I've never done the full on paddle > portage > paddle > portage > paddle type of trip. I've actually done very little portaging.

My question is, what are some tricks/tips for portaging loose gear? I'm thinking of fishing rods and paddles mostly. I know people have said they attach them to the canoe, but what is the best way to do that? Any special gear that helps with portaging loose stuff?

Many people on this site use bdb's for strapping loose items to the canoe. I use them for the painters lines, fishing poles, map case, spare paddle, and fishing net on trips that I take it with. Solo trips I also strap my paddle to the canoe and on tandem trips the person carrying just a pack carries the 2 paddles. Everything else is in a pack. So when we get to a portage it's packs on, canoe on shoulders, and across the portage we go. Here are some pics of the bdb's in action.

As you said, the less loose items the better. For paddles, they are usually used as hiking poles since they are generally the only loose items we have. Everything else is in the portage or day packs.

Personally I really like the Nite Ize Gear Ties for strapping fishing poles into the canoe.

And we use the same things (Nite Ize Gear ties) to attach the paddles to the seats for portaging.

PFDs are zipped around the seats. Map cases are set up to clip to the seats and are under the PFDs.

I have bungee cord "keepers" on the thwarts for the paddles, which are about the only loose items I have. Everything else goes in or on the packs.

I use BDB's for fishing rods and paddles, zip PFD to a thwart, and everything else else goes in a bag. I do have a Granite Gear under seat bag that helps keep all the things I might want during the day (compass, snacks, bug stuff, sunscreen, etc) in one place throughout the trip, and my maps get tucked between that bag and the seat on portages.

Note that as you fix things into your canoe for portaging, you may inadvertantly unbalance the canoe requiring you to have to push up or hold down the bow as you portage. In that case, just stop and move stuff around to get balanced, then put everything in the same place each time.

Loose stuff slows people down and is more easily lost. For me portaging has become an efficient system of unloading, carrying, and reloading my gear the same way every time. Even though I am solo and double portage, I routinely pass people on portages - mostly because they are pausing to evaluate or change the process each time.

I wear my PFD for more padding with the canoe and packs. Try to keep no loose items or dangling things that get lost and catch bushes. Might want to carry the same items every time. Keep all of your gear and canoe well away from the portage. As you are making trips back and forth another group might come and want to use the same portage. Take a quick inventory of your packs before you leave the portage. Just like luggage at the airport, your packs look just like the next groups pack. Don't be suprized if another group offers to help haul your packs across. Don't eat or take up area at a portage. Others will be needing the area to move across. You might triple portage and another will be single portaging. The main thing is to be organized, not leave anything behind, and move out of people's way. The no more than nine people meeting rule applies at portages too. If a large group is at the portage you just wait out in the lake for them to finish the portage.

For me everything goes in the pack. Map case and water bottle are put in the pocket of my pack. I wear my life jacket when portaging. The kayak paddle is tied into the canoe.
Luft and I were double portaging last year and we kept up with 2 men who were single portaging. We weren't in a hurry, we were just organized.
Besides I like leaving my hands empty on the portages in case I fall or want to take a quick photo.

The only loose gear we carry are our paddles. We use Crazy Creek canoe seats and they buckle onto the webbed seats. My map case is attached with small key chain type carabineers to my day pack which sits in front of me when paddling in the stern position. All other gear is in our packs or the food barrel.

I'm with jeep girl on this. On my last trip - 2 solos - I got so I could but my map and if out my water bottle in my pack, and disassemble my kayak paddle and BDB it to the seat spars as I was floating to the landing. Hopped out in knee deep water, tossed or set my heavy pack off to one side, on a high ledge or rock away from landing if available, then put on my lighter pack, pick up canoe, and go. My son and I are similar on a tandem except I do carry the paddles. I may get away from that. About 1 minute to load or unload between canoe stopping and moving on portage.

I've somewhat resigned to never single portaging - I like food too much and not ready to go ultra light. Also 50-60 pounds is about my limit.

Like jeepgirl, I like to take pictures and always have waterproof camera in my shirt pocket. I might take a dozen pictures on a portage.

You've gotten a lot of great advice here. My son and I are the same as others and only hand carry the paddles. The fishing rods are BDB inside the canoe and never come out. We clip the seat backs (crazy creeks) down, clip the PFDs and empty water bottles on the packs, I grab the heavy pack, he grabs the light pack, I gather the paddles and he shoulders the canoe and were off. That's when we single portage.

Double portaging is similar other than we set two packs aside for the return trip. We only double portage on shorter trips with fewer portages.

Loose items and/or extra packs = slow and exhausting portaging. Big hint here from many trips......take less food. You wont eat it anyway. Take less clothes. You don't need them either. Anything you "might" use. Leave it at home as well. You can thank me later.

My bad. Don't know how that happened.

Another fan of BDBs here. I use them to keep paddles and rope secure on the canoe. I unhook my map case and attach it the the back of main pack. Strap my PFD around my food pack. That way I always know where each item is located. Plus it forces me to put my PFD on as it flops around if I try to put it and the pack in the canoe. Having a n unload and load system you follow for each portage makes things become second nature. It's when you don't follow your system will be when you lose something on the trail or at the landing.

We all do variations of the same theme - minimal loose items to deal with at the portage, so you might want to try several to see what works best for you. My routine has changed over the years (and may change again), but this is what I did last time. It worked well for me - I'm usually solo and double portage. Like Bill, I can't single portage, but I'm not going to triple portage either.

The spare paddle is strapped into the canoe with the Nite Ize Gear Ties. I have a small pack I use to trim the canoe and I carry it with the canoe. The heavier pack is the second load. The only loose items I have are my PFD (tried wearing a pack over it, but didn't work well for me), paddle, and Sawyer Water Bottle. I carry them with the second pack. The map case is attached to the pack with carabiners. The water bottle also has a carabiner for attachment, but I usually hydrate while carrying the second load.

When I reach the portage, I put the second pack, the paddle, PFD, and water bottle off to the side out of the way. Then I put the yoke on the canoe, put on the small pack, lift the canoe and off I go. Taking the canoe first avoids lifting it and other things multiple times, which saves a lot of time and energy over the course of a day, especially with lots of portages. I'll often eat my lunch bar or some trail mix (carried in my pocket) on the walk back for the second load. I also take pictures then with the waterproof P & S that is in my pocket. I put on the second pack, stick an arm through the PFD's armholes, grab the paddle and bottle, and go. At the other end, the canoe is put in the water with the small pack, then the large pack, the PFD goes on and off I go.

quote boonie: " The only loose items I have are my PFD (tried wearing a pack over it, but didn't work well for me), paddle, and Sawyer Water Bottle. I carry them with the second pack.
I put on the second pack, stick an arm through the PFD's armholes, grab the paddle and bottle, and go.
"

I usually put the pfd on top of the pack with a carabiner, rather than under the pack.

We also carry the paddles, and bdb them together for ease.

Thanks, I'll have to look into that. I'm also thinking it would be better to strap the paddle in, too. Those Velcro paddle holders have always looked handy and I may try a set or even just the ties. May also have to try Bill's technique of doing it while drifting in to the landing.

quote boonie: " Those Velcro paddle holders have always looked handy ."

Especially if you have the flexibility and strength to squat down and pick up the paddle without putting the canoe down after the velcro lets loose ;-) Yes, that's a -1 vote on velcro paddle holders from me.

quote arm2008: "

quote boonie: " Those Velcro paddle holders have always looked handy ."

Especially if you have the flexibility and strength to squat down and pick up the paddle without putting the canoe down after the velcro lets loose ;-) Yes, that's a -1 vote on velcro paddle holders from me."

Thanks, it sounds like gear ties then. I'm not quite as strong and flexible as I was 50 years ago ;).

quote awbrown: "I have bungee cord "keepers" on the thwarts for the paddles, which are about the only loose items I have. Everything else goes in or on the packs.


"

You piqued my interest! What are these "keepers"? How do they work? Is it something you slide the paddle into instead of tying every time?

My rule is "never hand carry anything, period". Paddles and rods Bungee Dealeed to the boat, pfd wedged or zipped to thwart, everything else in the packs. Positive side effect; difficult to leave stuff at portages.

quote Banksiana: "My rule is "never hand carry anything, period". Paddles and rods Bungee Dealeed to the boat, pfd wedged or zipped to thwart, everything else in the packs. Positive side effect; difficult to leave stuff at portages."

Ideally the paddles are bdb'd to the canoe, but sometimes the balance is off, depends on what else is connected to the canoe like rods, under seat pack with the quick access stuff, if we brought a spare paddle etc. When I do end up carrying the paddles, I bdb them together, and while it might be possible to forget them at the wrong end of a portage, no one would even start paddling without them.

Balance and weight is why I only attach paddles to canoes. Don't use seats and set packs so I can easily reach into tops for water, maps, etc. I hate things hanging from canoe while portaging and like to portage hands free as possible - so I can balance canoe on shoulders and have arms at my sides.

On a different note:
At my age it's difficult for me to portage a heavy canoe much anymore so it makes little sense for me to have scrimped and saved to own a light weight canoe and then weigh it down tieing paddles, fishing rods, life jackets and other things to it. The only thing that stays on the boat it the map case that contains only the map in use at the time (thus of nearly no weight) and maybe the rod holders if in use that day.

I double portage.
First trip I do carry a BWJ guide pack containing the other maps, lunch, water bottles, rain gear, and first aid kit. And the canoe. Yes I have the weight of the pack on my shoulders too but it just rides better there and is barely noticeable. Weight strapped unto the boat near the seats and along the gunwhales is very noticeable to me and screws up the balance of the canoe.

Second trip, I take either two bentshaft paddles (nested together like spoons) and slide the in one arm hole of my life jacket and out the other arm hole. I don't like wearing the life jacket when I portage as it makes me too hot even if unfastened and interferes with the way I prefer my pack to fit. After placing the pack on my back I grasp the two paddles through the neck hole of my life jacket and head down the trail typically leaving my other hand free for balance and what not.

Fishing rods: if not in use they are stowed in a Cabelas rod case and carried like a suit case. If in use - on the portage the lures are hooked to the rod and covered with a Velcro lure cover. The rods are place side by side and grasped right in front of the reels and carried done the trail handle and reels forward with delicate rod tips trailing behind.

This is what works for me. And by the sounds of it most here would not enjoy traveling with me. LOL but by all means loose stuff like water bottles, cups, hats, other shoes, cameras, binoculars, journals, the long sleeve shirt that's too hot to wear now all need to be stowed in a pack not gathered up and carried in the fishing net or something equally dumb.

I like to pull the packs out and set them well out of the way on the same side of the portage every time. My partner grabs a pack and either the paddle/life jacket bundle or the fishing rod case or the rods themselves. I grab the daypack and the canoe and make the first trip. Once across I set the boat in the lake and set the packs directly into the boat and secure the canoe then go back for the second load. Each person carries the same stuff each time making it less likely to make unnecessary trips back across the portage to check if there is anything else. The last person leaving the end of the portage makes a quick inspection of the area to make sure nothing was missed. Once across those packs are set in place and we push off for the continued journey.

While I admire those who can single portage, who can carry a full pack and canoe with items lashed inside, I simply cannot do that. I've never been able to. Additionally while I may fish on canoe trips I do not go to the BWCA/Q simply for the purpose of fishing. It is my vacation and at my age I enjoy my creature comforts around camp. It's worth it to me to double portage. Almost every one of my 40+ trips has been a travel trip, moving camp almost every day.

I am certainly not suggesting that my way is better than other methods mentioned. It is simply what works best for me after years of experimenting and canoe tripping.

Rods attached with BDBs (although on recent solo I tightened the BDB too much on the rod tip and broke the darn rod). On longer portages, the thwart bag, map case, water bottle and PFD are clipped to my heavy pack. I haul that over on the first trip and hold the paddles (always bring an extra). Some like to haul the canoe first, but I like to know the terrain before I go back for the 2nd load which, for me, is a lighter pack and the canoe.

quote Grizzlyman: "

quote awbrown: "I have bungee cord "keepers" on the thwarts for the paddles, which are about the only loose items I have. Everything else goes in or on the packs.



"

You piqued my interest! What are these "keepers"? How do they work? Is it something you slide the paddle into instead of tying every time.
"

It is simply bungee cords installed on the portage yoke. I slip the flat ends of the paddles into the bungee's and use BDB's to fasten the other end to the front seat. I use the paddle shafts as hand holds while portaging.

quote awbrown: "I have bungee cord "keepers" on the thwarts for the paddles, which are about the only loose items I have. Everything else goes in or on the packs.
"

Do you recall what size bungee cord you used? I'm thinking of going with 3/16" but do I really need the 1/4"? Decisions, decisions.

My solo canoe with a small pack is my most difficult load to portage. My fishing rods (no reels) and seat back/pad are all that go in the canoe on a portage. The 2 rods fit in a sleeve and is BDB'd to the thwarts inside the canoe where they are protected. I don't fish on a travel day.

I carry my 2 paddles in one hand. The nite ize gear ties are great to wrap around the paddles to hold them together while carried on long portages. In the other hand I have my pfd with my map case carabinered to it while I carry my large pack.

Portaging is not fun to me but I go as simple as possible so as not to leave anything loose at the landings.

quote arm2008: "

quote awbrown: "I have bungee cord "keepers" on the thwarts for the paddles, which are about the only loose items I have. Everything else goes in or on the packs.
"

Do you recall what size bungee cord you used? I'm thinking of going with 3/16" but do I really need the 1/4"? Decisions, decisions."

I used 1/4" mainly because it was what the store had by "the roll."

Definitely agree with the advice to figure out what works for you. We're all different.

We used the velcro straps for several trips. Not sure we ever dropped a paddle but the banged around and sometimes got close to dropping. The gear ties hold firmer. Just bring a couple of extra ones. They are basically big twist ties and the metal inside can break with repeated use.

Still thinking about installing keepers on the thwarts.

quote awbrown: "

quote arm2008: "

quote awbrown: "I have bungee cord "keepers" on the thwarts for the paddles, which are about the only loose items I have. Everything else goes in or on the packs.
"

Do you recall what size bungee cord you used? I'm thinking of going with 3/16" but do I really need the 1/4"? Decisions, decisions."

I used 1/4" mainly because it was what the store had by "the roll."


"

Awesome. Thanks- I'm going to do this...

What if you were to put a very small loop on either the bottom of the seat or the thwart to slide the handle of the paddle into- . Then weve got keepers for the blades and a fixed bungee loop for the handles?

quote Grizzlyman: "

quote awbrown: "

quote arm2008: "

quote awbrown: "I have bungee cord "keepers" on the thwarts for the paddles, which are about the only loose items I have. Everything else goes in or on the packs.
"

Do you recall what size bungee cord you used? I'm thinking of going with 3/16" but do I really need the 1/4"? Decisions, decisions."

I used 1/4" mainly because it was what the store had by "the roll."



"

Awesome. Thanks- I'm going to do this...


What if you were to put a very small loop on either the bottom of the seat or the thwart to slide the handle of the paddle into- . Then weve got keepers for the blades and a fixed bungee loop for the handles?"

Because I use the paddle shafts for "handles" while portaging, the shafts have to be fastened tightly to keep the paddles from sliding out of the bungee loops in the portage yoke.

Another vote for BDB's. I used to use cordage to tie paddles into the boat for portaging, but BDB's are super convenient. Yes, I could make my own, but they're so cheap I just don't bother.

My routine is to step out of the canoe into the water (I'm a wet foot paddler). Tie my paddle onto the canoe using BDB's. Tuck my PFD under the flap of my portage pack. Clamp my portage yoke into the center of my solo canoe. Put on my portage pack. Flip canoe onto my shoulders and proceed to cross the portage.

Since I fall into senior citizen territory these days I try to keep pack and canoe weight reasonable so that I can comfortably single portage.

Others have different approaches. You'll quickly find a routine that suits you.

Looks like I'll be going with the highly recommended BDB's! Thanks for all the information and tips, everyone. It will definitely help with keeping loose items together and help with carrying everything.

This message board is the best!

If you decide to BDB your rods in take extra care loading and unloading the packs.

I try to keep the eyes either pointing down or towards the outside so as not to catch them with a pack.