Want to make your portage pack feel lighter?
A custom-fit canoe pack helps your heavy load feel lighter and more comfortable
Our Products
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Wabakimi Internal Frame Canoe Pack
Volume: 96 - 117L (5878-7116 in3)
Custom Fit (All Genders):
- Shoulder Straps / Hip belt (S,M,L,XL)
- Torso (S,M,L)
- Frame sheet with 2 aluminum stays
Description:
- High volume for families and long trips.
- Internal frame for heavy loads and long portages.
- 11” side panel
Winisk Canoe Pack (Frameless)
Volume: 96 - 117L (5878-7116 in3)
Custom Fit (All Genders):
- Shoulder Straps / Hip belt (S,M,L,XL)
- Torso (S,M,L)
Description:
- High volume for families and long trips.
- 11” side panel.
Quetico Canoe Pack (Frameless)
Volume: 79-95L (4809-5822 in3)
Custom Fit (All Genders):
- Shoulder Straps / Hipbelt (S,M,L,XL)
Description:
- Regular size canoe pack.
- Great for compact load, kids to adults.
- 9” side panel.
Voyageur Barrel Harness
Volume: Fits 60L / 30L Barrels (Not included)
Custom Fit (All Genders):
- Shoulder Straps / Hip belt (S,M,L,XL)
- Upper adjustment fits longer torsos.
- Lower adjustment fits shorter torsos.
Description:
- Great for food and gear.
- 3” of padding on the back panel makes this feel like a pack.
- Harness is the full length of the 60L barrel for better fit and load control.
Memories. Adventure. Your Own Fishing Spot!
As little as one portage can help you leave the crowds behind. Then who knows what you’ll discover. We’re on a mission to help your pack feel lighter and more comfortable. So you can enjoy the portages more and go deeper into the wilderness.
Memories
©Ian GillMemories
©Ian GillAdventure
©Ray McCulloughAdventure
©Ray McCulloughFish
©Ian GillFish
©Ian GillMore comfort. More stability. More energy
Think about your last portage…how did it feel?
Did your pack throw you off balance?
Did it sag over your backside?
A poorly fitting portage pack or barrel harness (or a one-size-fits-all pack) can feel heavy on your neck and back and is very tiring to carry.
Our custom-fit canoe packs and barrel harness transfer the weight to your legs. So your heavy load actually feels lighter!
Simply use our fitting charts to choose from 4 sizes of shoulder straps and hip belt (S, M, L, XL). The Winisk and Wabakimi have 3 torso length adjustments (S, M, L). Then we’ll assemble the pack just for you.
More comfort. More stability. More energy


Tripper Reviews
60 days. 1300km. 90+ pounds. More than 100 trail-less portages. Armstrong to Fort Severn on Hudson Bay, Ontario. My pack felt nice and snug to my back, the shoulder straps and hip belt were very comfortable as if it was a part of me. I’m 5’8, 110 pounds, and having a bag I feel confident carrying makes me excited for the trails of summer.
Leah Jackson@exploreleahjackson
Best Barrel Harness on the market Flexible, Durable and Comfortable are not words I have used with other harness products. The Ostrom Voyageur is miles ahead in all of these categories. Regardless of the load or barrel size, the Voyageur harness adjustability and comfort will reduce effort on even the most challenging portages. This harness is built to last and Load Adjuster is a piece of magic frankly. The Voyageur is unquestionably, the Best Barrel Harness on the market.
Peter H.Finally! A canoe pack that fits a small person!!!
I bought the Winisk canoe pack out of desperation. … I'm 5'0, and…Portaging was literally
painful. I saw the Ostrom packs and thought I'd give them a try since they are built for your
personal measurements. We loaded the pack up to about 55-60lbs and my husband helped me
get it on my back and tighten everything up. It was a dream!!! No more pain on my neck and
shoulders from ill-fitting straps, and a waist belt that actually came to my waist and tightened
up, and stayed in place. The portaging was SO MUCH EASIER for me!
Winisk Pack
After years of using waterproof, unstructured bags with shoulder and waist straps we
purchased a Winisk Pack last year… The Winisk is a high quality pack with lots of room for a
long trip. Construction quality is first rate, and the harness is very well designed. Thoughtful
placement of straps and handles on the outside of the pack make it an easy lift out of the
canoe. The harness is adjustable and it makes for a very comfortable carry. Hands-down the
best addition to our paddling kit in years. If you are looking for a new canoe pack, I highly
recommend you consider Ostrom.
Great pack and service
My wife has had this pack for a season now and ready to write a review. First off the service
received was beyond our expectations. All of our questions about sizing were answered
promptly and a ton of time was spent with us. Secondly I still got the waist belt size wrong
(careful about this when buying as a gift for your partner). Of course this was days away from
our first planned trip and Bill shipped one out that day… The waist belt and shoulder straps
are top of line and very comfortable.
Heavy duty material, intelligent design and comfort. Highly recommend this pack and will be
buying one for myself this year.
Fantastic Pack
I used the Wabakimi on a four day whitewater canoe trip on the Noire river recently and it
performed beautifully. The strap and harness system is fantastic, making portaging a dream
compared to some other packs I have used in the past. This pack has well thought out pockets,
a well designed hip belt, and beefy strong shoulder straps. These features are all custom to my
size, and the internal frame gives structure. Look no further, you have quality here.
Quality Product at an amazing price
The Ostrom Quetico is a lot of pack for the money. Quality, robust materials with unparalleled
construction fit and finish. 1000 Denier makes for an incredibly durable and long lasting pack.
The closest comparisons lack the adjustability, durability and additional features like the top
pocket and grab handles found on the Quetico… If you are looking for a comfortable, durable,
well priced mid-sized pack, the Ostrom Quetico should be at the top of the list.

35+ Years of Canoe Camping & Design
Bill Ostrom has been tripping since he was a kid. And wrecking his mom’s sewing machine designing gear since he was a teenager.
Since 1987 he’s designed products ranging from canoe packs and barrel harnesses, to the Canadian Armed Forces rucksack, to wheelchair bags.
In 2021 he took his portage pack designs to the next level. They are more comfortable, and we introduced adjustable torso sizes on the Winisk and Wabakimi. (Better for sharing!)
He also revolutionized our Voyageur barrel harness. The new Upper Adjustment lengthens the torso and the harness fits most people so much better now.
