I've used nothing but Duluth packs since my first Quetico-Superior/BWCAW trip in 1966. Since that first trip, I've made more than 30 trips, generally 14-22 days in length, and faced the gamut of weather extremes, and a few floating packs. But I've never had wet gear or ever had a Duluth pack fail me. One of my favorites which I still use every trip is a patched and restitched, venerable old #3 Monarch which has faded from its original dark green to a pale khaki color over the years. When my Dad gave me that pack in 1966, it was already 12 years old. I tell you this simply as testimony to the rugged character and longevity of a properly cared-for Duluth pack. Since my trips are almost all at least 2 weeks or longer, I plan on four #3 or #3 1/2 Duluths per canoe. Packing them is really quite simple once you get the hang of it: First, I line the pack with two heavyweight large plastic bags, one inside the other. (I never use garbage bags--they don't hold-up well enough for me; if you use them, take some spares. I purchase plastic Duluth pack liner bags from Piragis in Ely for about $2.50 apiece--they're well worth it--last for many trips. The Duluth Pack Company (Duluth Tent and Awning)in Duluth MN also sells same liner bags.) Then lay the empty pack open on its back and place your folded tarp/groundcloth/rainfly against the back of your pack (where your back will be when carrying the pack). Then slide your sleeping bags and mattresses/pads down to shape and fill-out the bottom and sides. Place your spare clothes in stuff sacks against the upper area of pack on top of tarps and then fill-in middle and front of pack with hard items. You'll find that you can always stuff extra items in a Duluth pack if you're determined--there's always an extra nook or cranny somewhere between the gear. I always place my folded raingear under the pack's top flap, on top of the sealed plastic liner bags (twist tops of bags and use cord to tie the plastic bags shut--those wire twisty ties don't last long and get lost easily). For my food pack I again line a #3 1/2 Duluth pack with the heavyweight plastic liners, but I also slide a lightweight plastic clothes hamper (62 liter size)inside the liner bags. This works essentially the same as the old woven ash packbaskets to protect the items in the pack and also protects your back from the foodpack contents and associated gear, especially stove, cook kit, fuel, etc. It is far superior to using a cardboard box liner and actually works better than the woven ash packbasket in some ways: it is lighter, unaffected by water, and lasts forever. On my extended colder weather trips, I generally have a separate #3 or #3 1/2 Duluth for each party member's personal gear, plus a food pack as described, and another gear/foodpack for a party of two for 14-20 days. Many would no doubt consider this too many packs, but we always eat very well, have warm, dry clothes even if we encounter prolonged rain/bitter cold, and we don't mind double packing portages in order to be comfortable, come what may. Obviously you could cut this down considerably for warmer weather, shorter trips. On shorter summer trips, you can get by on two Duluth packs per canoe by combining personal gear into one pack and food/gear in the other. Hope this helps and hope you have many more memorable trips in Canoe Country!

In reply to: Duluth Packs posted by Hug on July 25, 1999 at 10:50