Hey, I love drywall compound buckets. Had I known they made screw tops for 'em years ago, I'd have never married a RubberMaid tub.

I can see the need for a yoke to carry the buckets. We had a guy go tripping with us that wanted to use his kayak. Everything was hand carried from a web strap wrapped across his shoulders and behind his neck. Even this got old quick just holding things away from your legs and lifting over rocks beside the trail.

I'd think the buckets would be similar in size to the 30L blue barrels. That's what I use soloing, along with the barrel harness that allows me to carry it and the canoe. Not as cheap as the buckets. But wonder how they compare otherwise.

5 gallons converts to about 19 liters.
So 1 5 gallon bucket wouldn't be enough if a 30 liter barrel serves your needs?
You'd have to go with 2-5 gal buckets and figure a way to carry them besided by hand or swinging from a neck yoke

I tried putting a 5 gallon bucket in my Granite Gear food pack.
It will fit standing up but not sideways, so I'd have to carry whatever didn't fit in bucket, loose around bucket in pack.
I have enough height so to modify from hanger to hider, I'd probably go for 30 litter blue barrel that would hold all food items.

I could see 5 gallon pails in certain situiations that didn't involve much portaging or you had enough paddlers that some could be designated bucket bearers.
For tandem or solo people, you need some sort of pack system to put weight on back/legs and the option to carry a canoe.

This might be a good source for barrels/screw lid pails.
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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 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.