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Duluth Packs

Anyone ever use one. They look like they are made of never-wear-out canvas, but are they comfortable?

They are great packs for hauling any number of things. Here in canoe country they are a way of life. They are quite comfortable, I have used them on many a portages. Basic and well made.

I still have Duluth Packs from 40 years ago when traveling in canoe country and they are great for that purpose. They are not a sunbstitute for a pack frame. Well made withover a century of ecperience....

Great for canoe tripping. Tough and easy to portage. Wouldn't want to hike up a mountain though.

i have a couple of duluth packs that have seen extensive use since the early and mid 80s... the first one that i bought was huge... probably coulda hauled a months worth and my old chesapeake dog in it...
the next one i bought was around 4000c.i. give or take... they've both seen some use through the years what with raising kids and dogs and such... the second, smaller pack,though, was my go to...

these days... friends who should know say that the duluth pack company has gone a little boutiquey...
for instance... i bought one of their "field satchell" shoulder bags back in the mid 90s or so... i'm 6'7" and over 350, but the thing fits me well... a friend ordered one last year just like mine... the one that he received was well made, but... he's about 6' 200 lbs, and the shoulder strap was so short that he figured that it was only meant to be used by a fairly petite woman or very short man... he called duluth pack, and they insisted that the strap was the correct length... they did alter it for him for a fee + shipping..... john w

Short trips like portages....good

For backpacking trips....not too good...IMHO

I have never used a Duluth pack but, I am currently looking around for some canvas packs for camping, hunting, travel etc.

I have heard that Duluth pack company was solid a couple years back to a foreign company/investor who then promptly fired most if not all of the employees. I received this second hand so take it for what it is worth...

The former employees of Duluth Pack not willing to go down quietly got together and formed their own company call Frost River packs.

Frost River Packs

Pretty [bleep] treatment IMHO. I have had this happen to me more that once...so when I decide on a pack style it won't be a Duluth pack...YMMV

Regards,
Dave

Duluth does have some non-canoe packs. All their gear is very well made. For Canoe portaging the # 3 is still hard to beat but do work up your loads on the tumpline. New set of muscles for many.

I believe that Duluth Pack is both a brand name and a generic name or style of pack.

The generic Duluth pack fits rather low on ones back so as to allow portaging a canoe while wearing the pack.
I've got a Cabela's brand Duluth pack.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duluth_pack