Know How TECHNIQUE | CANOE TREE | CAMPCRAFT | EXPERT TIP | GEAR | FOOD [ IN THE PACK ]
THREE GRAND PORTAGE PACKS
LEADERS OF THE PACK
ME C
Slogg
www.mec.ca • $75 CAD
G R A NI T E GE A R
Superior One
www.granitegear.com • $220
The Superior One uses a harness reminiscent of a high-quality hiking backpack mounted onto a bag that’s sized for a canoe—a rare blend in portage packs. Its padded back panel forms for comfort and distributes weight evenly with help from wide, contoured shoulder straps and a cushy, interchangeable waist belt. Choose from two sizes to customize torso fit. Top load the colossal 121-liter capacity using dry bags for optimal protection—the Superior One is water-resistant, not proof. The Cordura and bal- listic nylons used in the pack’s body and bot- tom do, however, stand up to being dragged, snagged, tossed and sat on better than dryer, vinyl alternatives. The pack’s side pockets and lash points, features absent on lower-end mod- els, make carrying loose items easy.
DULU T H PA CK
Monarch
www.duluthpack.com • $345
Duluth Pack perfected the olive drab canvas canoe pack in the 1800s. Since then, the brand has become synony- mous with traditional portage packs. After years of making custom modifications to their original packs, Duluth built the 95-liter Monarch—a full-featured pack that doesn’t aban- don time-tested materials or compromise craftsmanship. Constructed of rugged 18-ounce canvas, it has padded leather shoulder straps and a removable waist belt, tump and sternum strap. The pack sits low to accommodate the carrying of a canoe. Adopt Duluth’s liner system to get the most out of the Monarch. Start by inserting a folded sleeping pad into the rear inner sleeve, providing extra cushioning. Then, pack the included 6-mil poly liner to protect items that need to stay dry. Finally, stuff the inner pockets with other loose items like saws, tent poles and rain gear. Outer side pockets provide quick access to smaller items.
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here for a video preview of the packs. 30 SPRING 2012
When roll-down, buckled PVC dry bags took the market by storm in the early ‘90s, colorful rubbery vinyl sacks became a staple in every paddler’s gear closet. Mountain Equipment Co-op introduced their version of the simple and ubiquitous backpack- style dry bag in 2011. The Slogg comes in three sizes—30, 70 and 115 liters. The single-compartment, barebones setup gets the job done at a very reasonable price. All three sizes have rudimentary quick-drying, breathable shoulder straps while the two larger sizes feature removable hipbelts. The side handles are a welcome addition, mak- ing the otherwise cumbersome process of loading and unloading the oversized pack much easier. Don’t overload the pack—the length of the top compression strap is limited to ensure there is sufficient space to roll down the closure for optimal water resistance. Fitting with MEC’s environmen- tal mandate, all house-brand dry bags are PVC-free.
—Michael Mechan
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