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unshavenman
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Great choice, you won't be disappointed!
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TipsyPaddler
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My son and his friends—now 14 but started BWCA trips when they were 11–portage with CCS Pioneer packs and about 40 lbs of gear in them. They handle them better each year (and they sleep really well after a day of 4-5 portage’s!). Never regretted the CCS Pioneer purchase.
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johndku
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Well, sucked it up today, and, figuring the kids are still growing, ordered 2 Pioneer Packs, one green and one blue. I'm hoping they get plenty of use, and the more the kids carry the less my knees will hurt at the end of the day.
Thanks again all for your input!
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johndku
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Only need a few more items, and this will be the first year we won't have to rent any gear, (just a canoe).
Tripping this year with 12 year old son and 15 year old daughter. Both in shape and athletic, but they're not big kids. Son is about average size for his age, daughter is in great shape from volleyball and track, but on the lean side.
I'm considering getting them CCS Rucksacks for portaging, which, according to the chart, looks like they hold about 40% of what the #4 Canoe Pack holds. I don't want to get them Junior Packs, thinking they'll grow out of them. Also thinking they can use Rucksacks the rest of their life.
Anybody have any experience or ratings/comments on these? BTW, we don't travel ultra-light, and I'm sure we're double portaging. We'll also be in a 3 seat canoe.
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mc2mens
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I think it's a great idea. I have a rucksack and love it. I use it for everything - canoe camping, traveling, backpacking and hiking. I got mine when my son was 10 or 11 years old and he was able to use it when he tripped in the BWCA with me.
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unshavenman
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I have a CCS rucksack and while it worked great for my daughter when she was 10, she has since outgrown it and at the age of 12 she could handle a CCS Explorer portage pack just fine, and she's on the petite side. I would think that both of your kids are big enough for CCS portage packs. Perhaps the Explorer for the 12 year old and the Pioneer for the 15 year old? Both packs would never be outgrown.
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TominMpls
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An athletic 15 year old can carry an Explorer, no problem, and should be able to carry a Pioneer. Your twelve year old should be fine with an Explorer. My daughter takes her turn carrying our Guide through portages and she's between your two in age, but she also has a lot of backpacking experience.
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butthead
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Any reason you are not considering the Adventure Pack ? Bit shorter, bit wider, bit deeper than a rucksack . More expensive than the ruck but looks to have more features. A bit smaller than the Explorer with the same features.
butthead
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ducks
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Our girls are 10 and 12 and have each had a CCS Rucksack since they were 4. My 12 year old could handle a bigger pack now but she already has the Ruck so she'll continue to use it and will be able to use it forever. It holds her clothes, sleeping bag and pad, water bottle, rain gear, personal stuff, and the fishing stuff while I carry the rest of the stuff in a CCS Guide Pack. The Ruck is a very versatile pack with lots of different uses besides canoe camping. An adult can use it as a daypack, a pack for short hiking trips, airplane carry one, 2nd pack on solo trips etc......I think it's a great pack!!!! Here are some photos for scale on a kid...  little duckling at age 9 w/ her rucksack  and big duckling when she was 11
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WHendrix
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I have the CCS Bushcrafter. It might be a good alternative to the Rucksack. Its the same dimension as the Rucksack but it has two side pockets that provide a little more volume.
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TuscaroraBorealis
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Our CCS rucksack has come in handy on several occasions. BWCA & other places/uses as well.
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ducks
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WHendrix: "I have the CCS Bushcrafter. It might be a good alternative to the Rucksack. Its the same dimension as the Rucksack but it has two side pockets that provide a little more volume.
"
Yes... if I get a Rucksack sized pack for myself I'll either get that or do what basecampmom did and get a custom rucksack/wanderer combo. She had Dan put the Wanderer breathable shoulder straps and side mesh water bottle holders on a Rucksack. Neither of those existed yet when we got the girls their Rucksacks eight years ago.
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nctry
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I've got a short torso pioneer I bought for younger folks and possibly shorter gals like my daughter's both in thirties or close. I think an explorer is a better option for twelve and maybe younger. But especially if your trips are going to very in size and ages I'd get more options such as the bushcraft or rucksack. All great packs...
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Northwoodsman
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If they do really good on the first portage transfer something from your pack into theirs when they aren't looking for the second portage. It will help build character and muscle and they will thank you later. Before I get a bunch of hate mail, I'm only kidding. But in theory...
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pswith5
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I think the rucksack would be a good choice. Sure some of the other suggestions are ok but there is a tendency to over-pack with a bigger pack. Also with 3 in a canoe you have less space to hold the minimum of 4 packs. Yours, the kids packs and your food pack. Just my 2 cents.
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TominMpls
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pswith5: "I think the rucksack would be a good choice. Sure some of the other suggestions are ok but there is a tendency to over-pack with a bigger pack. Also with 3 in a canoe you have less space to hold the minimum of 4 packs. Yours, the kids packs and your food pack. Just my 2 cents."
Ah, but with bigger packs they wouldn't need a separate food pack, which substantially simplifies portages.
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HowardSprague
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Perfect choice.
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moray
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I’m not sure why I wasn’t signed in on my last post? The BV 500 are 8.5” around same as my Ursack,so it seems it would fit. I just might have to order one of these packs!
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Frenchy19
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With 12 and 15 year olds I would not purchase 2 rucksacks unless you're planning really short trips.
When my kids were those ages they carried full packs. One is a CCS Pioneer and the other a Granite Gear roughly the same size as a Pioneer.
I have a rucksack that I use as the second pack on my solo trips. Other than that, it does not get used on paddling trips.
Get a couple Pioneer packs. You do not need to fill them, and better to have more room than you need as opposed to not enough.
Or, at the very least, get a Pioneer and a rucksack.
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SevenofNine
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Another vote for bush crafter. I own the rucksack and am very happy but the two extra pockets on the other pack would be handy.
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Mocha
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definitely add the rucksack and bushcrafter packs to your gear cache. i've used both on trips when i had a weight limit of 25#...amazing what fits in a ruck! i've also used them as carry-on bag on flights.
somehow i've accumulated 7 rucks and 1 bushcrafter in a variety of colors.
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Northwoodsman
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If you are set on a rucksack size, go for the Bushcrafter. I would get a Bushcrafter and an Explorer.
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johndku
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Thanks for the advice all, based on them majority of opinions it looks like I'll be making my Sherpa's haul something bigger than a rucksack. (Hey, it build's character, right?) And what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
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johndku
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Well, they showed up today and we weren't disappointed. They certainly appear to be quality pieces of gear we should use for years to come. However, my son has it easy here, as for demonstration purposes his pack is only stuffed with throw pillows.
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ducks
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awesome!!!!!!!!!
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I was also looking at this pack as second,smaller pack for food,fishing gear and miscellaneous stuff. I want a pack that I can carry while portaging a canoe. Will the larger size Ursack ( stuffed full) fit OK in the Rucksack? I’m not sure if it is deep enough for the Ursack to fit. Thx
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ducks
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: "I was also looking at this pack as second,smaller pack for food,fishing gear and miscellaneous stuff. I want a pack that I can carry while portaging a canoe. Will the larger size Ursack ( stuffed full) fit OK in the Rucksack? I’m not sure if it is deep enough for the Ursack to fit. Thx"
For comparison......... Two Bearvault 500's which are each 700 cubic in/11.5 liters fit in a rucksack laying sideways with one on top of the other.
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Frenchy19
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johndku: "Thanks for the advice all, based on them majority of opinions it looks like I'll be making my Sherpa's haul something bigger than a rucksack. (Hey, it build's character, right?) And what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."
I like your style! Let us know what you end up purchasing.
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