07 February 2013

GEAR REVIEW 2/10 TO BUILD A FIRE

10 PART GEAR REVIEW PART 1. PORTAGE PACKS

There is a lot to be said about having great equipment on outdoor adventures. In fact, countless white people flock to Americas outdoor recreation areas every year, all the while congratulating themselves for having such a cool backpacking stove or a sweet titanium spork after having made the trip to REI or some other specialty retailer beforehand to pick up the newest tech gadget or $90 long underwear shirt. It's no secret that I am one of these gear weenies and have quite a hankering for outdoor gear myself so I have decided to share some of my favorites from the gear closet in a ten part series.



#1 Cascade Designs Sealline PRO Pack 115 $169.00

In my not so humble opinion, of all the options out on the market currently, the PRO Pack is the pinnacle of portage pack existence. This pack is 100% waterproof, lightweight, slides easily into the belly of a canoe, has lots of straps that you can clip to your boat so you and your gear don't get separated in a capsize, and carries comfortably on any length of portage. I have used several types of packs on canoe trips over the years and to me, none of them stack up to the Sealline.


If you like to go camping in selvedge denim, the classic Duluth Pack is pretty, has fine craftsmanship is made of canvas and leather. These non-waterproof nostalgic and heavy beauties soak up water to get heavier and cut into your shoulders like a bastard. These are a hit with hipster outdoor enthusiasts.
If you love camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, canoe camping or whitewater rafting you should load up a PRO Pack so you can think less about your gear getting wet, your shoulders getting sore and think more about the gorgeous place you are vacationing in.


Honorable mentions:

http://www.granitegearstore.com/index.html#url 
Granite Gear makes some of the best backpacks you can find and they have many canoe/portage packs to choose from in their catalog. these are super comfortable and water repellent but you still need to line them with a plastic bag to keep your gear dry if the rain is pouring or you somehow manage to swamp your boat.

Cooke Custom Sewing is worth an honorable mention if you go the non-waterproof route. Dan Cooke makes packs by hand in his workshop in Lino Lakes, MN. Dan makes damn fine products at reasonable prices.