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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Blue Barrel transport |
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08/22/2011 09:29AM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I rented a 60L this year and liked it except for the loaded weight. I am considering buying two 30L and portaging them singly.
Question one: Does anyone know of a harness that is solid, comfortable and easily removed/attached so that I don't have to buy two harnesses?
Question two: Does anyone have experience getting into and out of the 30L who can give me some real world issues related to the smaller pensioning of the 30L?
Question three: How do you keep food cold in a 30L?
Thanks,
Question one: Does anyone know of a harness that is solid, comfortable and easily removed/attached so that I don't have to buy two harnesses?
Question two: Does anyone have experience getting into and out of the 30L who can give me some real world issues related to the smaller pensioning of the 30L?
Question three: How do you keep food cold in a 30L?
Thanks,
08/22/2011 10:14AM
Question 1: They make a pack that holds two 30L barrels, but from what I'm reading you want a single harness for one barrel but only want one? I bought mine from Northwest Canoe in St Paul. Great guy the harness has held up all summer long, and it's easy to remove the barrel from it and put it back in.
Question 2. Pack it correctly so you don't have to dig everything out from every meal. (keep working your way down with every meal so you're not unpacking and packing stuff every meal.)
Question 3. I only brought about a 1 1/2 days worth of cold food (froze it all beforehand) for the first few meals. Everything after that we used dried food. Depending on when you are going adjust that number to what you think will be best. My last trip was early August, so my cold food wasn't going to last long. In late September I expect to get another day or half day of cold food in there.
Rick
Question 2. Pack it correctly so you don't have to dig everything out from every meal. (keep working your way down with every meal so you're not unpacking and packing stuff every meal.)
Question 3. I only brought about a 1 1/2 days worth of cold food (froze it all beforehand) for the first few meals. Everything after that we used dried food. Depending on when you are going adjust that number to what you think will be best. My last trip was early August, so my cold food wasn't going to last long. In late September I expect to get another day or half day of cold food in there.
Rick
08/22/2011 10:46AM
Ostrom Outdoors makes the best harness for the 30 liter and 60 liter barrel(they are not the same harness)
http://ostromoutdoors.com/backpacks-barrel-harnesses-c-21_28.html
Kind of expensive but is an investment. I have harnesses for both 30 and 60liter barrels. I use them about four to five weeks a year for seven years now.
They are extremely adjustable.
I have never tried to keep fresh food cool in the barrel. I use dehydrated food (not the commercial stuff) and fit two weeks of food for one easily in a 30 liter barrel
http://ostromoutdoors.com/backpacks-barrel-harnesses-c-21_28.html
Kind of expensive but is an investment. I have harnesses for both 30 and 60liter barrels. I use them about four to five weeks a year for seven years now.
They are extremely adjustable.
I have never tried to keep fresh food cool in the barrel. I use dehydrated food (not the commercial stuff) and fit two weeks of food for one easily in a 30 liter barrel
08/22/2011 11:36AM
I have been using 30L blue barrels since 2008. I've done 6 trips with them since then and have found them to work well for my purposes. I've also used a 60L barrel. The 60 L barrel is, as you say, very heavy when loaded. I prefer the 2 30L barrels. Each has it's own Kondos harness. If you can afford it, I would spring for a harness for each barrel. It will be easier and more efficient on your time if you have a harness for each.
For keeping food cold, what I have done in the past is place cold things inside a small soft-sided cooler, which I squish into the barrel. This has worked pretty well so far.
I've posted this here before, and I don't know where I came across this, but here are some images of someone's idea for converting a blue barrel into a cooler.
For keeping food cold, what I have done in the past is place cold things inside a small soft-sided cooler, which I squish into the barrel. This has worked pretty well so far.
I've posted this here before, and I don't know where I came across this, but here are some images of someone's idea for converting a blue barrel into a cooler.
08/22/2011 01:46PM
Thank you all. I think I will start with a 30L and harness to supplement our current cold food system when we trip with 4-6 or just the barrel for 2 people with a squished in cooler.
Converting the entire barrel into a cooler is well, cool, and I will keep the idea for later.
Any other insight is welcome. I know there is a lot of collective wisdom out there and even things that don't apply right now may spur additional thought.
I will be in Ely, Labor Day weekend and wonder if anyone knows how I can put my hands on a Kondos harness while there?
Converting the entire barrel into a cooler is well, cool, and I will keep the idea for later.
Any other insight is welcome. I know there is a lot of collective wisdom out there and even things that don't apply right now may spur additional thought.
I will be in Ely, Labor Day weekend and wonder if anyone knows how I can put my hands on a Kondos harness while there?
08/22/2011 02:14PM
I've posted this here before, and I don't know where I came across this, but here are some images of someone's idea for converting a blue barrel into a cooler.
Just looking at these photos reminds me that if you give an American enough time they will figure out how to do just about anything with just about anything.
Thanks again.
08/22/2011 09:31PM
quote Thwarted: "
I've posted this here before, and I don't know where I came across this, but here are some images of someone's idea for converting a blue barrel into a cooler.
Just looking at these photos reminds me that if you give an American enough time they will figure out how to do just about anything with just about anything.
Thanks again.
"
Pretty cool isn't it.
08/23/2011 10:42PM
I went with the two 30 lieter barrels instead of the 60. I made one into a cooler. Insulated the outside and inside with some old sleeping pads. I use a gallon bottle of ice to keep things cold. Plan your meals so the first meal is on top and keep the cooler in the shade and I can have ice in it four four days. I think you will want to go with a harness for each barrel. Switching the harnesses on the portage will be a big pain.
tony
tony
08/26/2011 01:52PM
quote Cedarboy: "Kondos retail $77.95 30L harness
Piragis retail $75.00 30Lharness
Northwest Canoe retail $45.00 30L harness......SAVE $30 or more!
Have 2 30L barrels and harness, sold the 60L, Take one or both depending.
CB"
North49 40 bucks for a 60 and 30 bucks for a 30
JB
You can't explain the obvious to the ignorant.
08/27/2011 08:35PM
I use the Ostrom Barrel Harness Its the best one I have seen. My brother, has a different one (not sure brand) & my uncle has a Kondo's & the Ostrom is 10 times nicer & much more comfortable.
A road is a dagger placed in the heart of a wilderness. -William O. Douglas, in Ghost Grizzlies
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