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Argo1
member (29)member
  
07/30/2022 08:13PM  


I've used the above pad a few times years ago, but my neck still hurt on portages over 70 rods. That said, my boat was about 65 lbs.

Now I have a new much lighter boat that needs pads. Should I put this back on or should I get those giant green foam blocks? I've never tried them so I don't know how they compare. The green pads seem like they would be a lot lighter (no large metal backpan) and don't require drilling the thwart if I get the clamp on version. Anyone tired both?
 
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07/31/2022 07:25AM  
My brother's canoe had a pad similar to your's on my first trip. It was an Old Town Camper, weighed about 80 pounds. It was a very painful experience. On some subsequent trips, I had a Mad River Explorer, about 60-65 pounds. I made a pair of the "bricks" and it felt much better. We have since moved on to kevlar rentals, and they all come with the bricks. I still vividly remember the pain of those portages with that old heavy canoe and inadequate pad.

I still have my DIY pair and would be willing to give them up. They were built to fit a flat wood thwart. If you are interested, shoot me an email.
 
07/31/2022 01:20PM  
I have long used Bourquin-type pads and always liked them best since I can change the position of the boat I am carrying and this seems to forestall fatigue. The last few years I have been using pipe insulation duct taped around the thwart and surprisingly it works pretty well for me. Five years ago I did a 165 mile trip in Canada with a friend who had duct taped a pool noodle to the thwart. This didn’t hold as well as pipe insulation which seems to be made of tougher foam. Plus the pipe insulation provides a good grip on your shoulders.
 
straighthairedcurly
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/01/2022 02:48PM  
deerfoot: "I have long used Bourquin-type pads and always liked them best since I can change the position of the boat I am carrying and this seems to forestall fatigue. "

+1 I love the Bourquin pads and they allow me to shift the boat into different positions to give an aching muscle a moment of recovery and improved blood flow.
 
Argo1
member (29)member
  
08/01/2022 03:26PM  
Any reason to buy the Burquin pads over the Northstar version, which are half the cost?
 
schweady
distinguished member(8070)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
08/01/2022 03:55PM  
A lot of us have made our own, many of them equal in quality to a Bourquin. A search on this site will yield detailed instructions.
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
08/01/2022 10:28PM  

I've always used the sling portage pads from Chosen Valley Canoe Accessories (CVCA). My son and I trade off carrying the canoe and they work just fine for us.


Some folks prefer the block type portage pads. I say "whatever portages your canoe".

 
08/02/2022 03:20AM  
The Superior Pads have worked well for me. I’ve used both the vinyl and Cordura covers. I prefer the Cordura. The only problem I see is that if you transport your canoe with the pads on, you should have a rack that is high enough to get the pads off the roof. This has not been a problem with any of my cars/racks.
 
mgraber
distinguished member(1486)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/02/2022 04:38PM  
I like the Bourquin or Superior pads and detest the sling type pads as they seem to be designed to inflict as much pain as possible and do not allow you to slide canoe back and forth for balance and comfort. I do have muscular shoulders, which I am sure does not help with the sling pads. Stay away from cheap block pads, the quality of the foam is critical for comfort.
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
08/02/2022 05:03PM  
mgraber: "...and detest the sling type pads as they seem to be designed to inflict as much pain as possible and do not allow you to slide canoe back and forth for balance and comfort. "

I know it's your opinion, and you're certainly entitled to it, but your comment isn't even close to being true. I have no skin in the game other than being a happy user of the CVCA sling portage pads, but they are perfectly comfortable for thousands of portagers. Maybe you only tried the early version that had thinner pads and it's that experience that has formed your opinion of them, I'm not sure, but the CVCA portage pads are every bit as good of a product as the block pads and many people prefer them.
 
mgraber
distinguished member(1486)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/02/2022 05:44PM  
Sorry Jackfish, didn't mean to imply they were terrible for everyone. I know some people swear by them. I was just speaking of my experience with them and what I thought the problem was. Looking at the post maybe I did not word it well. I will say that several others on this site agree with my experience( I think Banksiana is one?) as we have discussed this before. An Ely outfitter friend of mine also hates them and had a bunch of the thick sling CV pads on rentals. Some people did really like them, some did not, just like most things. They are still tortuous for me :)
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
08/02/2022 10:30PM  
All good. Just a little point, counterpoint. No harm, no foul.
 
Z4K
distinguished member (392)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/03/2022 10:14AM  
I have a set of black sling pads that look very much like the CVCA ones. I had thought that they were Wenonah brand. They live on my Odyssey and I've always thought were very comfortable. I also have a set of the Bourquin-style foam blocks, I'm not sure of the brand, but they are covered in green canvas.

After a couple years with each style, I can say confidently that I prefer the blocks to the slings, but I don't really have any complaints about the slings. The blocks just seem to work better with different packs, and you can move them around on your shoulders a bit while underway, whether for balance or fatigue.

I also have a set of these that came on a canoe I bought earlier this year and they are definitely my least favorite of the three styles.
 
MDVancleave
member (31)member
  
08/03/2022 10:33AM  
LarryS48: "The only problem I see is that if you transport your canoe with the pads on, you should have a rack that is high enough to get the pads off the roof. This has not been a problem with any of my cars/racks. "


+1 – not an issue on my rack but could be a problem with some factory racks or foam blocks.

The block-style pads seem to work well for most folks and offer a little more versatility than the CVA webbed pads–but I like mine on my smaller (40lb) boat.
 
AdamXChicago
distinguished member(1175)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/03/2022 10:42AM  
Jackfish: "
I've always used the sling portage pads from Chosen Valley Canoe Accessories (CVCA). My son and I trade off carrying the canoe and they work just fine for us.



Some folks prefer the block type portage pads. I say "whatever portages your canoe".


"

+1 - I personally find the sling pads much more comfortable

AdamX
 
08/03/2022 01:59PM  
I think the CVCA pads are a great design and I’ve met the inventor/owner…he is top notch. They just didn’t work for me. I think I would need them to be wider and longer, I had the extra padding already. I am not super muscular but it seems to me if you have bigger shoulders/upper traps they just don’t work. I still recommend people to try them as stated many people prefer them.

The bourquin have been the best, but I haven’t tried superior or Northstar either to compare.

Heck I’ve seen people recommend the toilet seat type which is just a torture device for my neck yet it works for them?

T
 
straighthairedcurly
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/03/2022 05:29PM  
Argo1: "Any reason to buy the Bourquin pads over the Northstar version, which are half the cost?"


I have never purchased Northstar pads, but it might be what is on the used canoe we recently bought. If so, then I don't find them as comfortable as the Bourquin. The possible Northstar ones feel stiffer to me.
 
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