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mx353
member (17)member
  
07/29/2019 08:57AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm in the market to purchase a 60L blue barrel set up for our family BWCA trips. I'm really interested in the Recreational Barrel Works package that includes an Ostrom (RBW) harness and a blue barrel. I was wondering if anyone has had first hand experience with this set up. Thanks so much for your input.
 
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joewildlife
distinguished member(605)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/29/2019 10:16AM  
That looks to be a very nice setup. It would be a hard choice for me between that and a Cooke Custom Sewing (CCS) Quad pocket 60L barrel pack.

I don't have firsthand experience with the RBW setup, but I do have the CCS pack. I love that it has the two outside pockets, perfect of 1L Nalgene bottles or white gas fuel bottles. I like the top pocket, we keep rainsuits in it. If you have items in the two outside pockets, it won't roll around in your canoe. Inside, I have three of the CCS zippered barrel bags for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (in three different colors)
Joe
 
07/29/2019 10:24AM  
joewildlife: "That looks to be a very nice setup. It would be a hard choice for me between that and a Cooke Custom Sewing (CCS) Quad pocket 60L barrel pack.


I don't have firsthand experience with the RBW setup, but I do have the CCS pack. I love that it has the two outside pockets, perfect of 1L Nalgene bottles or white gas fuel bottles. I like the top pocket, we keep rainsuits in it. If you have items in the two outside pockets, it won't roll around in your canoe. Inside, I have three of the CCS zippered barrel backs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Joe
"


I think you mean that you have three of the CCS zippered barrel bags...........me also, three different colors.
 
jerryr
distinguished member (166)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/29/2019 10:24AM  
I have 2 of these.

The blue barrels are just that your standard "good" blue barrels. The real deal maker is the harness. IMO best harness ever made. High quality and very durable.

Mine have made multiple trip through the year and show very little sign of the hard use they endure.
 
mx353
member (17)member
  
07/29/2019 10:48AM  
Thank you for the feedback. I rented a ccs quad pack this Spring and really liked it. Very high quality, also somewhat heavy and much more expensive. We have 4 children that we tripped with this Spring, so there is a lot of opening and closing of the barrel for food :-). One small dislike with the ccs was that the fabric on the top seemed to always be in the way... Looks like the Barrel Works can be had for approximately $162 shipped. But, I'm the type that wants to buy once and get a good value. I'm glad to hear jerryr that you are liking this system and feel it is quality made.
 
07/29/2019 12:31PM  
I have the Ostrom barrel harness and barrel from Recreational Barrel Works. The harness is very high quality and I thought a great value! The padding for the shoulder and hip is very nice and thick... thicker than the Granite Gear harness we have also taken. I bought the medium torso length and it is a bit short for those who are about 5'10" or taller. Note how it rides on my buddy who is about 5'10"
Also, note how I painted the lid of my barrel silver... I hope it will help it reflect a bit of radiant heat and keep the barrel cooler.
 
jerryr
distinguished member (166)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/29/2019 01:29PM  
I should say that I do have the voyaguer models too. I do see that they are out of stock/production. The price you quoted made me go to Andy's web site as I paid much more than that for my harness.

I know ostrums gear was/is all well made. So I'm confident you will be happy with it.
 
mx353
member (17)member
  
07/29/2019 02:09PM  
I just got to wondering if maybe you guys had that next better model. Thank you for pointing that out. I'm glad to hear the general consensus is that Ostrom makes quality gear. That's a great idea to paint the lid! Thanks so much.
 
jerryr
distinguished member (166)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/29/2019 02:40PM  
No problem.

It was a sad day when Bill decided he wasn't going to produce gear to sell anymore.

We are fortunate however to still have Dan Cooke. Between the two of them they produce/produced the highest quality canoe tripping gear available anywhere.
 
WHendrix
distinguished member(623)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/29/2019 02:54PM  
Kondos Outdoors in Ely also make a very good barrel harness.
 
07/29/2019 03:40PM  
joewildlife: "That looks to be a very nice setup. It would be a hard choice for me between that and a Cooke Custom Sewing (CCS) Quad pocket 60L barrel pack.


I don't have firsthand experience with the RBW setup, but I do have the CCS pack. I love that it has the two outside pockets, perfect of 1L Nalgene bottles or white gas fuel bottles. I like the top pocket, we keep rainsuits in it. If you have items in the two outside pockets, it won't roll around in your canoe. Inside, I have three of the CCS zippered barrel bags for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (in three different colors)
Joe
"


I have the regular CCS 60L barrel pack (no side pockets) but that top pocket is very roomy and great to have available. The colored zip sacks make digging out what you need quick and easy.
 
yellowcanoe
distinguished member(4984)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
07/31/2019 12:15PM  
another vote for the barrel by RBW and the harness by Ostrom.. I actually have two harnesses by Ostrom and three barrels. One of the barrels went out of round after some 20 years and is now carrying sand for winter deployment in the driveway.

I have both the 60 and 30 liter harness by Ostrom though it is possible to adapt the 60 to use on a 30 liter barrel if that situation ever arises.
 
Cedarboy
distinguished member(3437)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/31/2019 03:22PM  
Just did some reading on the RBW web site. Looked up the harnesses and they are out of the Ostrum harness but have the "RBW-Ostrum" harness. Then read about the RBW-Ostrum harness. I believe they say it is made over seas. Something about an "amalgamation of Ostrum design and overseas manufacture"
Could be wrong but I dont think its the original Ostrum harness they are now selling.
Time for some reading/research the fine print on their web site.
Sounds like Ostrum stopped making the barrel harnesses when he stopped making packs?
CB
 
Cedarboy
distinguished member(3437)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/31/2019 03:35PM  
Here is the exact quote..
"the amalgamation of custom pack designer Ostrum Outdoors and the efficiency of Asian manufacturing"

In other words Ostrum stopped making them so they are now getting them made in Asia.

CB


 
Jerlane
member (26)member
  
08/01/2019 12:41PM  
FYI, I just found a good deal on an NRS Paragon pack at Outdoorgear.com. $74 on sale with 6% cashback through active junky. Looks like a good pack that might be a little more versatile.

I also have an extra barrel that I'd sell cheap if you are in the Twin Cities.
 
08/01/2019 01:04PM  
Cedarboy: "Here is the exact quote..
"the amalgamation of custom pack designer Ostrum Outdoors and the efficiency of Asian manufacturing"


In other words Ostrum stopped making them so they are now getting them made in Asia.


CB



"

Yeah, I would anticipate that the build quality from Asia is at the opposite end of the spectrum from when Ostrum Outdoors was still in business making packs and harnesses. I have an Ostrum pack that I picked up used a couple years ago and it's almost overbuilt and definitely bullet proof.
 
Mike200a
member (14)member
  
08/03/2019 08:17PM  
Was at Kondos in Ely yesterday. Checked out there packs and barrel harness. There packs were very impressive. I really like there barrel pack, and for the price I will be buying one from them. Pargis has several to check out, but Kondos looks like a great deal to me plus they are made just down the street in Ely.
 
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