MP
I have always been a frame pack guy.  My old Camp Trails has made many trips into the Q.  I also have an internal frame pack and I to like the comfort of how it fits on my back while portaging.  Only issue I've had with the external pack is it will scratch the canoe and it is harder to get in and out of the canoe.  What I really like about frame packs are the compartments, saves digging for those little things when you need them.  Food is an issue in these packs it is harder to pack in smaller areas.  But, I usually pack freeze dried and smaller type foods from the grocery.  
I did find this year on a river trip I took, that if you take a freeze dried pouch and poke a hole in it, then put it in a ziplock freezer vac bag it saves a ton of space.  We would put everything in one bag for that meal then vac it down.  
Take a look at this site   (You need to Login or Register they have monthly deals and the hamburger is fantastic with those hamburger helper meals.

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