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Portage pack recommendations?

Masteroffajitas

Masteroffajitas

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Oct 7, 2008
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I want to get a new poratge pack for canoeing next year because the packs we were given by this outfitter we had were uncomfortable. I saw alot of people use granite gear and dulths, and I even tryed on a granite gear and it was pretty comfortable. I like the looks of the duluth but is it comfortable? What about for hiking trips?

I'd like to use this for backpacking as well. I know the portage pack is designed to carry alot over little distances, but if there was a pack like the kifaru zulu that'd be great. I'm not a good saver, so please don't recommend something too expensive, the duluth is as far as I'd go.
 
Duluth packs are #1 for portage/canoe packs. Get the ones with a tumpline (head strap) to increase the versatility. I always ride mine high on the shoulders to give the yoke on the canoe a little support. If you're not portaging more than a mile, comfort takes second place to canoe fit in my opinion. Frame packs always seem to not quite fit right.

J-
 
I picked up a duluth and am impressed with the quality. Mine holds bushels of stuff but would not be my first choice for a long hike. For tons of walking I would probably get a pack with a frame and higher center of gravity.
josh
 
If you are considering a Duluth pack, you might also look at the packs made by Jane at Alder Stream Canvas. I really like the one I bought.
 
If your looking for double duty I wouldn't go with a Duluth pack.

As much as I love mine I think your back would appreciate a standard backpack if your putting 15 to 20 miles a day on hiking.

Get a decent backpacking pack and line it with a thick poly liner for canoe trips and try to keep the straps up so it's easy out on portage time.
I used my Lowe Alpine pack like this for a few seasons before I picked up my Duluth packs and it worked out fine for me. Just try to keep it below the gunnels.

Here is a pick of my canoe loaded from a few years ago, my buddy uses a standard pack and it works OK as long as you keep it low.
Picture231.jpg

Notice how they're two Duluth packs standing up to one regular pack that's angeled in. That's the beauty of canoe packs, the pack with the map on it is a Monarch 4 which is a big one and holds more then the standard backpack my buddy uses.

As for a recommendation on a standard pack, I have none. Been out of that game for almost 10 years now and haven't even tried to keep up.

Good luck.
 
check out cooke custom sewing. havent used them but he makes some rucksack/ portage packs with belts and compression straps. also check out the forum at solotripping.com for gear reviews. CCS makes some tarps and other cool stuff too. good luck
 
I'd never heard of Deluth, they certainly look well made, but they're pricey for something that looks like it was designed in 1825. They look fine for a day out, but I'd imagine they'd be super heavy and very uncomfortable for long distances. They're truly beautiful, but wouldn't you at least want something waterproof and more contemporary? Seal Line makes several; their "Pro Pack" looks robust and comfortable and it's much bigger and cheaper than the $325 Deluth "canoe pack." I used to put smaller roll-top dry bags inside my internal frame pack [Dana Design Astralplane] - worked well and was very comfortable for portaging. Going this route enabled me to have versatility ... e.g. the dry bags could be used in a sea kayak as well. Slightly ghetto set-up, but there is a deluge of lightweight dry bags out there and a backpacking pack is going to be waaaay more comfortable than any canoe-specific pack. Canoeing was always a sporadic activity for me [a few times per year] so I needed the versatility.
 
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Dannyboy Leather said:
Some things are absolutely ridiculous and this is one of them. I have been seriously involved with canoeing (since the 1960's) for decades, canoeing all over this continent from Alaska, Canada, all the way down to Florida. We guided MANY 'expert' canoe trips for several years (from the Northwest to the great Boundry Waters) and would like to think we know a little bit about it. At least our satisfied clients thought we did. We also belonged to a number of canoe clubs over the years filled with scores of happy Duluth Pack owners.

There is *no* deceptive or excessive advertising "hype" regarding the packs made by Duluth. Duluth packs have been on *thousands upon thousands* of canoe trips and have proven their worth countless times for over 100 years. "Hype?" This is just plain silly. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Well. Ya know what they say about opinions.
Silly, to me, is $370 for a canvas sack with a few leather straps and buckles.
When I have $8000 worth of gear in my raft it aint going to be in a 'tater sack.
I also prefer to send mail and documents via the digital highway, rather than by pony, but I'm just a silly guy !
 
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