While this pack has nowhere near the amount of support needed to to use as a dedicated backpack, for a portage pack, I haven’t found anything better. The hip belt and shoulder harness are adequate to the task for short (.25-1.5 mile) hauls that one typically encounters while on a canoe trip.
Due to the size of the pack, and the fact that the top will extend higher than one’s shoulders, I don’t recommend for solo paddlers trying to ‘single-track’ (I.E. carrying this pack PLUS canoe on one’s shoulders). Our strategy was to have the wife carry this monster with most of the bulky/heavy gear and food, while I single-tracked with the canoe and a smaller (and not nearly as nice) Seattle Sports portage pack. We were able to adjust the harness and belt quick enough to switch between a 5’7″ 135# woman and a 6’2″ 225# man, as often as we needed, with a minimum of fuss.
The interior is HUGE and will easily accommodate two Garcia bear canisters standing upright next to each other in the bottom. The side straps and webbing are tough enough for me to lift the pack fully loaded up to her back to help her put it on (with her carrying 70 pounds, its the least I can do!).
The exterior appears to made out of a hypalon type material (used in WW rafts), and has held up fine after being dropped and dragged over rocks and trees.
A great buy at $120, and made our trip much more enjoyable.
