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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Need advise on a Pack to put my folding canoe in
 
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voyager
01/21/2018 04:14PM
 
I'm in agreement with your last thought of carrying the canoe assembled on your shoulders. I think #20 total gear weight ( excluding canoe ) at the 9 mile portage will be next to impossible. Of course all your food will be gone except some energy stuff for the trail. My wife and I did the challenge rte. from Moose to L. Sup. last year. You don't really have to push too hard. (Though we did all port. in 1 trip ) We finished a day early. We all complained about water logged equipment adding to our load. Take your time. Plan on camping the night before at Fort Charlotte get things dried out ( if possible ) and organized. I think we started late morning which gave the board walks time to dry a bit. Portage for 10 -15 minutes at a good pace and take a rest, you'll get there. Looking forward to meeting you in Sept. As it looks now, I'll be going solo starting at Rainy L. The Mrs. is going to hang with Grandma L. and help with logistics.
 
LindenTree3
01/06/2018 01:51PM
 
I have an Ally folding canoe, it came with a strudy enough bag to pack it in but the pack does not have any straps on it. I need to get a pack with shoulder straps on it and a hip belt.

Is there a portage pack with shoulder straps and hip belt that are 38 inches high by 24 inches by 16 inches?

Or should I take my bag into CCS and see if they could sew straps on it along with a hip belt or have one custom made from them?

Any ideas, I will post a pic of the bag soon.

 
butthead
01/06/2018 03:02PM
 
Have you considered a used frame to stap it on? Ebay Peak One
I used one to haul treestands (2 at a time), when bowhunting.


butthead
 
LindenTree3
01/06/2018 03:25PM
 
butthead: "Have you considered a used frame to stap it on? Ebay Peak One
I used one to haul treestands (2 at a time), when bowhunting.



butthead"



Ineresting idea Butthead,


I really only plan on using it for the Grand Portage in BeaV's canoe challange.
I will be (Solo) and want to single portage the Grand Portage and my back is not the best, so every ounce counts. I'm concerned about the added weight of a external frame.
My canoe is 35#'s and I want to be able to do that portage in around 50#'s
I'll look into it however and thanks for the tip.
 
old_salt
01/06/2018 03:42PM
 
I would think that most extra capacity canoe Tripping packs would hold it.
 
fraxinus
01/06/2018 03:56PM
 
I don't know what an external frame weighs, but in my mind nothing does a better job of transferring the weight to your hips, and relieving the load on the back. An extra pound or two might be a "blessing" for your bad back.
 
mjmkjun
01/06/2018 04:27PM
 
Have some strap sewn on one of these?
Try an army surplus store. You may be able to find one with padded shoulder straps already sewn on. I know they are available but can't recall where I saw one. I don't think they have waist belts, tho.
Search Google or Amazon for 'backpack duffels'.

 
LindenTree3
01/06/2018 04:40PM
 
Thanks for the help all and keep any suggestions coming.
Mjmkjun, I'll look at the Army Surplus store here in Duluth.


OldSalt, I just called CCS and they didn't think any of their packs would work, but said they might be able to sew straps on my existing pack.
They also said a pack that size would be very hard to protage given its size.
 
mjmkjun
01/06/2018 07:12PM
 
Good Luck. Seems like it's not too bad a situation. Recourse: Double portages + a canoe cap if Ally can be set up with a shoulder yoke. Whatever you do....don't screw up your back any worse as you're still a youngster with many years ahead.
 
LindenTree3
01/08/2018 06:31PM
 
sedges: "How are you doing the rest of the portages on your trip?



I would get the most comfortable yoke you can find for the canoe and a very comfortable pack for your gear. Strapping all to a frame is going to be an unwieldy load. It may transfer some of the weight to your hips, but if it 16 inches deep it is not going to be centered over your center of weight without you bending over.



Also, if the the 55 pound load turns out to be too much you can double portage part of the time with two easy loads to give your back a rest."



Sedges, I will be double portaging all other portages, I all ready have a very comfy portage yoke I can semi perminately mount on my canoe. It works slick.



Good points all about a 50 pound pack making me bend over.
Another thing I could consider is portaging my canoe on my shoulders and using my BattleLake pack for my gear which has a hip belt.
I can remove the seat from my canoe and put it in my pack, that would get it down to 32.5 pounds.
The seat weighs 3.3 pounds.
Another good idea about perhaps camping somewhere on the Grand Portage overnignt and double portaging parts of it if necessary.

 
sedges
01/07/2018 05:50PM
 
How are you doing the rest of the portages on your trip?


I would get the most comfortable yoke you can find for the canoe and a very comfortable pack for your gear. Strapping all to a frame is going to be an unwieldy load. It may transfer some of the weight to your hips, but if it 16 inches deep it is not going to be centered over your center of weight without you bending over.


Also, if the the 55 pound load turns out to be too much you can double portage part of the time with two easy loads to give your back a rest.


I once camped on Grand Portage double portaging at the start of a trip. Always singled it if it was at the end.
 
WIMike
01/07/2018 06:40PM
 
I think this is it:


http://www.thegearcaster.com/2009/10/the-bigfoot-multipurpose-giant-duffel-gear-bag.html
 
pswith5
01/08/2018 06:01AM
 
LindenTree3: "butthead: "Have you considered a used frame to stap it on? Ebay Peak One
I used one to haul treestands (2 at a time), when bowhunting.




butthead"




Ineresting idea Butthead,



I really only plan on using it for the Grand Portage in BeaV's canoe challange.
I will be (Solo) and want to single portage the Grand Portage and my back is not the best, so every ounce counts. I'm concerned about the added weight of a external frame.
My canoe is 35#'s and I want to be able to do that portage in around 50#'s
I'll look into it however and thanks for the tip."
I think that pack weighs next to nothing. I may even have one you could have. I would have to check with my daughter. It was a gift when she was 10. She has a ccs now but old pack might have sentimental value. :)
 
LindenTree3
01/07/2018 10:43AM
 
mjmkjun: "MagicPaddler: " frame "
Nice! Seems like all Lindy would have to do is strap on the Ally storage bag. And watch for low hanging branches.



sidenote: Lindy, keeping pace with BeaV is a bear of a challenge, indeed. There's something admirable and equally curious about that level of endurance. :)"



mjmkjun,
I have no plans to try and keep up with BeaV, I'm not that tough.
I only plan on doing the half besides, might try the full challange in the future after I see how the half goes.
I probabally will only paddle between 10 and 14 hours per day.
 
old_salt
01/07/2018 11:38AM
 
Portage wheel? Put everything in it and push/pull it.?
 
deerfoot
01/07/2018 03:02PM
 
LindenTree3: "Thanks for the help all and keep any suggestions coming.
Mjmkjun, I'll look at the Army Surplus store here in Duluth.



OldSalt, I just called CCS and they didn't think any of their packs would work, but said they might be able to sew straps on my existing pack.
They also said a pack that size would be very hard to protage given its size."



Look for current military surplus bags which come with shoulder straps.
 
WIMike
01/07/2018 06:28PM
 
I have a large duffel bag from Big Foot that I was given as a gift a number of years ago that I've never used (it's huge). I believe it's the non camo version of this bag but not sure:


https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/big-foot-camo-bags?a=376961


Has non padded shoulder straps and a quality zipper. Neat bag but I have yet to find a use for such a large duffel.
 
LindenTree3
01/06/2018 07:26PM
 
mjmkjun: "Good Luck. Seems like it's not too bad a situation. Recourse: Double portages + a canoe cap if Ally can be set up with a shoulder yoke. Whatever you do....don't screw up your back any worse as you're still a youngster with many years ahead. "


Thanks,
I always double portage and have a nice portage yoke for my Ally canoe now.
I just don't want to double portage the Grand Portage. I'm looking into a lightweight tent as well.
My canoe weighs 35#'s.
If I want to single portage during BeaV's challange I think I need to get all gear, food including paddles down to 20#'s or less when I hit the portage. With a hip belt, I can take alot of weight off my back which will definately help.


Thanks for the offer of your pack, but after talking to CCS I doubt it will work.
I think I'm going to have them custom sew shoulder straps and a hip belt for mine.
 
keth0601
01/06/2018 07:31PM
 
Seems like some sort of frame would be the way to go with dimensions like that. That 24" width is what's killing it. My Mountain Hardwear BMG could almost work but it's not quite wide enough... They make those military duffel bags with shoulder straps too, but finding one with NICE shoulder straps and a good hip belt would be another story.

Is it possible to repack the canoe to different measurements?

There's always the ol' tumpline too. :)
 
MagicPaddler
01/06/2018 08:09PM
 
frame
 
andym
01/06/2018 11:45PM
 
I would go with a frame. For the rest of the trip, set up the Ally to portage on top of the frame like the old knupacs. I think Ally might even have had fittings for that. Then for the grand portage, take down the boat and strap it on.


I know the bag and don’t like the idea of doing the GP with backpack straps and hip belt attached.
 
mjmkjun
01/07/2018 06:34AM
 
MagicPaddler: " frame "
Nice! Seems like all Lindy would have to do is strap on the Ally storage bag. And watch for low hanging branches.


sidenote: Lindy, keeping pace with BeaV is a bear of a challenge, indeed. There's something admirable and equally curious about that level of endurance. :)
 
LindenTree3
01/07/2018 12:53PM
 
old_salt: "Portage wheel? Put everything in it and push/pull it.?"


Just curious, can you use portage wheels on the Grand Portage?
I thought they couldn't be used. I also don't think portage wheels are in keeping with BeaV's border challange since it was to mimic the Voageurs route and Kruegers canoe route, and methods.
My backpack canoe idea might not either so I guess I should ask BeaV.