I only have a backpacking pack, how much will this effect my portaging? I am trying to keep my trip on the cheaper side so I don't want to have to buy a Duluth pack. Does anyone have a good system with backpacking packs?

The only disadvantage I can see is that your regular backpack may sit higher above your shoulders and could interfere with you carrying your canoe if you were attempting to cross the portage once with everything. Otherwise in my experience with carrying a pack and canoe on separate trips, a regular backpack is easier and more comfortable to carry.

I have a gregory Palisades for back packing. It does not sit in the canoe as as well as a portage back and I don't think it's as easy to put on and take off as a portage pack, but that may be me. Short portage I can hang a portage pack on one strap off each shoulder. Overall, minor inconvenience that if you have not tripped with portage packs you probably won't notice and certainly not a trip killer. I've done stupider things to save money.

FWIW You can pick up used ones at outfitters in the $60 range - at least later in the year and spring. I built up a collection of 6 or 7 Kondos #3's - use them still for weekend camping - and have acquired a couple of CCS packs since.

I just returned from a 7 day trip. I used an Osprey 70 liter pack. It fit nicely in the bow of a prism. I also used a small canoe pack for my food and sundry items. The backpack was easily the more comfortable of the two to carry over the longer portages. The drawbacks were that I could not carry the canoe while wearing the backpack and the less robust material on the backpack started to wear through from being dragged against the gunwales of the canoe.

If the backpack is your only pack, you may have to double portage. This wasn't an issue for me because I had the second pack and had to double, and sometimes triple, portage anyway.

Torrid 2, GG Talus
Torrid 2 GG Nimbus Core
REI Traverse, GG Nimbus Core



I use internal frame backpacks, and hiking daypacks.
Camptrails Torrid 2, REI Traverse Haute Route, Granite Gear Nimbus Core, all purchased used/closeout. Daypacks, Camelbak 14ner (not pictured), Granite Gear Talus.

Easier to fit in solo canoes, narrower and lay down below the gunnels. Hold as much as needed, the REI Traverse is too big for my use. Much more stable and comfortable. Most framed packs do not accommodate canoe carry, but I double portage anyway.
I have tripped with portage style packs and feel they were inconvenient, went back to framed backpacks and will stay with them.
REI Traverse in rear, Nimbus Core in bow, both full frame packs. I carried the canoe with the Nimbus Core.

butthead

With butthead's excellent photos, guess I should share as well.

I have a pig of an aluminum canoe so I never even attempt to carry a pack and canoe at the same time. I used a Lowe pack for years and it served me well. That being said, I bought a CCS Guide pack this year and I really like it. I actually think it's a little harder to load/unload in the canoe just because of it's shear size. What's nice though is that I can fit everything I need for a solo trip in it so it's one trip with the canoe and one with the pack. With the Lowe pack I had to carry a separate food pack.

Go for it.

Thanks for the input, I will stick to what I have.