The Happy Camper: Double Duty for Recreational Barrel Works’ New Canoe Packs

Throughout the paddling season of 2024, I made good use of Recreational Barrel Works’ new line of canoe packs—the Coureur 2-Part Canoe Pack and the VOYAGEUR Canoe Pack. They worked well, especially while tripping in my solo canoe or hauling across the rough trails my buddy Andy and I experienced on our far northern Opasquia Provincial Park trip.
But I just discovered on a recent winter camping trip with Andy that they also work extremely well loaded up on a freight toboggan. How amazing is that! Two uses for the price of one.

The design of the Coureur 2-Part Canoe Pack (my preference over the VOYAGEUR Canoe Pack) comes from voyageurs who would stack these packs stuffed with fur pelts, during their paddles. The twin packs come with two rectangular shaped sections (52 litres each) that connect together by quick release buckles for portaging and fast separation. I stored both down low in the canoe and then clipped them together to carry them across the portage. One pack would store my food and kitchen kit and the other would store the rest of my gear—perfect!
I did something similar for the freight toboggan, strapping the food and kitchen bag up front on the toboggan, the second pack which stored the rest of my gear and sleeping system and my wood stove strapped to the very back.

For Andy’s toboggan, he chose one of the Coureur 2-Part Canoe Packs to put up front on his toboggan, storing his sleeping system and cloths, a day pack which was strapped to the top of that and the larger volume (120 litres) VOYAGEUR Canoe Pack was placed on the middle and back potions of the toboggan. Inside, he stored his big Canvas Hot Tent and bits and pieces of extra cloths and gear.
The packs are made of tough 1000 Denier Nylon, with two-inch webbing that runs down both sides and along the bottom of the pack to secure the load to a tumpline. It also comes with modular shoulder straps that can be quickly attached for summer canoe use or detached for winter hauling.

The packs also have quick release buckles on the lid to close it up and an expandable drawstring attic. You’ll need to store your gear inside a waterproof liner or a series of separate waterproof containers. The foam back is cozy and four grab straps help you load the pack on and off the freight toboggan. A daisy chain strip provides additional places to secure the packs.
Check out my latest video on the winter pack system on my KCHappyCamper YouTube channel.