55 lbs Never Felt So Light!
Wabakimi Internal Frame Canoe Pack
"I'm a convert to internally framed canoe packs now. No regrets on spending the big bucks at all. I'm sure it'll last a lifetime." S.
Transfer the load to your hips with this one-of-a-kind canoe pack - Take the pressure off your shoulders. Look up. Look around. Breathe deep. Your days of miserably trudging down the portage feeling like you have 100lbs of potatoes on your back are over! It's time to create family memories or get out on that long trip. Ignite a passion for portaging with this custom-fit internal frame canoe pack.
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Giving Back
Giving Back
This year your purchase helps us donate packs to Project Canoe and Trails Youth Initiative. Nonprofits that get youth out on trip.
Custom-Fit. All Genders.
Custom-Fit. All Genders.
Interchangeable torso, shoulder strap and hip belt sizes for a canoe pack that fits like a glove.
- S/M/L/XL shoulder straps
- S/M/L/XL hip belt
- S/M/L adjustable torso size
Quick and easy measurement steps are here.
How to Measure for Your Perfect Canoe Pack
How to Measure for Your Perfect Canoe Pack
Forever Warranty
Forever Warranty
Buy once ... have it for a lifetime. More details here.
Free Shipping
Free Shipping
- Free domestic shipping on orders over $125
- 65% off shipping to the U.S.
Wabakimi & Winisk Portage Pack Sizing Chart
55 lbs Never Felt So Light!
ADJUSTABLE TORSO - Move the shoulder straps up or down for amazing fit and load control.
CUSTOM-FIT - So your load is held securely, close to your body. More comfortable, stable and safer on the portages.
HUGE LID POCKET - Stash the small stuff for the portage, yet keep it handy.
LUXURIOUS PADDED BACK - 1.25" / 3cm of foam, the thickest back on the market.
GRAB AND HAUL - Haul the pack in and out of the canoe by the 4 padded handles or any side compression strap. That’s a total of 12 grab points! We guarantee them not to fail.
TUMPLINE (optional) - Choose from the TRAD Tump, or the wider, curvier RAD tump.
VOLUME - 96-117 L (fully extended) / 5878-7116 cu.in.
WEIGHT- 3.18 kg / 7 lbs of comfort and toughness
DIMENSIONS-18.75"x 11"x 28.5" / 46.9 cm x 27.5 cm x 71.3 cm
High volume for families and long canoe trips. Internal frame for heavy loads and long portages.
Get The Perfect Fit Canoe Pack in 4 Easy Steps
Follow the steps below to select your torso, shoulder strap, and hip belt sizes. (S, M, L, XL)
It’s quick and easy, and your back will love you for it!
You will need a cloth measuring tape. Or some cord and a ruler.
If you’re between sizes - simply select the larger size.
Custom-fit Promise! If it doesn’t fit, we’ll make it right.
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Custom-Fit Promise
Awesome comfort and fit for all genders. Any body shape and size.
If it doesn’t fit, we’ll make it right.
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Free Shipping in Canada
Free domestic shipping on orders over $125.
65% off shipping to the U.S. on orders over $125.
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Forever Warranty
Buy once ... have it for a lifetime.
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Youth on Canoe Trips
This year your purchase helps us donate packs to Project Canoe and Trails Youth Initiative. Nonprofits that get kids out on trip.
This Pack Has Your Back
It’s amazing what a sheet of high-density, lightweight thermoplastic and 2 aluminum stays can do for comfort and stability on the portage.
Just like in a hiking backpack, this rigid back panel is highly effective at transferring weight to your hips and legs (the strongest part of your body) and off your shoulders and back.
Check out what makes our internal frame canoe pack different below.
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Sewn-In Framesheet Hugs Your Shoulders
Essential for effectively pulling the top of your pack into your back. So you don’t feel like the pack is pulling you backwards.
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Beware of a torso size you can't adjust.
Beware! An internal frame only works if you can adjust the torso to your back length. Adjust ours to S, M, or L for the ultimate in fit and weight transfer.
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Bend the Stays for the Ultimate Fit
You can bend the stays to the shape of your back for the ultimate custom fit. (We can show you how.)
Customer Reviews
I purchased the Wabakimi with the optional tump. The purchasing and shipping process were perfect. I needed some additional guidance on installing the aluminum back stays and a basic email exchange was all it took to see what I was doing wrong. This packs maiden voyage was a 6-night trip in the BWCA which included many portages and 3 separate airline baggage loadings. This pack and all the straps held up very well to the baggage handlers. This pack is HUGE yet still fits nicely into a solo Northstar Magic. The compression straps allow the pack to get smaller as the food bulk got smaller throughout the trip. The shoulder and waist straps are easy to adjust and because of the rigidity from the internal frame, the Wabakimi stands up without having to lean against a tree and is very simple to pack up each morning. (No dumpster diving into a floppy bag to load up everything into the bag.) The Wabakimi has become my new preferred portage pack and I expect that it's going to get a lot of use over the next several years . . . and then some more after my kid inherits it. It's that rugged.
This is a piece of gear that will last you a lifetime. I have been tripping with Ostrom packs for over twenty years and there is no comparison to the quality and design that Bill and Anne have achieved. The design is perfectly executed from customized straps, compression straps, pockets in all the right places and a durability you won't find in other brands. The addition of the tumpline is such an essential part to help make long portages more comfortable. It has been a dream of mine to have my own Ostrom pack and I am so happy I made the investment!
Just used my new Ostrom pack for a week in Temagami. The harness and hip belt are bomber and handled my 60lbs of load quite well. Super adjustable and lots of ways to tie down exterior gear.
I upgraded from a Bill's Bag 110L that was awful for portaging cuz of the mediocore harness and hip belt. What a difference!
Transform your portage from suffer-fest to sublime.
Well...sublime may be a bit of an overstatement.
But when was the last time you gave a thumbs up when you put your canoe pack on?
Imagine your shoulders not burning 200m into the portage.
Imagine just being able to focus on the trail...or the birds...or your kids for that matter.
Portaging is part of the adventure...and the more you enjoy it, the farther you’ll go.
Comfort and Reliability for a Lifetime of Memories
Read on for Technical Specifications
Ultra-Thick Back Pad
- So soft and cushy on your back! The back pad has heavy padding (3/4” / 19mm cushy reticulated foam over a layer of 3/8”/9.5mm dense EVA foam).
- Lumbar pad has 1"/25mm soft ether foam over a layer of 3/8”/9.5mm dense EVA foam.
Curvy S-Shaped Shoulder Straps
- S-shaped shoulder straps curve in all the right places and fit all genders. Choice of sizes (S, M, L, XL) means they don’t pinch.
- Shoulder straps have two layers of foam to spread the weight so they don’t dig in. (3/8”/9.5mm high-quality EVA dense foam & 1/2”/13mm soft ether foam)
Cushy Padded Hip Belt
- Comfortable for all genders. (S, M, L, XL) (3/8”/9.5mm high-quality EVA dense foam and 1/2”/13mm soft ether foam)
High Quality Materials
• National Molding Duraflex buckles you can rely on.
• #10YKK zipper with un-coated sliders for better wear and tear.
• 1000 denier nylon fabric with a double layer on the bottom, front, and sides.
• High-density EVA foam does not compress over time.
- Check out our Forever Guarantee.
Durable Construction
• All seams are sewn 3-4 times. The most reliable in the industry.
• High-stress areas are reinforced with a bar-tack. (compression straps, handles)
• Absolutely no raw edges to fray, even at the zipper.
- Protective flap over the zipper so it lasts longer.
•Back panel has a second layer (400 denier nylon) for extra reinforcement for the suspension system. (Unique to Ostrom packs.)
You Know You Want this pack - what's stopping you?
We're here to answer your questions!
Are your packs waterproof?
Our packs are not waterproof. And we highly recommend waterproofing any gear inside your pack that absorbs moisture (clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, repair kit, personal kit, etc.)
Options are individual dry bags, a canoe pack liner, or stuff sacks lined with two layers of good quality garbage bags (individually sealed).
What if I make an error in my sizing?
Reach out! We send you instructions on how to check the fit.
Our custom-fit promise means that we’ll work with you to
make sure you have the right sizing.
Our shoulder straps and hip belt are interchangeable and easy to switch out. (We even have video instructions!)
We cover all shipping costs.
Is custom-fit worth the investment?
A pack or harness that is custom-fit to your body means you will be more surefooted and comfortable on the portage. You can be confident in getting out summer after summer, perhaps on more challenging trips. (Quetico or the BWCA anyone?)
Here's something else to think about. Portages will get harder as you get older. (Trust us!) Your pack will feel heavier and the smallest twist of an ankle or knee on the portage could wreck your entire season.
“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!” C.N.
Think about your next 30 summers. How does that return on investment sound?
What’s the warranty?
Our Forever Warranty means that our products are warrantied to any owner for the lifetime of the product against defects in materials or workmanship under normal use.
If your Ostrom Outdoors product fails due to a material or manufacturing defect, we will repair or replace it at our option.
Canada Shipping
Free shipping on orders over $125 to the provinces and 65% off to the territories. You can select your ground courier at checkout.
What is your return policy?
Any unused product can be returned for refund or exchange
within 30 days of when you receive it.
You are responsible for return shipping costs.
Contact us to initiate a return.
Shipping to the U.S.
65% off shipping on orders over $125. You can choose your ground courier at checkout.
Shipping outside of N. America
Contact us to ask for a shipping quote. Keep in mind that your order may be subject to import duties, taxes and/or brokerage fees. These costs will be your responsibility, and we suggest you check with local import authorities before completing your purchase.
Why are your packs heavier than others?
Custom-Fit
The interchangeable shoulder straps and hip belt, and the adjustable torso that allow these packs to fit your exact body shape, all require extra buckles, fabric, webbing and reinforcement.
You’ll notice that the advantages of custom-fit outweigh the cons of a little extra weight.
Imagine feeling more comfortable, surefooted and confident on the portages. And wanting to go even further into the backcountry.
Durability
Yeah, we took a hard look at ways to reduce weight…but it meant compromising on durability.
Just imagine shaving a couple of ounces only to have your pack bust apart.
Check out the extra fabric and webbing to reinforce the suspension system and high-stress areas.
Making sure you have a pack you can rely on in the backcountry is the backbone of our Forever Warranty.
Have a question we didn't answer?
Send Bill a quick message. We're happy to help.
35 Years of Helping Paddlers Discover the Joys of Portaging
We’ve been tripping with our families since we were kids. And got so fed up with uncomfortable canoe packs and nasty barrel harnesses that Bill just had to design a solution.
He first looked to backpack designs for inspiration. The result was:
- the first-ever internal frame portage pack. (So impressive with heavy loads.)
- the first barrel harness with a contoured foam back pad and Upper Adjustment. (Game changer!)
- and the first to offer custom-fit … because carrying 50+ lbs in a one-size-fits-all pack is unnecessarily painful.
“It was a blast being the lead designer for the Canadian Armed Forces Rucksack and Small Pack
System. We used scientific research and field testing to fully understand how pack design impacts load carriage, load control and weight transfer. It dramatically changed my approach to design. Custom-sizing does matter.” Bill Ostrom