Due to a cancer condition and an infusion port on my shoulder, I can no longer carry large heavy packs with backpack straps. Looking for suggestions for smaller ultralight packs. . .perhaps in a sling style or something without traditional backpack straps. Might even try watertight dry bags.

I hope someone has a good recommendation for you. I don't think you could cover the port with enough padding to make it comfortable for shoulder straps. Using only one strap would be off-balance and awkward.

Good luck!

Looking at something like this. Two of these would handle my clothes and personal gear. Earth Pack

there is a company called Hyperlite mountain gear, not sure if they make something that would fit you need, but they focus on gear for the ultra light back packing community.

ockycamper, I wish you the best on the cancer fight.

Your request made me think of Crossbody Backpacks as they are called nowadays, something like this: https://www.firsttactical.com/products/crosshatch-sling-pack?variant=15490719878&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsaP114f8-wIVDwWtBh3USwMaEAQYAyABEgLelfD_BwE

Or another idea would be Lumbar Packs, also known as fanny packs but look for the ones meant for climbing as they are more robust, something like this: https://www.rei.com/product/167691/mountainsmith-day-lumbar-pack

Good luck

Earlier this fall I decided I wanted a one-shoulder-strap pack for a specific application (not a portage pack).

This is a lighter weight pack - I took an existing (day) pack with a robust hip belt, and built a padded strap to go across one shoulder.

One key was the front attachment point. It took some trial and error, but by having the strap cross over to the opposite side in the front and then attach to the hip belt about 6 or 7" to the side of the front hipbelt buckle, the balance worked out well. (I added another quick-release buckle by the front attachment point for easier on/off, though I ended up not really using it and just ducking my head under the shoulder strap.)

The other key was the well-padded hip belt - that has to carry 80+% of the weight.

I think it's the best thing I have ever made & its performance far exceeded my expectations.

FYI, I don't believe I ever had more than 20 pounds in mine...a heavier pack may be more problematic.

Good luck, regardless.

Dude - Just want to say as a cancer person who went thru all that, You are my bro, I'd give you hug if I could. I had my chemo port removed in July, and I don't have another doc visit for a year. I almost died, was in the hospital for 23 days, but I met a lot of nice people when I was there. So just remember this, you beat cancer then you're an instant rock star and you will be my hero. I did it, might sound weird but I always knew I was going to beat it. I looked at it like this, it's no worse than a broken leg, Get a cast on it, in a month or so your good to go. 8 sessions of chemo, better than brand new, that shit kills anything, you'll never get sick again.
Keep on trippin, that's so cool.

Cheers, scat

Lots of good ideas above. Loved my port but didn't wind up facing this issue because it was removed before I was next able to go camping. Another idea is to consider if you can protect the port from a strap. I have one friend in the lymphoma community who likes to shoot. He was worried about the impact of the stock on his port and the tubing. My memory is that he cut a donut out of firm foam that went around the port area and supported the stock so that it was resting on the area around the port and tubing and not on it. Something like that may let you carry a standard pack. But the one shoulder packs look like a great idea.

scat: "...that shit kills anything, you'll never get sick again...."

I'm glad for your good result!

Sixteen rounds of chemo plus 2 rounds experimental didn't kill a thing for my wife and the lumps continued to grow. She always was an over-achiever.

Tumpline perhaps? I know there's a lot of discussion on building up strength, neck problems, etc. , but something to consider.

scat: "Dude - Just want to say as a cancer person who went thru all that, You are my bro, I'd give you hug if I could. I had my chemo port removed in July, and I don't have another doc visit for a year. I almost died, was in the hospital for 23 days, but I met a lot of nice people when I was there. So just remember this, you beat cancer then you're an instant rock star and you will be my hero. I did it, might sound weird but I always knew I was going to beat it. I looked at it like this, it's no worse than a broken leg, Get a cast on it, in a month or so your good to go. 8 sessions of chemo, better than brand new, that shit kills anything, you'll never get sick again.
Keep on trippin, that's so cool.


Cheers, scat"

I am the men's leader at our church. I bring up 10-20 men every September to BWCA (we divide into 3 groups). 2 weeks before leaving for this September's trip I was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney cancer. On treatments. Ironically, no real symptons. Doc said absolutely not to this year's trip. I am now reworking my gear due to the port in my right shoulder and the weight limitations the doc wants. Finding that lighter usually means a lot more money too! Thanks for your encouragment. I am in my Lord's hands and rest in that. Hopefully many years of trips to BWCA yet to come.

Is a pack weight really that much difference? Its usually what goes inside the pack thats the real weight.

It has to do with where the straps go on my chest (due to the port). I am moving to 2-3 smaller one strap dry bags for my gear vs a pack like a boundary waters drybag pack that we used to carry. We are base campers and I don't really need to get everything into one larger pack.

ockycamper: "... Doc said absolutely not to this year's trip. I am now reworking my gear ..."

Eh? Hope Doc doesn't read your posts and find out you are tripping anyway.

Or did I mis-read? Doc said absolutely not to 2022, but you are ON for 2023!

He was referring to the 2022 trip. That was when it looked like a pending operation. Now that I am in treatment I am good to go for 2023. Time to gear up!

Ockycamper, I have a different take on this. It's time for others to pick up the slack and carry your gear for you. I know that it's hard to let others do that but at this point you have helped so many others by organizing the trips that you deserve it. If I was in your group I would insist on carrying your gear and helping out. I'm fairly certain that they would rather have you on the trip than not.

Maybe. I do all the cooking

ockycamper: "Maybe. I do all the cooking"

Yup, you have earned it! I became disabled back in 2020, if I ever decide to go back into the BWCA and if nobody volunteered to assist with my gear, I certainly would ask. My tripping partners have all seen me help carry complete strangers gear across on the "empty" trip on portages when we meet other groups (I ask first). They know that if I ask for help it's because I truly need it.

Crosshatch Sling Pack 19L

Not the only maker just a sample.

butthead

I usually try to stay with waterproof drybag styles. I have trained our groups with the idea to choose packs and gear with the idea that "they will go in the water". . .then plan accordingly. As such I have several single strap/cross body roll down dry bags that I think will work this trip. They will be replacing the 90 litre Sealine Boundary packs.

Another idea would be to modify a pack with a combination of a hip belt and a tump line. The hip belt could support most of the weight and the tump line keeps it against your back. Just thinking out of the box.

As we are base campers, I have been moving to 2-3 smaller packs vs one big back for the last couple of years anyway. My idea of BWCA is fishing and exploring all day, then BIG dinner followed by several hours around the camp fire. Our group pretty much takes the view that if the Lord wanted us to carry those packs he would not have given us canoes. . . .so we single portage into a base camp, then do all our exploring and fishing using empty canoes and day packs.

Northwoodsman: "Ockycamper, I have a different take on this. It's time for others to pick up the slack and carry your gear for you. I know that it's hard to let others do that but at this point you have helped so many others by organizing the trips that you deserve it. If I was in your group I would insist on carrying your gear and helping out. I'm fairly certain that they would rather have you on the trip than not."

I completely agree. Ten years ago I had two back surgeries within two months. I was devastated, thought my tripping days were over. Two buddies took me up to Wood Lake and hiked all my gear in. I’ll never forget their kindness.

preacherdave: "

Northwoodsman: "Ockycamper, I have a different take on this. It's time for others to pick up the slack and carry your gear for you. I know that it's hard to let others do that but at this point you have helped so many others by organizing the trips that you deserve it. If I was in your group I would insist on carrying your gear and helping out. I'm fairly certain that they would rather have you on the trip than not."

I completely agree. Ten years ago I had two back surgeries within two months. I was devastated, thought my tripping days were over. Two buddies took me up to Wood Lake and hiked all my gear in. I’ll never forget their kindness."

+1 to both of these.