Hi all..
Have a back lake picked out for the spring opener. It's about a 3/4 mile walk over some rough terrain. My outcast prowler wont fit in any backpack I know of. I was thinking of blowing it up and somehow carrying on my back since the walk isnt too far..has anyone done this?
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I've packed my creek company a few times through some pretty serious cat tails it wasn't that far, had 2 rods and my holder setup. It wasn't too bad tho. The straps make it easy you just have to carry your fins and rods
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Yes, it will work so long as there are not any EXTENDED tight vertical squeezes. If the squeezes are not too long you can remove your back mounted tube and work your way around slowly, bringing the tube behind you. I like to have both hands free when backpacking an inflated tube over rugged terrain, to help with balance, landing and dangers. You can rig tie downs on your tube for just about anything (rods, fins, small hand pump, etc.) by using 18 guage insulated solid core copper wire. Make sure sharp metal points are not protruding the insulation, or that you bend points back. A lightweight folding walking stick helps with climb/balance and varmits. I've easily done 1.5 miles with my ODC 420L with the back straps over sections of very rough terrain.
Pon
[quote atvaholic]Hi all..
Have a back lake picked out for the spring opener. It's about a 3/4 mile walk over some rough terrain. My outcast prowler wont fit in any backpack I know of. I was thinking of blowing it up and somehow carrying on my back since the walk isnt too far..has anyone done this?[/quote]
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I am not familiar with the Outcast Prowler, but most of the tubes have D-rings on the bottom to mount shoulder straps to.
Outcast does sell the straps.
http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/prod...t=11&id=52
But you can also scavenge an old pair off of an old pack and make them work.
Your main problem will be the width of the inflated tube sticking out to your sides. If the path is open then it should go fine.
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[cool][#0000ff]Before I started adding a lot of the additional weight I now carry on my Fat Cats, I used to carry them inflated over some pretty good distances to the water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are the back stap D rings on the bottom. If you have backpack straps that is good. If not you can rig a "tump line" strap to fit across your forehead. That will allow you to carry quite a bit of weight...hands free...so you can carry rods and fins in the other hands.[/#0000ff]
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[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Before I started adding a lot of the additional weight I now carry on my Fat Cats, I used to carry them inflated over some pretty good distances to the water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are the back stap D rings on the bottom. If you have backpack straps that is good. If not you can rig a "tump line" strap to fit across your forehead. That will allow you to carry quite a bit of weight...hands free...so you can carry rods and fins in the other hands.[/#0000ff][/quote]
Wow tubedude, you look like your waging war on the fish, AWESOME!
I'm going to look into fixing some straps to carry on my back. I probobly will want to carry a few small items in the pontoon...GPS, Camera, small hiking stove & fuel and tackle of course. Will this be a problem?
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[cool][#0000ff]The pockets are large enough to store quite a bit of stuff. For items too large to go in a pocket, you can lay them on the seat, pull the seat back over them and then bungee or strap them in place. Make sure everything is wrapped and protected and just for good measure you should duct tape the zippers closed for the trail. Bummer to get there and find out you littered the trail behind you with essential items.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For electronics and other items you might want more protection and easier access to, consider a chest pack.[/#0000ff]
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[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Before I started adding a lot of the additional weight I now carry on my Fat Cats, I used to carry them inflated over some pretty good distances to the water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are the back stap D rings on the bottom. If you have backpack straps that is good. If not you can rig a "tump line" strap to fit across your forehead. That will allow you to carry quite a bit of weight...hands free...so you can carry rods and fins in the other hands.[/#0000ff][/quote]
Almost ALL of my ponds are pack-in/walk-in... with some being a lot further than others. My "gear" looked almost identical to TD's picture - except that my tube was "mounted" with the should/back-pack style straps previously mentioned.
Take TD's picture and in the free-hand, picture a 5-gal plastic bucket. Although they make straps to which you could attach your swim fins, I used the bucket to carry them and any other miscellaneous items (i.e. wading boots, fins, etc.). When I get to the pond, the upside-down bucket also serves the dual-purpose of proving a "seat" on which to sit while I put on my fins, and a "storage-bin" for my walk-to-site shoes, etc.
It also depends on your definition of "rough terrain". Most of my walks are flat or slightly hilly, with the occasional "hike" up/down dam faces to get to the water.
Bob
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[quote ydoc][quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Before I started adding a lot of the additional weight I now carry on my Fat Cats, I used to carry them inflated over some pretty good distances to the water. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are the back stap D rings on the bottom. If you have backpack straps that is good. If not you can rig a "tump line" strap to fit across your forehead. That will allow you to carry quite a bit of weight...hands free...so you can carry rods and fins in the other hands.[/#0000ff][/quote]
Almost ALL of my ponds are pack-in/walk-in... with some being a lot further than others. My "gear" looked almost identical to TD's picture - except that my tube was "mounted" with the should/back-pack style straps previously mentioned.
Take TD's picture and in the free-hand, picture a 5-gal plastic bucket. Although they make straps to which you could attach your swim fins, I used the bucket to carry them and any other miscellaneous items (i.e. wading boots, fins, etc.). When I get to the pond, the upside-down bucket also serves the dual-purpose of proving a "seat" on which to sit while I put on my fins, and a "storage-bin" for my walk-to-site shoes, etc.
It also depends on your definition of "rough terrain". Most of my walks are flat or slightly hilly, with the occasional "hike" up/down dam faces to get to the water.
Bob[/quote]
Bob:
I don't do much rocky dam climb overs anymore, unless it is the shortcut. For that, I need 2 hands free even without a tube on my back. Extended hiking paths that have been cut into mountain sides are also challenge, but at least they're flat to slightly inclined. Extended dry river/creek beds, without flat sections and bucket size and larger boulders are the worst, for me.
Pon
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Hi,
I had to revive this thread, after doing some research it seems the trail is too rough/narrow and carrying an inflated tube is asking for trouble.
I do have a 90Liter internal frame back pack, and I was able to atatch the float tube rolled up to the outside to the sleeping bag lashing straps (see atatchment). Unfortuneatly, the tube wont fit inside the paxk.
With the weight of my tube, fins, waders and required gear I am close to 40 lbs. I have carried 35 before with no problem, but this seems ALOT heavier. I am guessing its because of the location of the float tube on the pack. I have tried adjusting, but it seems to be pulling me back....any suggestions?
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[quote atvaholic]Hi,
I had to revive this thread, after doing some research it seems the trail is too rough/narrow and carrying an inflated tube is asking for trouble.
I do have a 90Liter internal frame back pack, and I was able to atatch the float tube rolled up to the outside to the sleeping bag lashing straps (see atatchment). Unfortuneatly, the tube wont fit inside the paxk.
With the weight of my tube, fins, waders and required gear I am close to 40 lbs. I have carried 35 before with no problem, but this seems ALOT heavier. I am guessing its because of the location of the float tube on the pack. I have tried adjusting, but it seems to be pulling me back....any suggestions?[/quote]
ATV:
There may be a leverage effect causing you to feel more weight, since your 16# tube is mounted where the much lighter sleeping bag would go. So my guess is you have to move the weight to make closer contact with the line of your back.
That means going up or down on the frame with the tube, shortening your excursion so you can lighten the carry load, or finding a bigger bag or lighter pack tube.
Hope this helps.
Pon
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PontoonMan...
I took your advice and got an expedition size backpack. The tube fits inside now, and feels much better! Still a little heavy, though I dont think there is much I can do about that, unless I get an ultralight float tube & fins..
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I have trekked my tube several miles both inflated on my back and on over night trips with it deflated and bungees to my pack. I found that for me it was more worth while to bring my hiking pack, and to include within the pack a small air pump and my fishing gear. the 15 minutes it takes to air up and set up my tube was much better then the hour of waiting for the fast patch to fix the damage caused by trekking it through pine trees.
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Carrying deflated has a downside in the form of a surprise when you get to your destination and can't set up. I always go through a practice setup session and trial run a few days before carefully packing my boats. Especially when packing for airline travel, when I'm going remote at a new destination. Possible holes from chafing wear, left behind inflation adapters/parts, weak seams, and slow leaks are some things that I consider.
Pon
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