Double-sided velcro seemed like a pretty good idea when it was posted last spring, so I tried it during the summer, as an alternative to the 3/4" elastic that I'd normally been using for lashing stuff to my canoe during portaging and / or  tripping. Each seemed to work better for certain things, not so well for others.

This is what I came up with as working best for me:

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1. Spare paddle: Hopefully, this will get lashed on at the start of the trip and not be taken off until the end, so Velcro's quick release is only a minor benefit. Elastic holds the paddle snug against the gunwale, so no annoying paddle-rattle, either on the water or on portages. The spare is not easy to get at quickly if you need it on the water, but on the other hand the elastic ties are quite strong, and if you ever go over and manage to stay with the canoe, you know you'll always have a paddle.

2. Pack (two shown): The packs come out for portaging, so you don't want to fiddle with tying and untying elastic every stop. But if something bad happens and I go over, I don't want to see my packs floating down the river, and I don't want to find out industrial strength velcro is only strong enough when the stuff is clean and new. So I don't use either velcro or elastic. I use carabiners (climbing grade only, not the cheap free ones you get with promotional merchandise). For more packs, I usually tie them to each other rather than to the gunwales.

3. Sponge: Either an elastic loop left attached to the canoe for the trip duration or a velcro strap works fine here.

4. PFD: I have two elastic loops permanently attached to the seat frame, so when I get to a portage, the pfd comes off and is stuffed under the elastic (as shown). Leaving the pfd in place during paddling (ie used as a seat cushion) has been discussed elsewhere in these forums, so I won't comment on that option here.

5. Bailer. If I ever need this, I don't want to be trying to untie too-tight elastic, I want it quickly, so velcro is ideal.

6. Active paddle: This gets lashed in place (as shown) at the start of a portage and comes off again at the end when I'm ready to hit the water. A pair of loops made of double-sided velcro works great.

7. Fishing rod: Shown in nylon sleeve for portaging or non-fishing paddling. Again, easy-on-easy-off velcro loops are ideal. I know some people like hard cases for their rods (discussed elsewhere on these boards), but I've never tried that for tripping, so I can't comment.

What do other people use for lashing stuff to their canoes?