I always go with 2 packs - actually one is a duffel bag, and the other is 2950 cu. in. "G" Pack (duffel is about 3000 cu in I'd guess). For portaging, I put on the pack and then just toss the duffel atop the pack and balance it there using one hand.   In a solo canoe, trim is more of an issue than when paddling a tandem, in that you need a pack in front and back to get the trim right, and to be able to adjust for headwind or tailwind if needed.  The G pack is my food pack, with rain gear, a water bottle and some odds and ends to start out with, and all the camping stuff is in the duffel.  As the food gets eaten, I shift gear to more or less keep the weight equal.

I always take the gear over in 2 loads - the 2 packs first, so I can scout the portage trail for blowdowns that may need to be sawn, or to see where the go-around is, and to spot any false trails to avoid, and when I get to the far end, to pick the spot I want to drop the boat at.  That is a lot better than carrying the boat first, and that way I take the heaviest load over first.  Fishing pole and small fanny pack with lunch and water is attached to the boat - I have water in the food pack as well, so that way I can have a drink at either end of the trail.  I hand carry a paddle on each trip, to use as a hiking stick for balance, and the pfd is just hooked around a rear thwart.

I pack as light as or lighter than anyone, but to single trip a portage I'd have to carry at least 95# on the first day - I tried that once and my knees were crying and telling me never again.  That is with a normal food load for 12 or 14 days.  I weigh in a fat 150 now, so 95# would be something like 65% of my body weight - old backpacking rule of thumb was that you could carry 1/3 of body weight comfortably, not twice that.

by making two trips across a portage, I enjoy the trail more, especially when hiking back empty for the second load

I suppose that you could get away with one giant pack if you use a tandem and shove it to the far end, or one giant and one medium if you cram all your camera and fishing gear in somewhere.  Maybe just a light duffel bag for your food that you could either hand carry or toss atop the big bag for the portage.

to me, its a question of how much weight you want to carry on any given trip across (not volume), not how many trips you make - if you have too much weight to carry everything in 2 trips, then no option other than to do it in 3 carries.  If the weight isn't the issue, then get bigger packs and load everything into 2 of them.  That is one thing I like about a backpack (vs a traditional canoe pack) - mine has netting pouches on the outside that I make use of to keep my rain gear in, and it has a top pouch that holds a lot of little incidentals like bug dope, saw and sun screen where I can get at them easily - I don't have to open a pack to get the rain gear, just grab it.

with 3 packs, I don't see a practical way to carry everything in 2 carries - sure, I've seen people struggling across portages with huge packs on front and back, but to me, that's just asking for trouble when you can't see where to put your feet, and have really awkward balance.  not something I'd try.  I guess if you could put all of the lightest stuff in one big pack and carry that and the boat on one carry, you could maybe get the rest across in a second load.

a lot of odds and ends can be carried on the boat if you have some sort of thwart bag or rig something like that

one thing I forgot to mention, is that I have my food so well wrapped up in layers of plastic bags that I don't worry about food smell getting on the gear I transfer from the duffel to the food pack - it is usually stuff like the tarp, water filter, spare shoes, 1st aid kit, and repair kit that I move form the duffel as the food gets eaten.

I used to be able to portage in two trips (20 years ago) but now it has become three trips.  I'd rather walk a little further and cut down on the overall weight for each trip.  Also agree with ST that safety is first and speed second so taking one's time is a smart thing to do.
I have several packs, in order to get them stashed in the kayak:  in the back: two tube shaped packs with the food, a small duffel with hatchet, saw, other cooking stuff, etc.  Then a small pack with stove and coffee fixings, a small insulated pack for cheese and fresh meats, and a 2 1/2 gallon bucket with lid with dishes, pots, pans and etc. inside it.  Where I sit is next.  In front of me is a medium sized Sealine rubber pack with all my clothes and personal items.  Under the front deck I have a wedge shaped pack with tent, fly, ground tarp, large rain tarp and the rope, poles and stakes.  In my lap or beside me a medium dry bag with roll top with all the stuff I need while I paddle, sun screen, camera, map, compass and a zillion other little things.  Strapped on the back deck a Sealine shoulder type rubber bag/pack with all the sleeping stuff: bag, air mat, book, pj's and more.  If it sounds stuffed to the brim, I assure you it is.  At portages the Sealines and the tent wedge pack are carried as is.  I have another Duluth style pack to put all the small packs I listed into and carry them like that, but then that pack is about all the weight I want to carry for one trip. (On one trip Kawishiway offered to carry that pack for me, half way across the portage he asked WHAT is in here!  I said, just about everything.  )  At the end of the portage I have to repack the small stuff into the kayak again.    This is a particular pain when one is paddling across several little lakes with short portages in between them. 

Solus wrote on Jul 20^th, 2016 at 2:21am:


One pack - that's madness! What do you take as far as food and a camp set-up? I can't envision ever getting down to one pack, but I am curious.

Mr Wally,  Would you mind posting some additional photos or how your solo canoe is trimmed out?  What bells and whistles you have added?  I am traveling solo this Fall in a Mad River Independence and I believe it need some creature comforts added.  ST had kindly posted some of what he had done with his tandem he paddles solo, along with some single traveler campsites amenities.  It all helps and I am not bashful about stealing ideas.

Thanks,

Regards,

MossBack

Mossback,

Sorry I don't have any good pics of my setup for my 2006 Black Magic other than what I posted. Here are the modifications I made.

I dropped my seat an inch as I use a GSI Sitback and the pad is about an inch thick.

I added a Wenonah sliding footbrace this year. Here is a pic of my installation using perforated studs that are epoxied onto the sidewalls of the canoe. I then put stained oak 3/4 inch blocks over the epoxy ( will send in another post as I cant seem to post more than 2 pics at a time).

For my 2014 solo I added a piece of 3/4 inch by 4 inch strip of walnut and put 2 ram mounts to mount my Garmin GPS and my Lowrance Fish Finder and strapped on a fishing pack .

I put away my canoe in garage and have my equipment all put away in basement.