I was in the right place at the right time: the exhibitor/vendor room at the Winter Camping Symposium when Dan Cooke set up shop. My eyes were immediately drawn to a large brown duffel. It was a prototype of a new duffel/sled bag which Dan designed for the popular Paris Expedition sleds/pulks. I have had a couple of these sleds living in my rafters for a couple years and last year I sewed my own sled cover and duffels. My design worked well but Dan has really thought of everything with this bag and I think it will be a great option for the winter camper.

The bag is cut and contoured to fit perfectly in the paris expedition sled. The bag incorporates a full length top zipper which is protected by a flap (to keep snow and ice off the zipper). The zipper has 4 pulls with large webbing tabs so it can be opened from the front, back or middle. The bag has an insulated pocket and 4 cinch/compression straps to tighten up the load. It also has carry handles at the midsection and large heavy webbing handles at the front and back of the bag to make it easier to move your load/sled around on the trail. You will most likely want to just bungee the duffel to the sled.

I am told that the bag will be available in multiple colors. And the production version will have some slight changes. I think the most notable of these will be an externally accessible insulated pocket-designed to keep your food and drink from freezing. This pocket will be conveniently located in the front of the pulk.

Equipped with this bag a pulk could easily carry all the gear for a cold camper. When I hot tent I will likely still reach for my 11' toboggan because of how bulky my stove and tent are and how nicely they pack on the toboggan. But my co-trippers will undoubtedly be rocking this bag. If you needed more space (or wanted to try to fit a hot tenting kit) you could very easily add a conover style pack on top.

I very much look forward to using this bag this winter and will gladly post up my findings!

FWIW-I don't believe this bag is listed on the Cooke Custom Sewing website but I know Dan would be happy to sew you one. At the WCS Dan also showed off a couple neat silnylon winter tent designs that also deserve your consideration. I assure you that I have no conflict of interest in posting this.

tg

If I may go slightly off-topic, as someone who uses both a sled and a toboggan, what makes you prefer the sled over the toboggan (or a shorter version of the toboggan) when cold camping?

well the maneuverability and compactness of the pulk would probably be the biggest thing for me. if I can easily fit my kit in a 5' sled why pull an unwieldly 11' toboggan? I suppose I could use a shorter toboggan (truth be told I have a couple already-but not everyone is so lucky) but I think the pulk is just as functional as a short toboggan. even though we have a lot of flat frozen lakes to pull across we do have some rough portages to cross and at times off camber terrain. and I can't stand trying to "right" my overturned packed toboggan-especially when i'm wearing skis or snowshoes. plus with the pulk system I don't have to waste time loading and unloading bags onto the sled at the car.

tg

Nice looking pack/bag. I might have to look into getting one of these for my pulk.

Thanks for the heads up, TG. I have also seen, in pictures, Dan's winter tents and they look amazing.

Anyone know where in Minnesota I could get one of those Paris sleds?

quote Minnesotian: "
Anyone know where in Minnesota I could get one of those Paris sleds?"

I may have a line on some of those sleds. I placed an order for a couple more last night-if you are interested in one (or more) let me know.

tg

I should say-as far as I know no one locally stocks these. In the past they were available through REI but it doesn't look like they are any more. There is a hardware store out east called Aubuchon which supposedly has them. But I am working with a local hardware store that I think can get them.

tg

quote tg: "It was a prototype of a new duffel/sled bag which Dan designed for the popular Paris Expedition sleds/pulks

tg

"

I hope Dan will back me up on this one but he didn't design it... I do know who did but will hold off on saying. And I was supposed to get the first one;-)

HERE is the location to get the sled...and I have one still in the bag if you need it quicker. Order six and split the shipping with your crew...

In THIS thread I talk about both the sled and the bag...fyi

not sure if i'm supposed to apologize...sorry?

Design, Who takes credit for it I do not care.
The prototype that tg purchased was my experiment to try to get the kinks of the concept that was spoke about. It was sold as a prototype that I was not happy with. the usability of a feature was compromised and needed to be improved. That was brought up to tg before the sale was complete. The Thinsulate insulated pocket was only one of my additions to the concept brought to me. It was a carryover from some tobaggan bags I have made in years past.The first commissioned models will be finished soon I hope. There is an outside chance I may have a bag at the Midwest Winter Expo coming up.

quote Dan Cooke: "Design, Who takes credit for it I do not care.
The prototype that tg purchased was my experiment to try to get the kinks of the concept that was spoke about. It was sold as a prototype that I was not happy with. the usability of a feature was compromised and needed to be improved. That was brought up to tg before the sale was complete. The Thinsulate insulated pocket was only one of my additions to the concept brought to me. It was a carryover from some tobaggan bags I have made in years past.The first commissioned models will be finished soon I hope. There is an outside chance I may have a bag at the Midwest Winter Expo coming up.
"

About the Prototype...I was joking...I am glad you are working the bugs out and will be proud as a peacock when I get mine. you will get all the credit for perfecting the design.
I will see you there (at the Expo), and meant no ill will...;-)

quote tg: "not sure if i'm supposed to apologize...sorry?"

See comment above...Sorry for sounding like a tool...I was razzing you, both.

Glad to hear it was in jest. Tg, and others Stop by if you come to the event and say Hi.

quote Dan cooke: "Glad to hear it was in jest. Tg, and others Stop by if you come to the event and say Hi."

Do you want to borrow a brand new sled for your possible display. I have an extra from the order Martin and I made last year.

Glad no feathers were ruffled. I was just trying to bring attention to a nice piece of gear. Dan if the prototype would be of utility for you at the expo let me know-you're welcome to borrow it (and a sled too if you want it-I know doughboy made the same offer but just thought it might be easier to get everything from one person)

Rich

Good news for Paris (Erapro) Expedition sled seekers! I was able to order, and pick up two of these sleds (the real deal-I have a couple older ones for comparison) from the Penn and 90th Ave True Value Hardware store in Bloomington. They are not stocked in most stores but if you purchase online they ship to your chosen store for free. Looked like there were a bunch of other True Value stores locally that were options. I know you could order 6 from Aubuchon out east and pay for shipping but this may be a more attractive option for some.

Paris (Erapro) Expedition Sled at True Value Hardware

quote tg: "Good news for Paris (Erapro) Expedition sled seekers! I was able to order, and pick up two of these sleds (the real deal-I have a couple older ones for comparison) from the Penn and 90th Ave True Value Hardware store in Bloomington. They are not stocked in most stores but if you purchase online they ship to your chosen store for free. Looked like there were a bunch of other True Value stores locally that were options. I know you could order 6 from Aubuchon out east and pay for shipping but this may be a more attractive option for some.


Paris (Erapro) Expedition Sled at True Value Hardware
"

I picked up 3 at the Escanaba True Value today that I ordered on-line. The store owner was excited to see these and plans to stock some next year.

Awesome! I hope they continue to be available. I know they aren't perfect but for the price they are pretty functional. Nice laker in your profile pic!

Doughboy12, be happy to take you up on your offer to borrow a sled for the winter expo. contact me at dancooke@cookecustomsewing.com

That looks really cool and helpful. I like it a lot.

Thanks to everyone that had a hand in developing and producing that.

More good stuff made in the USA.

From the pics, it looks like a quality bag. Wish I had a winter expedition to use one on.

quote OBX2Kayak: "From the pics, it looks like a quality bag. Wish I had a winter expedition to use one on."

Always room for one more willing soul to break trail...lol

quote DanCooke: "Doughboy12, be happy to take you up on your offer to borrow a sled for the winter expo. contact me at dancooke@cookecustomsewing.com"

E-Mail sent

I had a chance to check out the bag (and sled) at Expo today - very interesting stuff. The zipper is really hefty, and the cinch straps are spaced so you can thread them through the holes that come drilled in the sled. Might have to get one...

quote Doughboy12: "HERE is the location to get the sled...and I have one still in the bag if you need it quicker. Order six and split the shipping with your crew..."

Thanks for this link! Curious, where are you located? I am interested in the sled you have if you are somewhere near me. I live in the Twin Cities area in MN.

quote Frenchy19: "

quote Doughboy12: "HERE is the location to get the sled...and I have one still in the bag if you need it quicker. Order six and split the shipping with your crew..."

Thanks for this link! Curious, where are you located? I am interested in the sled you have if you are somewhere near me. I live in the Twin Cities area in MN."

If you need it ASAP I can help you... If you can wait I would recommend the True Value Hardware Store route posted above.

Forgot to post this from a couple of weekends ago.


Not the best shot but the straps are done the correct way...I did add 4 around the bag for the gear on top.

I just found a Paris sled at Kraemer's True Value in Minnetonka, so maybe some bigger True Value stores might even stock the sleds once in a while. They now have three left at Kraemer's.

quote NotLight: "I just found a Paris sled at Kraemer's True Value in Minnetonka, so maybe some bigger True Value stores might even stock the sleds once in a while. They now have three left at Kraemer's."

Nice! I grew up with a paris sled (albeit slightly different handholds) and it seemed they were pretty easy to find in the 80s. Hopefully they make a comeback!