I think I have a problem

[red langford]

On the same vein as Momentums perfect bag thread, I too have been looking for a perfect bag. A perfect second bag. One ideal for day trips, or as the miscellaneous bag that is big enough to carry a decent amount of gear but not so big it becomes it's own portage. One that has quick and easy access for certain items, while others are secure until you need them. One that would work for a quick overnight hike canoe trip.

One of the issues is the saw and axe. Lashing them to the outside of the pack has been not quite functional enough for me. The other is my Nalgene bottle, either loos or inside a the main compartment on a pack. I have tried a few. Today I grabbed all my packs and laid them out, then ordered a new one. This brings the total to 13 packs and bags I have.

For a main canoe pack I have my old reliable Ostrom Wabakimi pack. The trick with this pack is to not overload it, the pack will handle it but this old guy carrying it can't. Then it is a mish mash of other packs. I have a Eureka canoe pack that's a standby if we make a big family trip and the North 49 canoe pack with is horrible. It was my first canoe pack and a waste of $50. Then there is my Woods/Duluth knock-off which is nice and functional and have used this many times as the second bag. Even made it primary bag for a few shorter trips. It has the built in leather axe pocket and deep side pockets which I like. It's not terribly comfortable to carry.

Then I have the two barrel. One Ostrom harness and one other one. I have made few trips with the other brand but not since I got the Ostrom. The barrel is my food pack for longer trips or trips where I don't plan a menu and just bring it all and decide what I am going to eat in camp.

Now for the smaller packs. The yellow one is one I picked up two years ago it is a MEC bag and very nice. However it lacks function for what I want it for. It's got the spot to hang your ice pick or hiking poles, neither of which I carry. It is set up for a platypus bladder, which i don't have either. There are lots of neat pockets inside and the bag seems like it would be decent day hiking bag but simply lacks the size I am after.
Then there is the Scandinavian Army surplus bag. I love this bag. Sturdy, durable, waterproof, and it has a generous outside pocket. But it's heavy and again does not have a whole lot of space. This is the bag I usually carry when I go out exploring on the Ski-doo.
After that I have another mistake, and OASIS "climbing" bag. It will fit a sweater nicely but not much more. I did use this one when we lived in Southern Ontario and hiked more, but haven't used it since.
Then there is the old Spalding hiking bag I have had since I was a teen. Not very comfortable, not really well made, does have the space and the pockets but lacks enough design and built in strength to handle a big load. It is also made for a much smaller person. The hip belt goes just above my belly button.

There is the under-seat bag I bought from Langford, which is well made but never seems to hold what I want it too. And I am a kneeler so it never worked for me.

This is where I have the problem, despite owning all these bags I ordered another one yesterday. This one looks promising. It has the size, the pockets, it even has an axe sleeve. This I love. You slide the handle of the axe into the sleeve instead of the head of the axe. Looks well made by a reputable gear maker and a reasonable price.
http://www.shop.cookecustomsewing.com/product.sc?productId=215&categoryId=19

When I get it I'll maybe do a full review on it if anybody is interested.

Also, if anybody is heading into WCPP and they need to borrow some gear, I have lots. I could make a similar post on tents/tarps and cook-sets.

 

[red langford]

Oh crap, sorry for the long post.

 

[Alan Gage]

Nothing wrong with a long post, it's the only kind I know how to make.

Bags and backpacks are horrible. It started back when photography was my main hobby. I've got them whittled down now and I'm not quite as bad as you but I've still got all sorts of little bags and packs that I thought might be just right for this or that scattered all over the house. Big camera bags, little camera bags, packs for day hikes, multi-day hikes, canoe trips, more packs for day hikes, shoulder bags for quick and lightweight hiking, and other bags that I don't know what purpose they serve.

I hope you like the CCS pack. That must be a fairly new one, I hadn't heard of it before. Looks nice. I know there are lots of fans of his Rucksack on BWCA.com. I've got a Pioneer hybrid pack from him and will be adding a barrel pack and maybe an Explorer hybrid pack this year as well. Nice guy. Hosts a weekly paddle night in the Minneapolis area and will bring any of his many boats that you might want to try. It's a long drive for me but I made it one evening just to try one of his canoes. About a dozen paddlers on a small lake messing around, swapping boats, and learning from each other. Some learning the basics and others very talented.

Alan

 

[latremorej]

I feel your pain on all those bags. I still use my old Kelty 5400ci backpack from my backpacking days. I have a NRS harness that pulls multiple duties, treestand in the fall, ice fishing bucket in the winer, etc... I also have a few other packs and military surplus that collect dust.

This year I ordered the NRS roll top duffel to put in that harness. Last year my worn out dry bags failed in a heavy rain. It was also a PITA to stuff them into my Kelty pack, lost of space wasted. We'll see how this goes.

Please keep us posted on the Bushcrafter for CCS. I was looking at that pack too but couldn't pull the trigger.

Jason

 

[Odyssey]

If those were my packs, I'd make my solo selection the Swedish, new CCS and a barrel. For tandem trips I'd keep the Ostrom, another barrel, and the Eureka. I'd keep the Woods/Duluth knockoff as an old friend. The rest I'd purge from my personal gear pile. Sell them, give them away, or set them aside for lending to friends and family. It's easy for me to tell you what to do, but I have a pile of packs I haven't purged. It's hard to. I know. Mine numbers around 10 (I don't have the willpower to count). We use only 5.
I'd like to hear about that new CCS pack when you've tried it out Red. I like their products, and have been eyeing some myself. I have a CCS#2 pack, and would like to add to that.

 

[wgiles]

I like a traditional ruck sack style daypack with one to three outside pockets. I use my daypack to hold the things that I might want today. I have one that I have used since 1993 and it's getting a bit ragged. I also have been using a bookbag style pack for my hunting gear. The thing that I don't like about bookbags is that the zipper tends to open by itself and stuff falls out. I decided to make a couple of replacement packs that combined the features that I like. Each has a main ruck with a drawcord and flap. Inside the ruck is a zippered pouch for small items and a mesh divider that keeps certain items separate and near the top of the ruck. There is a zippered pocket on the back that holds my knife, sliding saw, glasses, etc. and two mesh side pockets sized to fit a 1 Liter bottle or my pint Thermos. This arrangement works well for me. The CCS Bushcrafter seems to be similar to mine in size and construction, except for the pockets. I thought about a top pocket, but decided not to include one. I don't use a belt on a daypack, mainly because I don't put that much weight in one and loose belts catch on things.

An external pack frame can also be a handy thing for transporting odd shaped things. I've played around with military ALICE frames, extending them and finally building my own from thinwall stainless tubing. I've shamelessly copied all of the best features of various harnesses, lashings and panels. I can easily carry a 65L dry bag or a 13 Gal. barrel by adjusting the lashing.

 

[ppine]

Nearly everyone is compulsive about something when it comes to the outdoors. If your vice is collecting a lot of packs and bags, you are lucky. I have gotten by with Duluth packs, some dry bags, 2 day packs and some Kelty Tiogas for backpacking. My weakness has always been knives, axes and guns.

 

[bcelect]

I remember reading in one forum about a two pack system which was made for Bell Canoes, by Ostrom and it now discontinued. I am thinking it may be this one on Ebay in case anybody is interested.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solo-Pack-2...212?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf41cf12c

 

[Canoeguitar]

My small pack (35L) is the Ostrom "Portage Specialist". It's designed to be carried while portaging a canoe - low profile...tons of zipper pockets inside & out, with some serious zippers too, I might add. Holy crap - it has got to be the most well made and well designed "day pack" for canoeists in the whole world.

I took it on it's maiden voyage last summer in Quetico. It had me smiling ear to ear, a great pack. Then, who do I see putting in at the Stanton Bay launch as I was finishing my 3 week trip?....Bill Ostrom! I told him that the Portage Specialist was the best piece of gear I'd bought in a long time. Love the pack.

I know Bill has shut down the canoe pack business, but if you ever see one of these for sale on the forums or on eBay, I'd say grab it!

http://ostromoutdoors.com/portage-specialist-p-129.html