I am a big fan of barrels. My daughter and I did a 100 mile section of the Mississippi river in December. The river is a mile wide and we had to know self rescue. I tied the barrels on a rope (like meat on a shish kabob). That way I did not have to worry about my stuff getting wet or floating off while we righted the canoe. In addition I would pull a barrel up next to the boat and lean out on it to counterbalance my daughter re-entering the canoe. These things are great! Thanks for the excellent video series. Love the pace and content!
My sister and I took a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi and the whole time I thought about what it would be like to canoe it. What a river. We have big rivers in Maine, but wow. The first river I ever did was with Mark Twain, I couldn’t put it down.
@@Mainepolingguide I will tell you this much...it is not relaxing. You are always looking over your shoulder for tugs coming/going and when crossing the main channel. You have to look for dikes that you could go over and tear up the bottom of your boat. You also have to know how far to stay away from the tugs prop wash..especially those heading upstream with full power.
My dad loved basket packs. One reason was they stood upright in a canoe. So these barrels are an upgrade since they are water tight. But baskets are prettier.😀
Great video. I bought a few of these a year ago and the seller said he gets them from pharmaceutical companies, and that they're used to ship pills in bulk.
I love my barrels. They’re covered in stickers. They kept many a trip on track after having a water logged yard sale 😆 I wish we had them in the 1970’s and 80’s when I did most of my tripping. I’m not so much worried about bears as I am rodents and they work great for that too. There’s a well known Canadian CZcamsr named Chris Prouse and she had a bear get into her barrel and it was hung in a tree. The best was able to release the latch (dumb luck? 🤷♂️) and it ransacked the contents. She now puts a split ring through a part of the latch mechanism which will prevent that from happening. I’m doing that now as well since I learn from others misfortunes. She has a video of that trip and what happened if anyone is interested.
Love these on long trips with limited carry’s. That said a couple small ones for nice in a CCS pack or in one I have Jane made for me. There is a third size which is pretty handy too. Keep the great info coming pls.
I went back and forth with different options. I wanted to like the barrel option, but my number one critic is I like opening my camp kitchen and seeing everything laid out. I ultimately have decided on a NRS Boulder Box. We shall see if I circle back around to the barrel! Keep the content coming. Short, relevant and helpful!
I really enjoy your videos and their format. It would be nice if you could tie together a list of all the recommended gear or check list that brings all of the individual videos together. Maybe just throw it into the video info as text on your wrap up - packing a canoe video?
David good idea. As a guide you live and die by those lists. Everyone is different, in what they take for “critical gear”. I can easily do 3 minutes on what baby canoeists leave home that they wish they hadn’t.
I have four barrels, two 30L and two 60L. They are not bear proof. Almost every Ranger station in the BWCAW has one hanging in the station that has been torn apart by a black bear. These things don't stand a chance against a brown bear.
Rob, bear problems in my canoe experience have been rare. The occasional sighting is counted as a rare treat. Maine allows hunting over bait barrels. Biologists believe is selects out those bears bold enough to seek out human food. In my experience, without exception, as soon as I talked and the bear knew I was human, it ran and melted into the woods.
Living, working and playing in Northern Idaho where black bears are common and grizzlies are occasionally seen, bears need to be thought about... and no way would i for a second think a blue barrel will keep a bear out. The lid and the barrel itself are just not tough enough.
Thanks for watching and sharing. I’ve had several bear encounters but all have been positive. In Maine we hunt bears by baiting with human food. Something when I was young I never liked. But then a wildlife biologist explained how this method genetically culls out the bears brave enough to seek out human food. After that it made a lot of sense. I do know Guides who had grizzly encounters with the Yellow York box that a bear bit, I saw the canine tooth hole in the corner of the box, but couldn’t open it. The barrel I don’t know, but I suspect it would be equally as tough. I’d think with the barrel a bear could roll it several hundred yards away and you’d have trouble finding it. Here’s to safe travels for both of us.
@3_Minutes_With_a_Maine_Guide thank you for your reply.. a barrel would slow a bear down enough that hopefully you would hear it and take appropriate action.. but if even a small bear sat down.. scratched his head and then went to work on it.. I think the bear might eat well that day.. lol anyhow I really do enjoy your videos and I ALWAYS learn something.. thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I've learned so much in your 3 minutes with a Maine Guide than watching hours of blah blah insturctionals others post. Thanks a bunch.
I am a big fan of barrels. My daughter and I did a 100 mile section of the Mississippi river in December. The river is a mile wide and we had to know self rescue. I tied the barrels on a rope (like meat on a shish kabob). That way I did not have to worry about my stuff getting wet or floating off while we righted the canoe. In addition I would pull a barrel up next to the boat and lean out on it to counterbalance my daughter re-entering the canoe. These things are great! Thanks for the excellent video series. Love the pace and content!
My sister and I took a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi and the whole time I thought about what it would be like to canoe it. What a river. We have big rivers in Maine, but wow. The first river I ever did was with Mark Twain, I couldn’t put it down.
@@Mainepolingguide I will tell you this much...it is not relaxing. You are always looking over your shoulder for tugs coming/going and when crossing the main channel. You have to look for dikes that you could go over and tear up the bottom of your boat. You also have to know how far to stay away from the tugs prop wash..especially those heading upstream with full power.
@@jhulin9018 yes. I bet.
My dad loved basket packs. One reason was they stood upright in a canoe. So these barrels are an upgrade since they are water tight. But baskets are prettier.😀
I got mine from an industrial supply manufacturer for 65.00 instead of 150.00 on the outdoor supply sites. Never been used before.
Great video. I bought a few of these a year ago and the seller said he gets them from pharmaceutical companies, and that they're used to ship pills in bulk.
Thank you. I wasn't sure if I want to try barrels, but now I'll be looking to get one. I'm really enjoying the videos.
Jeff, thanks for watching. You won’t be sorry if you get one…just baby that ring closure.
You are 100% right about them I have one in my equipment gear /setup. Bullet proof.
Shawn, thanks for watching and commenting, they are an important tool of the trade.
Keep the advice coming
I love my blue barrels. Got a harness that adjust from the 30 to the 60 liter as well.
I love my barrels. They’re covered in stickers. They kept many a trip on track after having a water logged yard sale 😆
I wish we had them in the 1970’s and 80’s when I did most of my tripping. I’m not so much worried about bears as I am rodents and they work great for that too.
There’s a well known Canadian CZcamsr named Chris Prouse and she had a bear get into her barrel and it was hung in a tree. The best was able to release the latch (dumb luck? 🤷♂️) and it ransacked the contents. She now puts a split ring through a part of the latch mechanism which will prevent that from happening. I’m doing that now as well since I learn from others misfortunes. She has a video of that trip and what happened if anyone is interested.
Anna thanks for always watching and commenting, I’ll definitely check it out.
Keep it going.... totally interesting
Thanks for watching.
Great video! Happy 1000 subscribers too 🙏❤️🔥
Love these on long trips with limited carry’s. That said a couple small ones for nice in a CCS pack or in one I have Jane made for me. There is a third size which is pretty handy too. Keep the great info coming pls.
My next video on gear, I’m doing a Jane Barron pack. Can’t wait.
Nice one thanks
I went back and forth with different options. I wanted to like the barrel option, but my number one critic is I like opening my camp kitchen and seeing everything laid out. I ultimately have decided on a NRS Boulder Box. We shall see if I circle back around to the barrel! Keep the content coming. Short, relevant and helpful!
Thanks for watching. I think you’ll be happy with the box.
Perfect!!!
I really enjoy your videos and their format. It would be nice if you could tie together a list of all the recommended gear or check list that brings all of the individual videos together. Maybe just throw it into the video info as text on your wrap up - packing a canoe video?
David good idea. As a guide you live and die by those lists. Everyone is different, in what they take for “critical gear”. I can easily do 3 minutes on what baby canoeists leave home that they wish they hadn’t.
I have four barrels, two 30L and two 60L. They are not bear proof. Almost every Ranger station in the BWCAW has one hanging in the station that has been torn apart by a black bear. These things don't stand a chance against a brown bear.
Rob, bear problems in my canoe experience have been rare. The occasional sighting is counted as a rare treat. Maine allows hunting over bait barrels. Biologists believe is selects out those bears bold enough to seek out human food. In my experience, without exception, as soon as I talked and the bear knew I was human, it ran and melted into the woods.
You have any sources for gaskets for 15gal barrels?
What size is the barrel in the video? 10L?
Throw some charcoal briquettes into the barrel for a few days at home to get odors out. But NOT the kind with lighter fluid embalmed in them!
Thanks for the tip and thanks for watching.
Who sells these barrels
Rutabaga Paddlesport in Wisconsin, I think.
Living, working and playing in Northern Idaho where black bears are common and grizzlies are occasionally seen, bears need to be thought about... and no way would i for a second think a blue barrel will keep a bear out. The lid and the barrel itself are just not tough enough.
Thanks for watching and sharing. I’ve had several bear encounters but all have been positive. In Maine we hunt bears by baiting with human food. Something when I was young I never liked. But then a wildlife biologist explained how this method genetically culls out the bears brave enough to seek out human food. After that it made a lot of sense. I do know Guides who had grizzly encounters with the Yellow York box that a bear bit, I saw the canine tooth hole in the corner of the box, but couldn’t open it. The barrel I don’t know, but I suspect it would be equally as tough. I’d think with the barrel a bear could roll it several hundred yards away and you’d have trouble finding it. Here’s to safe travels for both of us.
@3_Minutes_With_a_Maine_Guide thank you for your reply.. a barrel would slow a bear down enough that hopefully you would hear it and take appropriate action.. but if even a small bear sat down.. scratched his head and then went to work on it.. I think the bear might eat well that day.. lol anyhow I really do enjoy your videos and I ALWAYS learn something.. thank you for sharing your knowledge.
My 30L smelled like curry
It's not bearproof.
Did you have an experience where a bear breached a barrel.
@@3_Minutes_With_a_Maine_Guide normalcy bias much?
@@driftlesstrekker4709 it was a simple question, with only two possible answers.