Since I use a rod sock (nylon sleeve) to protect my rods during transport (including tow to put-in), I'll generally keep the rods in the socks for long travel day, where I'm not expecting to do much fishing.  The sock is additional rod protection on portages, since I also tend to take 7' rods, so the tip is sometimes exposed out the far end of the golf tube.  

I even lashed the rod sock(s) alone into a borrowed canoe on one trip.  It wasn't quite as good as the golf tube (lost the largest guide on one rod), but neither of my rods got hung up on anything while portaging or loading/unloading.  (Its possible I snapped the eye off with the toe of my boot entering/exiting the canoe.)

dd

BTW:  I frequently use reel wraps for some of the same reasons.  At least you don't have the audible sound of the reel tapping the interior of the canoe as you walk down the portage.