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ilivetoadventure
  
05/24/2018 10:52AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi All!

Over my years of camping, I've used several varieties/ styles of packs in the BWCA. I was recently at a garage sale and was completely stumped by a pack I came across. Apparently, the owner was a sales rep for years and was selling some of his sample packs.

The pack is labeled as an Ostrom Outdoors pack. It comes in 2 pieces that somehow clip together. ( I have yet to figure out how. Haven't played with it much yet.) It is blue and has waterproof zippers. I picked it up for $50 USD.

I am having a hard time even finding information on these, let alone a diagram of how to clip it together!

Have any of you used one of these? Any information or feedback would be greatly appreciated!
 
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05/24/2018 11:29AM  
This will help from the Way Back Machine: Ostrom Outdoors Portage Packs

They made excellent and very expensive packs. I believe they stopped producing them in 2016.
 
05/24/2018 02:39PM  
Too bad the sales rep couldn't help. Haha.
 
andym
distinguished member(5340)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
05/24/2018 06:27PM  
Sounds like solo pack they made so you could have one pack but split the load in front of and behind you. I’ve once seen one in use and it seemed cool. Because they haven’t been made for a long time they are almost mythic and you could probably get a good bit more than $50 for it. Or enjoy some solo trips.
 
ilivetoadventure
  
05/24/2018 06:33PM  
Mythic is right! I thought I'd seen everything out there until I came across this!
 
billconner
distinguished member(8608)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
05/24/2018 06:45PM  
I'm a little surprised Dan Cooke has never offered this. I'm sure it's crossed his mind.
 
bcelect
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05/24/2018 07:05PM  
I saw one on Ebay a couple years ago, they come up from time to time. Did the guy have any more? Neat idea for a solo tripper to balance the load and single portage.
Split pack
 
thebotanyguy
distinguished member(781)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/25/2018 10:46AM  
I remember seeing this pack in the Boundary Waters Catalog quite a few years ago. A search of my old catalogs shows it in the 2007 catalog, but it wasn't in the 2008 catalog. It also was on the 2008 Ostrom Outdoors website, but not in 2009. That would indicate to me that the product was a very short-lived one. Here is a scan from the Boundary Waters Catalog:







and here is the link to the archived Ostrom webpage:

Ostrom Solo Canoe Pack
 
ilivetoadventure
  
05/25/2018 11:09AM  
Wow! Thank you for the help!
 
Cedarboy
distinguished member(3437)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/25/2018 12:28PM  
Nice score for $50.
 
05/28/2018 07:54PM  
Very nice find, their stuff seemed top notch.
 
joewildlife
distinguished member(605)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/03/2019 02:28PM  
Been looking for one of these for a long time. Want to quadruple your money or better?

-Joe
 
07/03/2019 02:50PM  
Ostrom made good stuff......nice find!
 
07/04/2019 08:04PM  
I bought their barrel harness right before they went out of business. Head and shoulders above the GG harness it replaced.
 
campnfish
distinguished member (487)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/04/2019 09:30PM  
I purchased the pack mentioned here from the OP, i sold it to another member, i believe he was out of state, it was very nice, just too big for me.
 
joewildlife
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07/11/2019 11:52AM  
thebotanyguy: "I chatted with Bill, the semi-retired owner of Ostrom Outdoors. He would need an order of three Solo packs to make a production run worthwhile, and they would be $1200CDN plus tax and shipping for the three of them, or $400CDN plus each. That might be around $325 or so US each, maybe a little more.

and here is the link to the archived Ostrom webpage: Ostrom Solo Canoe Pack"

Can I find a couple others committed to buying one?

Joe
 
joewildlife
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07/16/2019 07:31PM  
So, I mistakenly said CDN funds. Bill Ostrom will make a few for $400US each, plus tax and shipping. Pretty high I know, but I gotta have one. If you want one, let me know so we can get him sewing!

He said they only made about 40 or 50 of the Solo pack, it was never a commercial success. He now makes them with waterproof zippers but they do not have the clear map case panel.
Joe
 
Minnesotian
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07/17/2019 08:05AM  

This pack has always intrigued me. As a solo canoeist, I do take two packs along for trimming out the canoe. That makes it a challenge while portaging, having a pack on the back, one in the front, and a canoe on top of my head. Doable, but without being able to see the path completely, my feet end up finding those tripable rocks and roots. It would be nice to portage with only one pack on the back.

Thus my intrigue on this pack. However, I just can't throw down $400 on a pack without being able to look at it and test it out. So, does anyone have one I could try out on a trip?
 
BobDobbs
distinguished member (472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/17/2019 08:34AM  
andym: "Sounds like solo pack they made so you could have one pack but split the load in front of and behind you. I’ve once seen one in use and it seemed cool. Because they haven’t been made for a long time they are almost mythic and you could probably get a good bit more than $50 for it. Or enjoy some solo trips. "


I would advise against doing a front carry unless you can see your feet at all times. The potential for a mis-step while carrying a lot of weight is just too great.

Don't ask me how I know this!
 
campnfish
distinguished member (487)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/17/2019 08:44AM  
BobDobbs: "
andym: "Sounds like solo pack they made so you could have one pack but split the load in front of and behind you. I’ve once seen one in use and it seemed cool. Because they haven’t been made for a long time they are almost mythic and you could probably get a good bit more than $50 for it. Or enjoy some solo trips. "



I would advise against doing a front carry unless you can see your feet at all times. The potential for a mis-step while carrying a lot of weight is just too great.


Don't ask me how I know this!"


I think he meant in front of him in a solo canoe.
 
joewildlife
distinguished member(605)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/17/2019 09:20AM  
Minnesotian: "
This pack has always intrigued me. As a solo canoeist, I do take two packs along for trimming out the canoe. That makes it a challenge while portaging, having a pack on the back, one in the front, and a canoe on top of my head. Doable, but without being able to see the path completely, my feet end up finding those tripable rocks and roots. It would be nice to portage with only one pack on the back.


Thus my intrigue on this pack. However, I just can't throw down $400 on a pack without being able to look at it and test it out. So, does anyone have one I could try out on a trip?"


Minnesotian, I may be able to help you out. I hope to get an Ostrom pack before my fall trip IF the other two buyers step up and we get em built. BUT I had a guy make me a similar custom pack. I had to order a new set of backpack straps for it and he is installing them for me pretty soon. End result, I will have two of these packs...and can probably lend you one or the other to try out and/or purchase if you like. I expect to keep the Ostrom pack of course, and the custom pack will probably go up for sale. -Joe
 
Minnesotian
distinguished member(2309)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/17/2019 01:14PM  
joewildlife: "
Minnesotian: "
This pack has always intrigued me. As a solo canoeist, I do take two packs along for trimming out the canoe. That makes it a challenge while portaging, having a pack on the back, one in the front, and a canoe on top of my head. Doable, but without being able to see the path completely, my feet end up finding those tripable rocks and roots. It would be nice to portage with only one pack on the back.



Thus my intrigue on this pack. However, I just can't throw down $400 on a pack without being able to look at it and test it out. So, does anyone have one I could try out on a trip?"



Minnesotian, I may be able to help you out. I hope to get an Ostrom pack before my fall trip IF the other two buyers step up and we get em built. BUT I had a guy make me a similar custom pack. I had to order a new set of backpack straps for it and he is installing them for me pretty soon. End result, I will have two of these packs...and can probably lend you one or the other to try out and/or purchase if you like. I expect to keep the Ostrom pack of course, and the custom pack will probably go up for sale. -Joe"


Joe,
That would be great! Let me know what you find out. Thanks much!

-Craig
 
andym
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07/17/2019 04:49PM  
Yes, I was referring to the old Ostrom pack that splits into two bags to separately place in the canoe to trim it. They combine into one pack on your back for the portages.

I'm sort of tempted to buy one but really can't justify it. Cool that it is a possibility for everyone who has wanted one over the years.
 
joewildlife
distinguished member(605)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/24/2019 01:43PM  
My quest for an Ostrom Solo pack appears to be over! Two other members and I have committed and Bill is making them for us this fall. He did indicate while he is not going back into business, he could make one or two more while he is at it.

SO if you want one, now is the time to pony up.

Joe
 
07/25/2019 05:36PM  
Count me in
 
joewildlife
distinguished member(605)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/25/2019 07:33PM  
Wallee send me an email and I will reply with Bill Ostrom's phone number, or maybe you can find it on his website. You will need to call him to discuss and order.

Joe
 
07/25/2019 07:48PM  
E mail sent...
 
WoolShirt
senior member (61)senior membersenior member
  
01/13/2020 10:32AM  
Joe, how did you all make out with the custom solo pack order?
 
joewildlife
distinguished member(605)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/13/2020 01:56PM  
YES! Three of us ponied up the cash and Bill made us the packs, delivered in October. So I haven't used it yet. Of course, they look very well made. I especially like that each half can be carried as a duffel with an included shoulder strap, in case something was to break or an animal chews through a shoulder strap. Just adds nice versatility.

However, as I had mentioned, I had Chris Randall make me a version of the solo pack per my specs. Rather than zippers, it has a drawstring closure with the fold over/buckle down top like Dan Cooke's Hybrid pack design. A friend and I used it on a trip to Quetico in September and it worked out excellent! He had his half for his gear, and I had my half. It worked out great when setting up and taking down camp, especially when our tents were in different locations. It kept our gear separate. It is a very large pack, definitely large enough for all our soft gear. All our food and kitchen stuff was carried in a 60L barrel. So I am convinced that the system works! I will probably use the pack if I ever go solo in an open canoe, to trim the canoe.

I suspect we have the last 3 solo packs ever made.

Joe
 
Minnesotian
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01/14/2020 08:36AM  

Thanks for the update.
 
joewildlife
distinguished member(605)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/14/2020 09:36AM  
So below are a couple pictures of my Ostrom Solo Pack.

I'll point out a few nice features
-pockets on the ends, top, and inside each unit
-nice backpack straps, no waist belt because they aren't effective on 2 part packs
-sternum strap
-nice pads between the pack and your back
-lots of grab handles
-not too big
-three buckles on rear of pack, 2 on the front, and 2 buckles on backpack straps, hold the pack together
-famous Ostrom quality

I have another pack that Chris Randall of Manitoba made me. He is the manufacturer of the Yukon Fire Box, a cool stick and twig stove. I actually prefer a couple of features of his pack--mainly instead of a zipper closure it has a drawstring closure and a flap over the top like a CCS Hybrid pack. This way, you are more flexible in how much gear you can fit in each half of the pack. The Randall pack can be a lot larger, as a result. Chris is not primarily a portage pack maker, he makes all kinds of bags for snowmobiling and winter camping. He made the bag for me by special request.

I'm going to have to keep both these packs. The Randall pack is tried and tested and works great when paddling with a buddy. I suspect the Ostrom pack will be my solo pack of choice.

Joe
 
01/14/2020 11:53AM  
We didn't use this particular model, but Phil Cotton bought equipment and personal packs from Bill Ostrom (also harnesses for 60 L barrels, I think) for crews to use on his Wabakimi Project trips. Used most of the summer, for years... very tough products. We did use liners, on the personal packs.
 
WoolShirt
senior member (61)senior membersenior member
  
01/15/2020 01:30PM  
Very nice.
 
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