Algonquin Adventures / Portaging a solo canoe with detachable yoke.

**Posted by captainchaos2000** 5/20/2026 2:03 pm

Well some changes this past year in the type of canoe I paddle with due to an accident I went from a 16 foot two person canoe and I gave renting a solo canoe a try in this spring ice out trip.
I did have some issues with portaging that I thought I'd ask the group for ideas. My plan was double carrying the portages, portaging my main pack and then returning for the canoe and food barrel. For some reason my main pack sits too high on my shoulders (same with the food barrel) and would bump up against either the canoe seat or the bar running across the width of the canoe behind the seat. Made it impossible to portage with as it would force the back of the canoe up (and the bow down) so I couldn't see when I was walking. While I tried off loading some of my gear out of my main pack into the barrel ultimately I couldn't figure out a solution so I essentially triple carried all the portages on my 10 day trip. (Laugh if you must) One of the side effects is the bathroom scale shows I'm a little bit lighter now!

Anyhow, this is a type of canoe I'm not familiar with, I thought I'd ask the group if they had an idea on a canoe pack that will sit lower on my shoulders and thus not hit the seat or the back bar behind the seat when portaging. My current main pack is the MEC 115liter Slog. I can't remember what my food barrel harness is at the moment.
Thank you in advance for any advice.

**Posted by keg** 5/20/2026 3:38 pm

I'm sure most of us have been there. The solution I figured out was to pack less (also removed the top pouch of a backpack).

Longer trips, I use a 55L ultralight backpack for food and essential gear and a smaller slogg (35L?) pack for down and clothing. The slogg fits fine under the yoke for double carries and the bigger pack works as long as it's not too full. For a singkle carry, the slogg is essentially small enough to use as a front pack. Mostly dehydrated food and little room for luxuries though. On more leisurely trips with less portaging, I'm just resigned to multiple carries (mec scully 150 plus a day pack, chair, and maybe a cooler).

It's brilliant if you can figure it out as solos are often balanced enough to do flat portages with no hands.

Last edited by keg (5/20/2026 3:39 pm)

**Posted by solos** 5/20/2026 3:39 pm

I had this exact problem when with my huge backpacking bag and also with my current 115 L Slog. Only happens when I load it the max. Sometimes I can fix it by adjusting my pack to tilted further back, leaving more space between the pack and my shoulders. Not ideal, but it worked. Maybe check over all the adjustment straps and see if you can't get the Slog to sit a little lower, and maybe take something out.

I recently solved my problem by buying my 8 year old a 50 L pack.

**Posted by captainchaos2000** 5/21/2026 7:02 am

Thanks guys for the responses. It helps a lot knowing I wasn’t the only one that’s had this issue. I think for starters I’ll ditch the food barrel and keep my food in a smaller backpack. That’ll get me back into double carry mode.

**Posted by andy** 5/21/2026 4:35 pm

I have the same problem, my seat is removable but it's a pain in the butt especially when the days are long with multiple portages, just one more thing to do. I'm about ready for a new canoe, I think I'm just going to buy a 15" Prospector with two seats and go that way.

**Posted by Thamesman** 5/21/2026 7:45 pm

I've also had similar problems when using a backpack, but no issues when using a more traditionally shaped canoe pack - which is not as tall as my backpack, but instead is wider and so holds a similar volume. So, maybe rent a canoe pack from an outfitter and give that a try? It's cheaper than a new canoe!

**Posted by Evan Briden** 5/22/2026 12:02 pm

Thamesman wrote:
I've also had similar problems when using a backpack, but no issues when using a more traditionally shaped canoe pack - which is not as tall as my backpack, but instead is wider and so holds a similar volume. So, maybe rent a canoe pack from an outfitter and give that a try? It's cheaper than a new canoe!

I second this. Hiking back packs are more comfortable for sure, but canoe packs are better when carrying a canoe.
They also fit perfectly in the canoe.

Been using a Level 6 Algonquin for years now... it is not waterproof, which is the only knock. It holds a ton of gear, and I just dry bag everything anyways.

**Posted by Shayne74** 5/22/2026 1:39 pm

Curious what canoe you're using. I've never had an issue with my Slogg pack or 70 l barrel solo or tandem boats. Recently switched to a Recreational Barrel Works Paddler canoe pack as my Slogg packed it in. Canoe specific packs are definitely more hospitable to portaging than traditional backpacking packs.

**Posted by captainchaos2000** 5/23/2026 8:41 am

I had switched from a Eureka 115l to the Slogg 115l on this trip. The Slogg seems a bit narrower and deeper and that's probably what caused my issue and the fact I could pack a little lighter. The next trip is in the fall a 12 or 13 day solo probably the same gear and same canoe if I haven't bought one at that point. I might swap out the barrel for a smaller water proof canoe pack to hold my food. I've already been sitting here whittling down some of my checklist items for my canoe trips. I suspect I'll be travelling lighter. One of the posts suggested I look at all the straps on the Slogg and see if I can get it to sit lower, and that's a good idea before I put it away for the summer I'll have a look at it.
I'm very appreciative of everyone's responses. I've always found a wealth of knowledge on this forum.

**Posted by Dwight** 5/23/2026 8:11 pm

Experienced exact same issue with the big MEC Slogg and a solo canoe. Started carrying less in the Slogg and that worked. Eventually purchased a canvas "canoe pack" that is much wider than the MEC Slogg. Have had no issue portaging with a solo canoe since I started using canvas canoe packs from Duluth and Frost River.

Last edited by Dwight (5/24/2026 8:45 am)

**Posted by captainchaos2000** 5/25/2026 4:01 pm

Dwight wrote:
Experienced exact same issue with the big MEC Slogg and a solo canoe. Started carrying less in the Slogg and that worked. Eventually purchased a canvas "canoe pack" that is much wider than the MEC Slogg. Have had no issue portaging with a solo canoe since I started using canvas canoe packs from Duluth and Frost River.

Thanks! I appreciate your comments Dwight. I've got the summer to re-jig what I bring in the backcountry so I suspect I'll be packing leaner to avoid the dreaded triple carry. Happy canoeing!

**Posted by IanTendy** 5/26/2026 2:18 pm

I've had that problem with 60L barrels and stuff on top of them under the straps, and certain configurations of the old Slogg bag. I've since switched to 115L canoe packs. I have an old Eureka, and a fairly new RBW Expedition pack. Been easy carrying the canoe, but my arms go numb after 600-800m and eventually I can't get the boat off my head.

Good excuse to take a break, but I've got to dial in the straps a bit more I guess.

**Posted by captainchaos2000** 5/27/2026 10:45 am

IanTendy wrote:
I've had that problem with 60L barrels and stuff on top of them under the straps, and certain configurations of the old Slogg bag. I've since switched to 115L canoe packs. I have an old Eureka, and a fairly new RBW Expedition pack. Been easy carrying the canoe, but my arms go numb after 600-800m and eventually I can't get the boat off my head.

Good excuse to take a break, but I've got to dial in the straps a bit more I guess.

Thanks for your response, I did have a question for you. In the picture the Expedition Pack seems to sit higher on your shoulders does that interfere with the Canoe seat or do you not pack into it as much to keep it from being too high up on your shoulders? I was curious, it's one of the packs I was looking at.
Thanks

**Posted by IanTendy** 5/28/2026 7:53 am

captainchaos2000 wrote:
Thanks for your response, I did have a question for you. In the picture the Expedition Pack seems to sit higher on your shoulders does that interfere with the Canoe seat or do you not pack into it as much to keep it from being too high up on your shoulders? I was curious, it's one of the packs I was looking at.
Thanks

I've never really had an issue with it in my packing.

The pictures on the website don't really show it in a realistic manner. I think it's filled with towels or packing foam for aesthetics. In reality, the majority of the stuff I keep in there (fishing gear, maps, camera stuff, etc.) tends to flop more to the back of the bag than going straight up. I talk about the bag briefly in a video here (should link straight to where I'm talking about it), and you can see a lot of the adjustment points. The top pouch is really adjustable though, there's nylon webbing easily accessible to move it forwards and backwards on the top of the bag as necessary.

I really dig RBWs' whole lineup though. If you can make it to an expo where they're set up, or to Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co in Mississauga it's worth playing around with them in real life to see how it feels. I was really tempted by their 2-part pack. Love the idea of having modular packing, especially around camp. Plus the ability to cram stuff like a coat between the bags...one day.

Last edited by IanTendy (5/28/2026 3:04 pm)

**Posted by captainchaos2000** 5/28/2026 12:15 pm

Thanks,
I am in Mississauga from time to time and stop in at COEC. Next time I'm thru I'll check the pack out.