A canoe pack, also known as a portage pack,[1] is a specialized type of backpack used primarily where travel is largely by water punctuated by portages where the gear needs to be carried over land.[2]
When worn, a canoe pack must ride below the level of the shoulders in order to accommodate the wearer also carrying a canoe. Their shallow stature typically has a lower center of gravity than a normal hiking backpack, making storage in a canoe more stable.[2]
A typical pack weight while portaging was 160lb200lb during the North American fur trade era.[3] In order to support the heavy load of the pack(s), canoe packs are sometimes used in conjunction with a "tumpline" or "portage collar," a strap attached to the pack and placed over the top of the head.[4] Portage packs lack many features of long-distance hiking backpacks, and so are generally not used for such.[5]