Barrels

[Eztouche]

The Brits and Canadians seem to like plastic barrels to pack waterproof storage. I used to have some I got from NRS, but they no longer carry them. They were originally used for olives and other bulk food transport from the manufacturers. Any experience or sources?
Those I have found online seem a bit pricey.

[robkanraft]

US Plastics. Have both sizes and they've worked well.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.a ... &catid=459" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Crane]

For several years, Roger Head was connected with the Greek Food Festival here in LR. He obtained a number of plastic olive barrels. I have several I still use to haul beers down rivers... each one holds exactly 30 beers. Over the years, the o-rings have been lost, but they remain mostly dry and super tough. I've been very pleased with what I've been able to do with them... :)

[okieboater]

I was on a GC trip back in 1991 with mostly Canadian Canoe folks. Great fun on the river and they used the blue barrels with the clamp for lots of gear.

I horse traded for two of these blue barrels. Have used them on a lot of trips. Do not use them as much as I did because of the raft dry box etc.

I can vouch for the fact these units are bomber or at least my two have been.

Check Piragis Boundary Waters Outfitter for pack cloth inserts that make loading and unloading these units much easier.

[Richard]

I bought a set of 7 Gamma Seal Lids.
http://www.bayteccontainers.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Page down and see the video. I am now looking for seven 7gal buckets.

[Eztouche]

This is similar to the ones I had.
Great thing is the handles which can be secured to the canoe.
They are made in Canada

http://www.rutabaga.com/product.asp?pid=1007886" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Clif]

I ebayed one of those like the ruta barrel... but it is not watertight. Would like to see how these seal.

I pack everything in plastic bags in mine, tape it closed on the water when I think it may get wet. Haven't actually tested it.... yet. As in it hasn't gone splash. It was about $28 i think.

3, 5 gallons with the screw on lids take most of my stuff... and I have "tested" those. Tiny bit of water if any.

[Richard]

Then there is the Cliff Jacobson approach. place everything in a puncture proof cheap bag. Then place that in a plastic waterproof bag. Finally place that in another puncture proof bag.

[Eric Esche]

I have 3 of the 14 gallon blue barrels with two handles. Never had one of them leak yet, and I anchored one under water for 2 days to check it in 5 feet of water across from our house. They are currently full of water as emergency supply in case the power here goes out as we are on a well. We keep about 200 gallons of water handy to take showers with, drink, cook, and flush the toilets, by filling the tub and all containers when it looks like ice. We fed many of our neighbors last year during the ice storm, and had some folks come by for showers with our Zodi Extreme water heater. Cabelas cooker heats it up in 5 minutes. Nice being prepared. Susan got an extra Svea stove for Christmas as she likes them. Think we have 5 camp stoves now, not counting the Cabelas propane cooker.

I also have 5 of the 5 gallon plastic buckets with Gamma seal screw on lids and they have not leaked either, although I will tell you, you have to hammer the outside rim on tight to begin with with a rubber or rawhide mallet. Had one come loose at a put in once, until I jumped up and down on it to set the seal. Wasn't the gamma seal's fault, just a cheap bucket with some burrs along the rim. You can imagine how funny that looked with me in my drysuit trying to jump on a bucket on the gravel beach at HW 14 bridge. Would have felt stupid if I had broken something falling off of a bucket.

For an open canoe or raft, the buckets and barrels work well.

Ozark Mountain Trading Company on HW 62, north of Pea Ridge, has had some of the smaller 7-10gallon size barrels the last time I was in there. I got almost all of mine off of the internet, although I did get my last gamma seal lid (orange) from PackRat for over twice as much, only store I have seen around here to carry them. Let me know if you want me to find you links or sources. There is a wide range in the prices on the barrels and Gamma seal lids. I like having different colors lids on the gamma seals so I can pick out which bucket I want. On the pickle barrels and the buckets, I put a water proof label saying what is in each one and ID them with my name and numbers inside and out, just in case.

Eric

We also have about 10 dry bags which Susan prefers.

[okieboater]

Eric's post proves once again that there is no single "right" answer to some questions. That is, which is best - hard storage or soft storage. (Susan, keep Eric honest!!

What works for me is some sort of dry bags for clothing etc and hard containers (IE dry box, barrels, buckets) for things like canned food, cooking gear and most camp stuff like shovels, axes, saws, wine boxes etc.

[Clif]

Like Dave, my barrels and buckets are largely for food, kitchen and those items that are not "bag friendly." I just went for 4 more drybags to accommodate more tent, sleep bags, etc..

[Richard]

It is critical that sleeping bags be kept dry so those need to be in DRY bags or boxes.
Tents are going to get wet so those I keep in their own bags. If they get wet, they get wet.

[Crane]

Richard, For a number of years I've hauled my tent in a Cascade Outfitters "Tent"bag... same tough material as a "Bills" bag, but narrower... tent sized. While they have a roll-top, they do a pretty darned good job of keeping my ten as dry as it was when I stuck it in there... or separated from other gear... I also use on for my chair... I like it dry, too! Crane

[Richard]

Larry, the bottom line is that with the possibility of having to pack a tent wet, it is best to have its own bag. Your solution is the best of both worlds.