Need to replace the portage pads on a Seneca I picked up this weekend. I found one place in Superior, WI that makes and sells them but curious to know if there are other sources people would recommend? Thanks!

I like the Superior pads, choice of width and material, add the 2 bolt strap mount and they adjust easily.
Wide/Codura are my choices, like the grip! Have used Borquin but prefer the Superior.
Also had some sling styles but those always bite into my shoulders, not comfortable. Same for the PVC cupped/foam padded styles.

But my shoulders are not yours.

butthead

Another satisfied Superior customer here. Excellent cushion and grip even when wet.

Superiors are what I put on whatever canoe I'm trekking with. I also have a set of Chosen Valleys which I got used & use on the other canoe when I need to bring it along on a trip.

Both are removable, clamp-on style pads. My method of cartopping (foam blocks) requires that the pads be removable, otherwise the canoe rests primarily on the pads & not the blocks.

I've always used Superior pads. When I was younger it was normally the vinyl covered ones. I few years ago I got some with the cordura covers. The cordura covers grip your shoulders better and slide around less especially if you are sweaty. I guess if you are out in the rain all day the vinyl ones would keep the foam dryer. If the foam is closed cell, maybe that's not so important. Is the foam closed cell? When I see people carrying a canoe without pads or with those very thin pads that Velcro around the yoke, I can't imagine that is as comfortable as Superior pads. If I were buying now, I'd get the Cordura covered Superior pads again. As already pointed out if you roof top your canoe, you should have a rack that keeps the canoe high enough above the car so the pads don't rest on the roof of the car or be prepared to remove the pads. I have Yakima Keel Overs on my racks and have lots of clearance.

Bourquin makes the best canoe yoke pads, bar none.

In late '88 or early '89 I made this set of portage pads for a then-new Old Town Columbia. I've since used them on a couple other boats, and now use them on our Northstar Northwind 17. The padding is 3/8" Ensolite (closed cell) foam in three layers. Wood support 3"X7"X1.5" (a 2x4 ripped to 3" width) cut to profile shown. Drill wood for carriage bolts to accommodate width of portage yoke where pads will be mounted. Drill aluminum plate to match bolt centers of pad. Staple Cordura in place after installing carriage bolts; Cordura holds foam in place. Because I used stuff I had around the house, I think the only parts I bought for the pads were the carriage bolts/washers/wingnuts, but even if you buy everything, you'll probably have less than $10 in these pads. You'll need access to a band saw to profile the wood, a drill or drill press to mount the carriage bolts.

As others have pointed out, Cordura is less prone to shoulder slippage than Naugahyde while portaging. As also stated, many rack systems (like my Outback's factory racks) require the pads be removed before loading the canoe.

Butthead, thanks for the comments on the cupped PVC pads--I've been interested in the design but haven't played with them.

TZ

butthead: "I like the Superior pads, choice of width and material, add the 2 bolt strap mount and they adjust easily.
Wide/Codura are my choices, like the grip! Have used Borquin but prefer the Superior.
Also had some sling styles but those always bite into my shoulders, not comfortable. Same for the PVC cupped/foam padded styles.


But my shoulders are not yours.


butthead"

I am looking at these for my Wenonah Escapade. This boat will never make it to the BWCA (from Texas). I bought it used for tripping to the local lake. Thus, I will never carry it far--off the car and to the launch ramp and back.

Is the advantage of the "wide" choice simply to support larger shoulders? Or is it to allow for some additional balance adjustment while carrying?

I used Superior Cordura/Wide recently for the first time on a 7-day trip. As a long-time Hidden River user I'm very dissatisfied with how slippery Superior were, fidgeting non-stop on my shoulders, especially on more technical portages. As for withstanding the rain, it's not an issue: they didn't take any water, uncovered on a beach after 24 hours rainy weather.