On the baskets - Tripper had one for a Duluth but we ended up sliding a RubberMaid tub inside instead. The weight wasn't all that much different and there was less digging for stuff. The bottom is a lot closer. 

Good luck!

solotripper wrote on Jan 20^th, 2010 at 7:30pm:


M_M and ST -- I took your advice.  I found some half pieces of old yellow thermarest in my gear, cut them to size, (15 inches) and duct taped them together.  I think this is going to work.  The pads are lightweight, bendable, provide good padding, can be used for other things, and most important, they provide some stiffness to an otherwise completely limp knapsack. 

Thanks to everyone for all the good ideas. 

prouboy

I'm with M_M on this one. I use a Thermarest pad as a stiffener in my Granite Gear food pack. It's a 48" x 20" pad, which serves a camp seat and if needed, extra padding under my sleep pad.

I'd get a old pad or a cheap version from Wally World, and trim and fit to pack. I'd trim for width, and leave as long as possible to use as seat in camp or under sleep pad. Won't absorb water, and you pack will FLOAT for sure

You may want to check with a nearby veterinarian, kennel, etc. for food or supplement containers.  I've got one that's lightweight plastic, square, and has a snap-on lid.  It's not watertight, but good for insertion into a small pack.  Plus it has a bailer handle and is handy for drenching a firepit.

I use one or two 5 gallon plastic buckets with tight lids to pack my stove, the pots and pans, and sometimes the eating utensils and plates, etc.  Depends on how many folks are on the trip.  In my kayak I use a smaller 2 1/2 or 3 gallon bucket.  The buckets are easy to carry in a free hand while portaging, waterproof, provide an extra chair at camp, huge water carry capacity in camp, and for a group we throw all our dirty dishes in it and at the end of the meal use it for the kitchen sink.

Those plastic corregated signs can also be used to fan the fire, fillet the fish, etc.

I've made stuff out of the corrugated plastic campaign signs and it worked great...is STILL working great after 2 years outside and uncovered.  I used duck tape (of course! ) to hold it together.

Old Salt wrote on Jan 20^th, 2010 at 5:29am:


I may try the political campaign sign approach, and just cut and tape to fit.  This seems like a lighter-weight alternative to a plastic garbage can.  But the hard part will be deciding what my political statement will be! 

I also may cut the top and bottom off the garbage can, to save weight.  But doing this eliminates any utility of having something that will carry water.

Touch decision, but this is what cold Januarys are for.

prouboy

db wrote on Jan 20^th, 2010 at 8:01am:


DB -- do you have one?  A small (17 or 18 inches tall)?  If so, what does it weigh? 

prouboy

Depending on the dimension of the pack, this may work -

Go to a Wal-Mart, or any store with a Gardening Department, or look online for a "gardener's kneeling pad" - about $5, and they come in a variety of sizes.

Closed cell foam, so it does not absorb water, and quite stiff - enough so that it would provide a stiffener against the back of the pack that might give the pack enough "structure" to suit you.  I suppose you could attach some strings to the inside of the pack to tie the pad in place if needed, or even glue it in place?  but I'm thinking the pad alone would work.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

or this one, narrower but thicker -

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)''s-ultralite-kneeling-cushion-132894.aspx


I have 3 different pads like this - one similar to each of the two I linked to, and another thick one that is wider.

I always bring one of these pads with me to use as a cushion to sit on around camp - a heck of a lot more comfortable than sitting on a log or rock without the pad.   I also use the pad in the tent, as an extension for my 3/4 length therma-rest pad - I put the gardening pad under my heels.  The smaller size weighs only 1.6 oz and the biggest size I have is 3.3 ounces, so you wouldn't be adding a lot of useless weight to your pack. 

I'd also think a nice thick pad against your back would be a lot more comfortable to carry than a garbage can.  But that's just me - maybe you'd like a garbage can poking you in the back ?  How should I know?

Anyway, it would be a cheap experiment, and you could always find some other use for the pad if it does not work out well for the knapsack.