How do you sit in your canoe with all that stuff on your belt? or have you?

Yo DB
What's happening big Daddy? Glad you like the name or rather think it's fitting. The personally amusing double meaning was intended in a piscatorial way but I suppose a person can read into it what they want. I am plain spoken and transparent and would not seek to "entangle" anyone in a deceptive manner. I detest guile. Of course it's a different ball game if your a fish!

Yea, I like my stuff. Man on a mission sort of thing. I think if I got to go more often that would very likely change. I'm a planner and try to be detail oriented. For me that inevitably leads to tools to accomplish the task.  But everyones reasons for going and manner in which they progress on canoe trips (and for that matter life in general) is as different as winter and summer. Each season has its attractiveness though doesn't it?

But back to the belt........Might as well not have the bear spray if it's not there when I need it. Camera..........tuck it away and it will likely not get used. Water bottle............on the walk back it sure is nice to water up! Bingo, I reach down and there it is. Nice!  

Old Salt wrote on Dec 10^th, 2010 at 5:15am:


Everything rides on the sides. Bear spray and camera do well. Water bottle is removed and set aside.I had some concerns about the recently acquired knife however. If it's not comfy it is a no go. At first I didn't like it but the sheathe has two mounting options. One to hang high or low. I changed the configuration and I'm pleased as punch.

I'm closer to db. I'm not big on gadgets. Only thing on my belt is my Gerber multitool fishing pliers. I use a Sitbacker canoe seat, and if I had a lot of stuff on my belt, I wouldn't fit in the seat.

Bear spray? Never carried it anywhere but Alaska, and never missed it. Water bottle tucked in elastic pocket on my daypack, which is within easy reach. Bug spray in another pocket on daypack. Camera is in same pocket with bug spray and sunscreen. Different ways of organizing, different strokes...

I would also guess that wearing a lot of stuff on belt might interfere with carrying some packs...

My "carry" belt is actually just the belt of my fanny pack.  Its nylon, its 2 inches wide, it holds my water bottle, it holds my bear spray canister, the pack itself holds compass, bug spray, sun screen, whistle, signal mirror, fire steel, lighter, surgical tape, small Gerber knife, eye glass cleaner and one or two other small items.

But, when I'm in the canoe, the pack is clipped around a thwart, in each enough reach that I have ready access to it.  I wear it on one trip across a portage (but rotated to the back with the pack part in front, so it doesn't interfere with whatever pack I'm carrying.  

My camera (since I now carry a waterproof model) is attached to the thwart in front of me with a caribiner when in the canoe.  Its transferred to a clip point on my day pack when portaging.

All that said, my pants and held up by a (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) very much like this one.  Its a 1 1/2 inch, nylon belt.  Another model has a buckle very much like the jump belt previously mentioned, but I preferred the smaller buckle.  I've always traveled in the backcountry with a "web-styled" belt with a "slider-style" buckle.  As far as I'm concerned, its just another "tool."  If I need a strong lashing, I can use my belt.  If I need a tourniquet, I can use my belt.  If I need a sling for a broken arm, I have my belt.  (I typically but them just a little long for this reason.)  But ... I don't hang anything on it ... if I DO fall out of my canoe, I want to come out cleanly and not get hung up.  Even if the belt does get hung up, I can release the buckle with one hand.

But ... different strokes for different folks.

In my case, since I generally paddle solo and my fanny pack is clipped to the canoe while paddling, there is no guarantee that I "walk away" with it in a ditching ... consequently, the discussion about an "on my person" ditch kit.  That was the principle reason I decided to go with a Ka-Bar neck knife (a single-piece slab of cro-vat steel, lightened with cut-outs in the handling) rather than an "on-my-waist" model.

dd

I really like the Sitbacker. Very comfy, and good back support. Back folds down for portaging. I just added a little extra velcro, to insure it stays folded. You will like it. Besides, the commission on just one more sale, will insure my retirement...

As for the bears, I could tell the true story about the time 10 years ago when I whacked one across the snout with my canoe paddle. He left the campsite, and so did we, never to cross paths again...just a matter of being clear about the chain of command.

Quote:


I like it! I wished I had known about that option years ago.
I am sensing you are an imminently practical man Magicpaddler.

mastertangler wrote on Dec 10^th, 2010 at 11:17pm:

My bad!    I just assumed others had run into these since I got my first one at Wally World several years ago.  

Actually, I have the "industrial strength" version produced by Sawyers.  Same container, but labeled "Maxi Deet" ... it contains 98% deet.  I keep one in my fanny pack and another in a pocket of my PFD.

dd

Me elitist? Ha! Walmart is the bigest store in my town.

Before I wised up I had a certain affinity for a brewski and a pool cue. Probably would come back a little quicker than I would care to admit.

I prefer to think in terms of "well rounded" . Here is a place out your way you might want to check out. I've had some very pleasant times there. I heartily suggest going.
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Absolutely love this belt and have worn it for years!  Of course, I wear mine with my sidearm and concealed harness   I don't think I would take it on a canoe trip, as my method of clothing/gear storage is more akin to the sole multi-pliers sheath on a thin webbing belt.  I haven't heard of any aerial rescues in the parks, so I doubt the strength is necessary.

Great belts though.

DentonDoc wrote on Dec 14^th, 2010 at 9:27pm:



Word of caution with these little containers. 

A few years I took my son on a river float for smallmouth. It was his 1st trip in his own boat. He was 13 and it was a big day for him. I set his fanny pack up with all the essentials.  Bug Spray, Sun Screen, Reel oil etc. All three came in the same neat Little Pump Sprayer with the pocket clip.

Nifty Nifty Nifty unless your a 13 year old who sprays himself the whole day with deet instead of sun screen. I was on him all day to make sure he kept sun screen on and in a tone a only a 13 year old can use he let me know he was keeping it on. Lets just say Deet or reel oil not sure which does not work as sun screen. 9 hrs on the river leads to a pretty bad burn.

Call me embarrassed when I figured it out. Mom was not happy with either of us. I was a failure as parental unit for letting this happen. 

The moral of the story READ BEFORE YOU PUMP.  In my sons case he is autistic so he could not tell the difference. He was just pumping away.
I have also started using electrical heat shrink in colors to let him know what he is using.

I love the pumps they work great. Just be warned to pay attention to what your pumping if you use more than one product.

I have had great luck with Ben's Max 100 (100% Deet) available from Campmor for $5.99. It comes in a pump spray bottle that will last a whole trip. It comes in a bright orange color ... just in case you put it down and forget where you put it. Don't need much as it is 100% deet. Very effective against the worst mosquito situations.  Given the high concentration ...keep away from eyes. I like to put it in a very small plastic bag in case it leaks.  Best to wash hands very well if you plan to go fishing. There is a lingering odor that I am sure fish find offensive.

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Kerry- you are right. Deet will eventually eat away and dissolve the plastic. Thats why I try to limit my applications of 100% Deet to my skin. I probably lost a few layers of skin over the years puttin' on bug dope.

Mastertangler, after reading your write up I got one of those smoke jumpers belt too. I like it all except for the velcro set up that secures the end of the belt. As near as I can tell the buckle will hold it's place without the end of the belt being secured. I'm tempted to remove those velcro patches, may I ask do you still use the velcro setup? I guess I'm just a crank but I have never liked the stuff.
Best Wishes, Rob