BWCA CCS Solo Portage Packs, etc. Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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SilentPaddler
member (25)member
  
03/25/2017 10:42AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hello everyone,

My wife and I recently purchased 2 solo canoes. I got a Northstar Northwind Solo and she got a Northstar Trillium.

We are fairly novice paddlers and do not own any portage packs, etc. We are focusing on CCS as a supplier.

Here are my questions:

1.) If I alone were to go on a solo trip for a week to the BWCA/Quetico which CCS packs would be a good set?

2.) If my wife were to accompany me in her solo what additional pieces would be recommended?

Thank you for your kind advice!
 
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03/25/2017 11:47AM  
The new wanderer is perfect for your water bottles, rain gear, first aid etc. To be carried with the canoe. My main pack is the Pioneer. Your wife could have a wanderer also but maybe a smaller main pack.
 
gymcoachdon
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03/25/2017 07:42PM  
I have a Pioneer and a Rucksack for my solo trips. I can actually pack everything into the Pioneer, but it is a bit more weight than I want to carry with the canoe, so I split the stuff between the 2 packs. If I were buying again, I would get the Explorer instead of the Pioneer. The rucksack could be your food pack. I rented the CCS solo food pack on my first trip, and it was very nice. The foam structure keeps the bag open for rummaging through stuff, and for loading it back up. The colored food zippered bags to separate food into breakfast, dinner, snacks, etc., were also very nice to keep stuff organized. It really depends on how you trip, how much and heavy your gear is, and whether you will carry a pack and the canoe, or just carry the canoe by itself.
So, maybe a Pioneer, a Rucksack, and the food pack. Solo you take the Pioneer one trip, canoe and Rucksack 2nd trip. Both tripping, you take pioneer, wife takes food, she carries canoe on 2nd, you take canoe and Rucksack.?
 
SilentPaddler
member (25)member
  
03/26/2017 08:18AM  
I just wanted the thank everyone who has replied for your very helpful responses! This information really helps me. I will make a decision this week and post here what that is. I will also let you know what I think of the bags when they arrive.
 
SilentPaddler
member (25)member
  
03/26/2017 08:18AM  
 
kona
distinguished member (273)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/26/2017 09:23AM  
If you can wait until next month at the Midwest Mountaineering Spring Expo, you would have the chance to meet Dan Cooke and ask for his input.

Congrats on your new boats. I'm looking forward to paddling a trillium.
 
Northwoodsman
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03/26/2017 12:35PM  
Instead of the Rucksack I would choose the Bushcrafter. It has 2 extra pockets on the sides for carrying water bottles, fuel, stoves or a variety of other items that you may want to access in a hurry without emptying a pack. Dan Cooke is a member here. Email or call him and ask him for advice. You are making a good decision to buy quality products. I have a Rucksack, an Explorer and a Pioneer. I would say that the Pioneer or the Explorer would make a good primary pack to carry by itself. You should be able to carry a Bushcrafter with your canoe. CCS packs also have top pockets which are perfect for rain gear and similar items. Don't forget to add a CCS tarp to your list. Over the winter I purchased a bunch of different colored and different sized CCS stuff sacks to help organize gear in my packs. Can't wait to try them.
 
SilentPaddler
member (25)member
  
03/26/2017 12:47PM  
Northwoodsman -

What size tarp do you find to be a good size?

Thank you!
 
03/26/2017 01:02PM  
The hybrid packs that CCS sells work great. In total, I suggest one Explorer, one Pioneer (or two Explorers if your trips are summer and not longer than 1 week), and a smaller pack such as the Bushcrafter or Rucksack. I have a Pioneer and two Explorers, plus a couple of options for day packs. I mix and match depending on trip length and time of year. On a week long solo trip you should be able to get by with either the Pioneer or Explorer and a day pack. If going with your wife, you could bring the Pioneer and the Explorer plus the smaller pack. All of this, of course, depends on your packing habits and tripping style. The suggestion to purchase various stuff sacks for gear organization is a very good one. To me, solid gear organization is mandatory because it can save a lot of time and keep your gear from going missing.

You will refine your setup as you gain experience no matter what you purchase, but you can't go wrong with CCS gear.

Have fun!
 
JJ396
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03/26/2017 01:41PM  
I guess I take too much stuff. When I solo I take 2 big packs and a smaller rucksack for day trips. I am base camping though.
I like the idea of waiting and talk to Dan Cooke at the Expo. That way you see the gear too.
 
SilentPaddler
member (25)member
  
03/26/2017 03:23PM  
For solo trips do most of you use a food pack and stay with non perishable items and carry them in one of your other packs?
 
03/26/2017 03:28PM  
Except my first day lunch and dinner (sub sandwich) I take non perishables and use a bear vault or Ursack and keep that in the main pack.
 
03/26/2017 05:57PM  
quote SilentPaddler: "For solo trips do most of you use a food pack and stay with non perishable items and carry them in one of your other packs?"


FYI: All of the food on my solo trips, which are typically ~12 days, is non-perishable, lightweight, compact, and calorie-dense. A day's worth weighs about 18-20 oz. and is about 2,400 calories. I store it in bear canisters (BearVault/Garcia), or more recently in Ursacks (w/OPsack liners) to reduce weight and bulk. Those just go in my main pack; there is no separate food pack. I can get 8 days food in a BearVault 500. The use of the bear canisters/Ursacks saves the trouble of hanging. It also requires minimal fuel, utensils, and time to prepare. Many do similar things, some do different things. There are quite a food posts on the subject if you search and you'll get a lot of ideas. Of course, YMMV :)


 
DanCooke
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03/26/2017 06:44PM  
Being a novice, you most likely are not set in your ways. You will begin to develop your style as you embark on your adventures. As you have seen that opinions vary quite a bit, each fitting their own style.

I would begin with the Pioneer pack and either the Rucksack or Bushcrafter for your Solo Adventures and add an Explorer and Wanderer when your wife joins you. It is usually the other passions (photography, fishing, reading, birding) that make your determination of your pack size, more than the base equipment. The Pioneer pack should be able to fit a summer weight sleeping bag and pad and all your clothes and shelter for a multi-week trip. Allways take what you need, and leave all the stuff that" well as long as I have room for it stuff".

The Rucksack or Bushcrafter should be able to handle all your kitchen and food needs. A solo food pack is still quite a bit of space for one person unless your food is one of your passions, or you will be doing multi-week adventures. If you are into a more hardshell type of food pack then either the Bear vault BV500 will fit the rucksack (up to 2 will fit) or go to a 30 Liter Barrel or Quad Pack. The outside pockets should be used if you use liquid fuels in your stove. I personally like soft packs over buckets or barrels

Not knowing your physical abilities- but typically you should be able to carry the Pioneer Pack either before or after portaging the Canoe while carrying the Rucksack / Food pack with the canoe.
I would tend to encourage the smaller/ lighter pack with the canoe, and carry the larger pack across first as your vision is not restricted by the canoe.

I prefer red or yellow packs as they stand out- you spot them quickly.

I would recommend a 10 x 12 1.1 Silnylon Tundra Tarp for shelter beyond the tent. I hate to be in a tent escaping weather- I would rather be out seeing the weather, than retreating from it. You can always make the tarp set fit in a smaller space but you never can make the protected area bigger than the tarp size. If you are looking for a tarp / Insect haven I would have you look at a lean one for you and your wife rather than the Tundra Tarp. I personally prefer white or yellow.
 
schweady
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03/27/2017 11:51AM  
A quick side note: How lucky are we to have direct advice like this from the man himself? Thanks, Dan! I hope to see you at the Expo next month.
 
Northwoodsman
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03/27/2017 05:29PM  
quote SilentPaddler: "Northwoodsman -

What size tarp do you find to be a good size?

Thank you!"


I like either the 10 x 12 or a 10 x 14. Either one will give you an adequate area of overhead coverage with a portion dropping down as a wind break when it's cold or raining sideways. We based camped on a point on Cherokee last fall and it was windy, rainy and in the 40's the entire second day. The 10 x 14 kept us warm, dry and happy! I like Dan's points about bright colored packs. All of mine red. Very easy to spot; not likely to get left behind or mixed up on a portage. And to schweady's point, how often do you get the owner of one of the highest quality suppliers in the world chiming in to give you their own personal advice based on years of experience? Priceless.
 
03/27/2017 06:31PM  

Dan Cooke recommendations are spot on! 3 years ago at Canoecopia, I asked Dan what CCS packs would work best for a solo canoe trip using a Bell Magic.

Dan suggested buying a Pioneer Pack and a Ruck Sack (it will hold 2 BV 500 Bear Vaults for food, positioned sideways). I couldn't be happier with the purchase. They fit in like a glove. Well made and very comfortable to portage.

Suncatcher uses these CCS packs for his solo canoe trips and I have used his quality advice for many canoe tripping purchase items.
 
uiyyuc
  
06/09/2018 12:02PM  
I recently bought a 38L NI patrol pack, for £35, brand new. I think the 38L must be just the main compartment, because it holds much more than any other pack of the same stated size. It is also water resistant (I'd even say shower proof), but even so called "waterproof" packs could do with a 40L drysack for a liner (about £10-£15 for one [url]https://secretstorages.com/best-bushcraft-backpacks/[/url]
It "should" hold plenty for a couple of nights or more, but it all depends on the weather and location you'll be out in. If you have to pack a huge sleeping bag, then you'll want to go for at least 100L, but for a small summer bag you'd get away with 40-50L (in a well designed pack). The size of your cooking kit also makes a difference. If you want to use 16cm billy cans, griddles, large kettles, etc, then you'll need a pack with a large single main compartment, or something with decent sized side pouches. If you have a tiny kettle and a couple of small nesting pans, then you don't need to worry too much about it.
Your form of shelter is another thing that makes a big difference. A small tent will take up several times the room that a silnylon tarp will, unless you strap it to the outside somewhere.

You're doing the right thing by asking for suggestions though, as buying a pack online can cause serious hassle. Most manufacturers vastly exaggerate the capacities of their packs, and the design of the compartments can halve the effective use of a packs capacity.
 
PineKnot
distinguished member(2021)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/11/2018 12:49AM  
A lot depends on how you pack your CCS packs. I found when I owned my Bell Magic that I could not get my Pioneer pack to fit and lay flat in the Magic when it was fully packed. To use it I had to lay it on its side which left it above the gunwales making the canoe a bit less stable. I tend to bring some luxury items which tend to make a stuffed pack a bit larger. Instead of not bringing these items, I purchased a couple of the Explorer packs ( I also have a rucksack). I like the Explorer packs on solo trips as they lay flat into my solo canoe (currently a Placid Rapidfire) and I don't have to worry about the packs getting so heavy they're overly painful to portage.

Regardless of what you decide to buy, CCS packs are great and you'll love them on canoe trips.
 
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