12/3/13 SealLine Urban Backpack & Urban Backpack Organizer |

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SealLine Urban Backpack & Urban Backpack Organizer

They  Say  -­  The  freedom  you  feel  after  clicking  into  your  pedals  beats  the  hell  out  of  waiting  in  traffic  anyday.  Lightweight  and  rock-­solid,  our  RF-­welded  Backpacks  offer  seamless  all-­weather  commuterprotection.  A  watertight  roll-­down  closure  with  QuickClip™  attachment  provides  easy  access,  and  anoptional  organizer  slips  onto  the  internal  frame  sheet,  neutralizing  even  the  fattest  Monday-­loads.  On  theoutside,  you  get  good  looks,  a  weatherproof  zip  pocket  and  our  Modular  Accessory  Pocket  system  forattaching  add-­ons  like  a  Zip  Pocket  or  Mobile  Electronic  Case.  A  light  clip-­loop  helps  keep  you  visible  anda  deluxe,  waterproof  and  ventilated  suspension  with  carry  handle  and  stowable  waist  belt  keep  you  rollingin  any  weather.

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12/3/13 SealLine Urban Backpack & Urban Backpack Organizer |

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Watertight:  Simple,  effective  roll-­top  closure  protects  from  the  elements.Easy  Access:  QuickClip  Closure  allows  for  one-­handed  access  to  your  stuff.Burly  fabrics:  RF-­welded,  PVC-­free  600D  PU-­coated  polyester  body  and  scrim-­reinforced  urethanedetailing.Add-­on  Accessories:  Easily  attach  Mobile  Electronic  Cases  or  Zip  Pockets  to  the  external  M.A.P.System  or  add  the  Backpack  Organizer.Made  in  USA  

We  Say  -­  The  Urban  Backpack  has  been  designed  for  the  bicycle  commuter.  The  idea  is  that  it  keepsyour  change  of  clothes,  your  bits  and  pieces  and  your  electronics  dry  during  your  ride  to  work  when  it’spouring  with  rain.

I  used  this  Urban  Backpack  as  a  day  pack  whilst  hiking  for  a  month  in  Suffolk  and  the  Lake  District.  Itgenerally  fitted  my  lunch,  raincoat  and  sweater,  water  bottle  and  biggest  of  all,  my  camera  equipmentwhich  consisted  of  a  large  digital  SLR,  an  old  fashioned  Box  Brownie  and  also  a  large  film  changing  bag.

My  backpack  was  lime  green,  and  although  this  would  be  a  great  colour  if  you  were  cycling,  where  cardrivers  often  need  all  the  help  they  can  in  seeing  cyclists,  especially  in  the  wet  weather  for  which  thispack  is  made,  for  me  on  the  lower  hills  I  prefer  something  a  little  more  subtle.  My  thinking  being,  I  don’t

12/3/13 SealLine Urban Backpack & Urban Backpack Organizer |

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like  my  view  of  the  mountains  polluted  by  bright  man  made  colours  so  why  should  I  pollute  the  view  ofothers.  So,  my  first  observation  is  that  if  you  get  this  pack  and  colour  matters  to  you  then  work  out  whatyou’re  primarily  using  it  for  and  choose  the  colour  from  there.  For  me,  who  has  used  it  mostly  as  a  daypack  in  the  lower  hills  and  in  towns,  and  occasionally  in  my  canoe,  I  would  choose  the  dark  blue  or  black,but  if  the  hi-­viz  element  is  important,  as  it  would  be  for  a  cyclist,  then  the  green,  orange  or  red  areprobably  great.

Ok,  onto  more  important  issues.  I  found  the  pack  ideally  suited  for  using  as  a  day  pack/camera  bag.  Atraditional  camera  bag  is  often  fastened  by  a  series  of  buckles  which  is  fine  if  you  are  only  going  to  openyour  bag  once  every  few  hours,  but  I  am  constantly  dipping  into  mine.  And  having  been  a  photographer  forover  30  years  I  can  say  that  unclipping  2  or  3  fastenings  every  10  minutes,  and  then  possibly  loosening  adraw-­cord  as  well,  gets  more  than  a  bit  tiresome  over  the  course  of  a  8  hour  trip.  I’ve  tolerated  it  in  thepast  as  I  thought  it  had  to  be  like  this  to  keep  the  camera  kit  secure.  But  this  bag  has  changed  that.  Thebag  fastens  shut  by  rolling  over  the  materials  a  couple  of  times  to  create  the  rain  proof  seal,  then  pullingthe  slightly  elasticated  fastener  down  and  hooking  it  under  one  of  three  openings,  depending  on  how  tightyou  want  it.  This  is  a  very  quick  and  secure  way  of  fastening  the  bag,  taking  literally  a  tenth  of  the  timethat  a  traditional  fastening  system  would  take.  So  instead  of  me  thinking,  I  really  want  this  photo  but  can’tbe  bothered  to  open  my  bag  yet  again  for  the  6th  time  this  past  hour,  I  think,  no  problem,  just  do  it.

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I’ve  tested  the  bag’s  waterproof  capabilities  whilst  canoeing  (by  plunging  totally  underwater  for  10  secondsor  so  and  all  seemed  fine)  and  to  a  lesser  extent  whilst  hiking.  My  findings  are  that  it’s  not  going  to  let  inany  moisture  during  a  rain  storm,  that’s  for  sure.

Another  very  important  feature  for  me  was  weight  distribution  and  ease  of  use  as  a  hiker’s  pack.  The  bagis  primarily  made  for  cyclists,  so  how  would  it  fare  if  it  were  worn  by  a  hiker  for  8  hours  a  day?  I  had  mydoubts  at  first  as  the  shoulder  strap  system  seemed  a  little  different  –  less  rigid  –  to  the  usual  day  packs  Iuse.  But  I  gave  it  a  shot  for  that  month  on  the  trails  and  was  pleased  to  have  had  no  negative  issues  at  allwith  it.  My  belongings  each  day  weighed  about  5kg,  perhaps  a  little  more  if  I  were  carrying  my  wife’scameras  and  tripod  as  well,  when  it  went  up  to  about  8kg.  The  pack  sat  nicely  on  my  shoulders  at  alltimes.  I  never  had  to  use  the  waist  band  to  take  any  pressure  off  my  shoulders,  I  didn’t  feel  as  if  I  had  anycirculation  issues  in  my  hands  which  sometimes  happens  if  a  pack  is  out  of  balance  and  most  importantlythe  pack  felt  comfortable.

Added  to  the  comfortableness  of  the  straps  is  the  venting  system  that  kept  the  pack  a  little  away  from  myback  and  arms  so  that  air  could  circulate.  I  appreciated  this  on  warmer  days,  even  just  this  very  smalldistance  allowed  sweat  to  evaporate  and  not  drench  my  shirt.

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A  final  plus  point  is  the  outside  pocket,  which  is  waterproof  and  very  tight.  Perfect  for  items  that  you  don’twant  to  rattle  about  as  you  move  and  that  you’re  probably  not  going  to  need  during  the  day  but  which  haveto  be  kept  safe,  such  as  keys  and  phone.

In  Summary  -­  Usually  at  the  end  of  each  new  kit  review  I  give  the  product  away  to  friends  or  family  as  wehave  loads  of  gear  passing  through  our  hands  and  we’ve  no  space  to  keep  hold  of  it  all.  But  this  UrbanBackpack  is  going  nowhere!  It’s  by  far  the  best  camera  bag  I’ve  ever  had,  courtesy  of  the  fact  that  it’swaterproof,  comfortable,  has  a  large  capacity  and  it’s  very,  very  easy  to  open  and  close.  You  have  to  padthe  camera  so  it  doesn’t  get  smashed  up  when  you  put  the  bag  down,  of  course,  but  my  spare  clothingdoes  that.  I  would  recommend  this  not  only  to  the  bikers  for  whom  it’s  primarily  made  but  also  canoeists,hikers  and  photography  enthusiasts.

To  see  the  Urban  Backpack  on  the  SealLine  website,  please  click  here  -­

http://cascadedesigns.com/en/sealline/urban/urban-­backpack/product

To  find  out  more  about  SealLine  and  to  see  their  full  range  of  outdoors  equipment  please  check  theirwebsite  out  -­

http://cascadedesigns.com/en/sealLine

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