next few weeks is the Urban Backpack. With its dry sack design and roll top it really is water proof. This right now is needed in the South East as it has been raining 3/4 days a week.
Both of these bags will be traveling across the country with me to Sea Otter which means at least one of them will be on my back for 8+ straight hours with helmet, shoes, laptop, camera gear, etc etc. I would guess probably around 15 lbs of gear.
Some teaser photos of the Urban Backpack :
April 14th, 2008 at 10:10 am
It looks like it has good ventilation on the backside, I wonder if that would help eliminate some of the sweating. A little on the pricey side but if it all works well it’s worth it. I use the Novara Commuter Backpack from REI and have found it to be one of the best out there for daily commuters.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:49 am
How does this one compare to the Banjo Brothers Commuter pack?
April 14th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Looks very durable. Awfully ugly though….no offense. :]
April 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I don’t know if they changed the sizing of the Urban backpack…but it is HUGE. It holds a LOT:
http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/06/19/seal-line-urban-backpack-review/
Best thing of all is that the bag is completely and totally waterproof…not water-resistant, not “splashproof” but it absolutely WILL NOT leak. You could submerge this thing and your goodies will stay dry!
April 14th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Ghost Rider,
There are two sizes to the Urban backpack. I purposely got the smaller one as riding with the large one might become a nuisance. So far I’m not lacking room either.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Marrock,
I have no experience with the banjo bag. From looking at their website it doesn’t look like that one has a roll top, and both the sizes on the SealLine fall each end of the Banjo, 1037 & 2270 vs 1500 cu. in.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Arleigh, you made a smart move getting the smaller size…plenty roomy, as you’ve discovered. The big one is just too freaking big!!!
April 14th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I use the banjo brothers bag for my commutes, and the bag does have a fold over design underneath the top cover for waterproofness.
April 15th, 2008 at 6:38 am
The major problem with wearing that pack is that you will look like you are leading an amphibious assault. Seriously, it’s a giant rubber bag. This is WWII technology. It’s even olive green!
Other than being ugly, if water ever does get inside, it’s going to make a big puddle in the bottom.
April 15th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Bamajim,
thank you for the input! Again I have never seen or touched one of these bags to know how the are constructed.
April 19th, 2008 at 7:59 am
what other colors does it come in?
August 29th, 2008 at 3:33 am
I just bought one of these yesterday, filled it full of work clothes, etc, and have to say emphatically that it is amazing. Honestly, the bag is so lightweight that I can hardly feel it. Even loaded, it sits so comfortably that the load disappears. I was torn between this bag and the Ortlieb, but the secure fastener and lighter weight of this pack won.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 am
There’s no way (shy of duct tape) to attach lights or reflectors to this bag, something anyone riding in the rain needs to consider.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 am
Rocketman - I attached lights and reflectors to the slits on the pocket on the back with reinforcement from a zip tie.