I went out to my pickup , which happens to be harboring 12 or so 5gal. buckets of a couple different makes and took a look at them.  They all have  a' box' of sorts on each side that the wire handle enters to fasten itself to the bucket. The 'box' is open at the bottom. the wire could be clipped off and removed. 3/16th cable or maybe para cord could be threaded through the remaining hole , encircle the bucket  (maybe a bunch of times ... for emergency use!)  and come out the hole in the' box' on the other side.   Short loops could be formed on each side to which thicker handle material could be attached. By Johnney! !                                                                                 Hey,I can't wait to read,see,/hear about Martin's latest adventure!

....the wire bail handle that is attached to the bucket body allows you to tie on a rope and toss it out to get water and then haul it in.  Attaching a handle to the lid'd eliminate a lot of usefulness. -holes drilled into the body sabotage the  air tightness.   I'm sure the wire handle could be clipped off a few inches from the body and worked/wiggled out of that ''flange'' that holds it on both sides. With a little "engineering" I'm sure an eyelet, or something could be  screwed or bolted, or epoxied or some combination thereof, to each side...and a rope attached.   Maybe a rope harness. Keep in mind that water is heavy and that buckets get tossed around and generally abused...ruggedness is essential.

I have not used my buckets for years and I have lost the handle so I cannot take a picture. My buckets have a lip about 2 inches from the top.  If you turned the bucket upside down it would hold water and the water would be about ½ inch deep.  I took 2 pieces of.064” aluminum about 2” X 6” and bent one end in a J.  I put a 1 &1/16 hole in the other end.  I cut a 1indh aluminum pipe a couple inches longer than the bucket is wide.  The J’s catch in the lip and extend above the top of the lid enough to slip the pipe through.  Everyone agree they made the buckets easier to carry but complained the aluminum handle was cold on their hands.

Might be easier to put a rope through a pipe tie one end of the rope at the lip and put a hook on the other end to hook on the lip.   

Marten wrote on Aug 6^th, 2013 at 7:52pm:


I have a 5 gallon bucket I use with a tool insert to carry items when I'm doing small home improvement type jobs.
I never liked the wire handles because they would snag up at the most inopportune times.
I removed the wire handle and drilled a 3/8 hole into bucket and made a rope handle with a foam rubber handle that is shorter than wire handle but still folds out of the way.
You could do the same with 5-7 gallon bucket, or maybe rig a removable rope handle and some sort of clip arrangement to attach it.
I always thought that if I ever became a hider rather than a hanger, I'd want a food bucket/barrel that wouldn't have an easy way for a critter to drag it off like a permanent wire/rope handle.

Magicpaddler wrote on Aug 6^th, 2013 at 6:09pm:

A problem to ponder. Perhaps a flip up handle or strap could be attached to the screw on lid. I would love to get rid of the pails wire handle

The 7 gallon bucket is taller than the 5 gallon.  When you carry one on a portage it drags the ground or you need to carry it with your elbow bent.  I made a handle that puts your hand very near the top of the bucket and this makes it much easier to carry.

I was introduced to buckets by an early canoe trip companion. I have learned a thing or two about buckets since then. One bucket IMO in a great idea, more that that and they are a pain. To enjoy the pleasures of a bucket it must be available. To put a bucket in a pack negates most advantages it provides. Even if you go for single trip portages it works best to have that separate storage and carry it with the free hand. A bucket can carry a lot of items that would take up most of a medium packs space. I use it for my kitchen and can cook for large groups with what it will hold.

In the morning it is stocked with everything needed for a late breakfast and lunch during the day. No other packs need to be unloaded or opened until camp that night. The last discussion was in the camp chair thread because that is where it shines and then can serve so many other uses. We do not need to compare buckets and chairs here as it is just  a personal matter.

I have toted some pretty heavy packs and toted a pail in one hand and a saw in the other on my first pass across established portages. When an obstacle blocks my way the pail is set down and the saw used. If need be the pack can be lowered too. Limbs I had to cut are thrown off on the way back.

In camp my buckets contents are laid out on a tarp remnant that is also carried in the bucket. This will include lexon plates and  metal dinner ware for the whole group. This way at dinner time there is not all that rummaging for their things. In the morning it is simpler too if I am packing everything back into one bucket. All of my pots nestle and inside the smallest one slips my 10 cup coffee pot with the Peak One stove in it. Of course it is filled with fuel first. This year I started carrying a Roch Guss 10" cast aluminum non-stick fry pan. It was actually "donated" from my wife's arsenal of cook ware. A lid was found that allows it to steam things too. Most important was that it fit in the bucket. Even with the protrusion for the screw off wooden handle it fits in the top of the bucket. I have scorched my last bread. A plastic cutting board lines the pan bottom and a light pie tin holds all the small kitchen items and nestles in the fry pan  while longer items like folding wind screen and utinsels slip down the inside of the bucket. A larger plastic cutting sheet takes up no room layed against the inside wall of the bucket. Very useful for filleting fish on the rocks. My bucket system evolves each year and next time it will have the screw top and may be the 7 gallon type.

BillConner wrote on Jul 29^th, 2013 at 11:18am:


Great minds do think alike, or maybe we're just both lazy  I am.
All joking aside, I did find it easier. I leave the pump out and primed near a nice sitting place. Just making sure to leave the clean end of the hose in the ditty bag for the pump.
The water does seem to settle out nicely in the bucket too, floating stuff floats and sinking stuff settles. I'm sure it helps the filter last longer too.

Handy for sorting things as I unload a blue barrel.

But I wouldn't try sitting on it.

I carry a blue one from REI - I think 2 1/2 top 3 gallons - and primarily use it to bring water to camp.  I found when I started pumping - Katahdyn Hiker Pro - from the bucket I stopped replacing filters.  Just 5 minutes to let it settle.  Also useful for extra dish or rinse water, fire, and occasionally just rinsing gear off.

I brought a blue collapsible bucket from Mountain Equipment Coop this time and loved it. VERY lightweight, and useful. Amoung all the normal usages, in the mornings I re-hydrated our food for dinner and kept the bags in the blue bucket which was easy to carry over portages.