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Author	Message Text
wifishncanoe	08/24/2011 09:29PM   I have a NRS Paragon Pack. It's versatile, but I mainly use it with my barrel. It also has some other attachment points to lash loose items for portages. Cost around $50.
rharjes	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
Thwarted	08/22/2011 09:29AM   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,
cowdoc	08/22/2011 11:45AM   These are decent priced, well built, easy on/off and made in Ely. Kondos 30 L harness
mc2mens	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.
jb in the wild	08/22/2011 12:16PM   Here is a link to a bunch of different places to get harnesses. The post I'm talking about is about half way down. By Thistlekicker manufacturer and prices. JB Harnesses
Cedarboy	08/24/2011 09:35AM   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
yellowcanoe	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
Thwarted	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?
Thwarted	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.
mc2mens	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.
chesapeakes	08/22/2011 08:25PM   Kondo's is located in Ely on the Kawishiwi trail.
Cedarboy	08/22/2011 10:14PM   Best price is the 30L harness form NorthWest canoe CB
jb in the wild	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
Thwarted	08/26/2011 09:33PM   Good grief, you guys sound like you work there.
Woods Walker	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.
yellowcanoe	08/27/2011 09:36PM   We sure can get cost per use but many folks don't think that way..the budget up front matters more. The Wabakimi team is using the same Ostrom harnesses since 2005 eighteen weeks a year.Not eighteen days a year!
Mongo65	08/23/2011 11:35AM   Very happy w/my Kondos harness.
tony	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
cowdoc	08/26/2011 03:49PM   Kondos sale thru 8/31.....$62.95