Kayak Back Pack experience?

[Lupe]

I wanted to see if anyone has any first hand experience with any of the Kayak back pack options out there: NRS Sherpa, the Salamander Bak Yak, or the Pyranha Portage Pack?

I know these are more designed for long hikes in/out to rivers, but since I still struggle with arm weakness, I'm considering getting one to help me with longer carries even though for most folks shouldering the boat would be just as easy. I was able to come up with an el cheapo set up just using some duffle bag straps, just enough to see what carrying a creek boat in that style would feel like, and I think it's a set up that would really help me and give me more independence. I'm wanting to step up my paddling and don't want long carries to/from a river to be something that holds me back.

I'm leaning towards the Pyranha system as I believe the cockpit to the back set up is the better design, but would love any feedback from any users, or if anyone actually has one, maybe I could check it out? Not completely sure how it will work with a Jackson Karma, but from watching the set up video, I think it can be made to work.

Mods: feel free to move to Gear Review after folks have had a chance to see and comment...was just afraid it might not get seen if I started it there.

Thanks

[adamm]

http://dagger.com/kayaking101/all/artic ... ing-system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This carry system is nothing more than a single cam strap that you probably already have. Pretty ingenious and would at the least give you an idea of whether or not a backpack carry system would work for you.

[FarPastGone]

The problem with all the pack systems is they are very inconvenient to setup and you generally need another person to help you stand up/get it positioned on your back. Unless you are doing very lengthy portages, like a mile or longer, then you are going to waste a lot of time getting it setup to carry your boat. These systems are also not necessarily easier to walk with unless you have a nice trail or stable ground, i.e., shouldering your boat gives you better stability when portaging along the banks of the river. In my opinion, if the difficulty of a portage is something that could keep you from successfully completing a difficult run than maybe you should search for other difficult rivers that are more friendly to portaging. This summer I did a 9-10 mile hike into the Grand Canyon of the Elwha on Washingon's Olympic Peninsula with the NRS Sherpa system and unfortunately it was not reliable and I ended up shouldering my boat for a portion of the hike. Maybe even figuring out a system to help you drag the boat? I mean no disrespect by this, but as someone who has used the pack systems multiple times, I just think using them to portage is not realistic.

- Matt

[FarPastGone]

I may have misread your post, thinking you were talking about using them for portaging. Even for hike ins I would say they are a burden unless it is a lengthy distance, and dragging your boat would be more realistic.

- Matt

[Lupe]

Well, for the record, even when I couldn't carry my boat from the parking lot down the ramp to Rockport, I got a set of wheels from OOO and still got out there and surfed. When I didn't have enough overhead strength to load my boats onto my car, I either paddled small boats I could slide inside my station wagon, or then I bought a special Yakima boat loader thing that let me put a canoe on my car even when I couldn't pick up a gallon of milk and hold it straight out. So if I decide there's something I wanna run and there's a long hike at the start or at the finish...yeah, not going to stop me. I would have missed a lot of days on the water if I kept waiting until my shoulder was 100%...sometimes you just got to work with what you've got, other folks' opinions be damned.

So! Got the Pyranha portage pack this weekend (It had been on back order) and I tried it out. Once you understand how to set it up (there's a handy online video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTn3MsRDZOo ), the set up is pretty easy. Took me about 2 minutes first time. I found as long as I could set my boat vertically (like say...against a tree...usually those are easy to find), I could easily pick up and put down the boat with no assistance. The pack really does what it's supposed to: namely transfers all the weight to your hips just like a backpack would. Since I actually took up backpacking while I was waiting for my shoulder nerves to regenerate, a backpack solution should work really well for me!

I realize this isn't a product too many paddlers will need. Most can and will just shoulder their boats for any runs that involve a hike in or hike out. But for anyone who does need such a product either because they are doing longer hikes to/from a river and/or are compensating for other physical issues, this seems like a good product. The trips I plan to do that involve hiking won't be until the spring, so I won't have a full review until then, but I'm impressed with the product so far. Oh - and yes, even though it's a Pyranha product, it will work with a Karma.

I put some pics on Facebook and am happy to bring to the pool or river sometime if others are interested in checking it out.

Cheers

[okieboater]

Lupe,

Back in the days I was hiking in to a lot of Fish Follies Creek Runs, we just used the rescue hoopie loops we all wore around our waists. We made them long enough to biner in to the front kayak grab loop and put the other loop end over our shoulders or just pulled them with our hands.

Would not do this over gravel etc but for the most part little to no hull damage in the some times class 5 hikes Fish came up with.

Don't know if this would work with your shoulder issues, just passing it on.