At home, I keep a plastic milk crate in my canoe. Spotlight, sun hat, radio, empty beer cans, roof ties in case my wife has to come and get me with the car, etc. All the odds and ends go in the basket.

But, I was thinking one of these portage baskets might be more stylish, and maybe more functional:
- Frost River
- Duluth Pack

Question... does anyone used these? How durable are they? Will they stand up to getting rained on a bit? Crushproof? The milk crate is pretty durable.

Thanks.

I used to have one of those as our Boy Scout camp was throwing them out when we consolidated camps. I kept it for quite awhile and then finally sold it to a guy that had a log cabin for a decoration. As to durability, yes they hold up well but still need to be protected some. Not as durable as a regular old milk crate though. They do need to have some care or maintenance done to them every so often as they do get dried out.

With a thread name like this one I was really expecting a different topic.

quote NotLight: "At home, I keep a plastic milk crate in my canoe. Spotlight, sun hat, radio, empty beer cans, roof ties in case my wife has to come and get me with the car, etc. All the odds and ends go in the basket.

But, I was thinking one of these portage baskets might be more stylish, and maybe more functional:
- Frost River
- Duluth Pack

Question... does anyone used these? How durable are they? Will they stand up to getting rained on a bit? Crushproof? The milk crate is pretty durable.

Thanks. "

Empty beer cans? I must be missing something.

quote Jackfish: "Empty beer cans? I must be missing something."

Yea, the party.

I made one of those years ago in Scouts and as I recall I had it (and used it) for many years. I have no idea what happened to it.

Bill

Yeah....Dead brain cells make for strange posts, eh?

quote OldFingers57: " I used to have one of those as our Boy Scout camp was throwing them out when we consolidated camps. I kept it for quite awhile and then finally sold it to a guy that had a log cabin for a decoration. As to durability, yes they hold up well but still need to be protected some. Not as durable as a regular old milk crate though. They do need to have some care or maintenance done to them every so often as they do get dried out. "

I'm thinking, if the cane seats in my canoe can still be good after almost 20yrs, then the basket might do ok if I just oiled it every other year or so. But I'm still wondeing if it would get brittle over time. I think I might buy one next time I am in Duluth, unless I hear something else really negative.

Pack baskets have been around forever. I had one. Don't remember what became of it. They were the traditional gear of trappers, though I suspect most trappers now would use plastic 5 gallon buckets these days. Plenty durable though like OF says, not as durable as a good plastic milk crate. Depends on how stylish you want to be I guess.

I'm thinking he said "at home" so empty beer cans might just be legal.

I have the large basket, but primarily use it with the fitted pack it came with. Not even sure if they offer that option any more.
Mine gets used for ice fishing alot. I can get a vexilar and all my other gear in there whether I'm walking into a BW lake, or having it on my back as I sled in to fishing spots with my Otter.
The ash is pretty thin, I would be kinda worried something might poke a hole thru it if I didnt have the Duluth pack around it for some situations.

Not sure what happened on my previous two posts...what I was trying to say is both of those are beautiful baskets!

have used them for years. Keeps your stuff up out of the bilge, access to often used gear is great and they are surprisingly durable. You can almost crush one flat and it will bounce back to the original shape. Search trapping supply websites for a much better price than you'll get from the yuppie/boutique sites.

quote shawhh: "have used them for years. Keeps your stuff up out of the bilge, access to often used gear is great and they are surprisingly durable. You can almost crush one flat and it will bounce back to the original shape. Search trapping supply websites for a much better price than you'll get from the yuppie/boutique sites."

Excellent advice on the trapping supply website. Definitely cheaper.

I have one that sits next to my fireplace but I have never used it canoeing. I did see an older gentleman canoeing into Polly this summer with one in his canoe. He had it filled with stuff.

We used one on our first BWCAW trip in 1984. Carried "Kitchen" gear, cleanup, saw, etc in there. Looked at them from time to time all these years but never bought one.

Fast forward to now. Can't remember if it's been one or two seasons, but I've been using one as my "Everyday" pack. At first I was putting the pack basket in my Duluth Pack Rambler pack, but on rainy days I would bring it home and have to take it out and dry the Duluth Pack. Finally decided to just put a thwart bag with rain gear on the top (attached to the top strap). Dries out quickly and so much more handy. I keep it in front of me and can easily reach in and grab sunscreen, rain gear, gloves, etc. Wish I'd continued using one after that 1984 trip!
,

BTW, I have to thank board member Mflier for my pack basket! SO GLAD he sent it to me!

I have the Duluth Pack pack basket that came as the inside part of a #2 Cruiser Combo pack. The basket has spent most of its life inside the pack but I have sometimes used it without the pack. It has held up well, seems quite tough.

Purists will point out that neither the Duluth Pack or Frost River versions are true pack baskets. They have a plywood floor, not a woven ash floor. Obviously, this does not affect their function.

I have not often used the pack basket as a carry all in the canoe. The basket has a much narrower base than a milk crate and if packed full will have a much higher center of gravity. Unless it is propped up or secured in some fashion, it will be prone to tip over. On the other hand, it will contain small items better than a milk crate, and will certainly look more "canoe."

By the way, Terry, I really like that old Quetico-Superior thwart bag. Let me know if you ever feel like parting with it. I have one of their insulated food packs and really like it.

quote pblanc: "I have the Duluth Pack pack basket that came as the inside part of a #2 Cruiser Combo pack. The basket has spent most of its life inside the pack but I have sometimes used it without the pack. It has held up well, seems quite tough.


Purists will point out that neither the Duluth Pack or Frost River versions are true pack baskets. They have a plywood floor, not a woven ash floor. Obviously, this does not affect their function.


I have not often used the pack basket as a carry all in the canoe. The basket has a much narrower base than a milk crate and if packed full will have a much higher center of gravity. Unless it is propped up or secured in some fashion, it will be prone to tip over. On the other hand, it will contain small items better than a milk crate, and will certainly look more "canoe."


By the way, Terry, I really like that old Quetico-Superior thwart bag. Let me know if you ever feel like parting with it. I have one of their insulated food packs and really like it."

Actually, I bought the thwart bag from someone here, Pete. It "Matches" my #3 Superior Pack that Margaret bought me for our anniversary back in the '80's. Love 'em both, you'll have to wait until I'm pushing up daisies! See you in a day or two, Pete?

The Ely Folk School just finished a class on weaving black ash pack baskets. I'm sure it will be offered again.

quote schweady: "The Ely Folk School just finished a class on weaving black ash pack baskets. I'm sure it will be offered again.
"

That looks fun. Looks like they also have one of those adult summer camps.