Tumplines

Patrick Corry · Dec 23, 2021

Admittedly resurrecting an old thread here, I've been thinking of using a tump for portaging my wood/canvas canoes. I live very close to a significant Amish community here in southeast PA, and because of the horse drawn buggies and farm equipment, there are a number of harness shops which make leather harness. I'll bet I can get a fine tump made locally to my specifications. With that in mind, I just came across this article about tying and sizing the tump knot for carrying a wanigan, and thought it might be of interest here.

http://www.ottertooth.com/keewaydin/admin_K/sample1.pdf

LanceR · Dec 24, 2021

For those interested in adding a tumpline, Duluth and others sell them at reasonable prices. I think Duluth get $15 for theirs. And I have a pattern for sewing one out of webbing and canvas. If anyone is interested I' post the cut piece sizes and sewing instructions.

Lance

Mason · Dec 24, 2021

LanceR said:
For those interested in adding a tumpline, Duluth and others sell them at reasonable prices. I think Duluth get $15 for theirs. And I have a pattern for sewing one out of webbing and canvas. If anyone is interested I' post the cut piece sizes and sewing instructions.

Lance

Please do!

KeithA · Dec 25, 2021

FYI - if you're interested and in the area we've got a guy who's scheduled to be at Canoe Day on April 16 who will be talking and demonstrating the use of wannigans and tumplines.

See this entry in the Events section: https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/events-schedule-at-white-rose-canoe.127139/

Robin · Jul 9, 2022

pblanc · Jul 9, 2022

Keep in mind that societies that use tump lines or carry loads on their heads start at a very early age. They develop good technique and strong paraspinal muscles when they are young and progressively build up. In some of these societies a person's livelihood may depend on carrying loads on their heads, and they have no workman's compensation benefits. These folks are very different than the typical American "weekend warrior" who decides to try bearing axial loads on the cervical spine during middle age, or later.

Cervical spinal disease severe enough to cause radiculopathy is pretty common in the US. Most people who have cervical disease bad enough to cause radiculopathy are going to be aware of the problem but MRI surveys have also shown a very significant incidence of herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) and cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) in individuals who are completely asymptomatic at the time of the MRI. The incidence of HNP in asymptomatic individuals less than 40 years of age is around 5%. The incidence of cervical DDD in asymptomatic individuals around 25% in those less than 40 but 60% in those older than 40.

Placing an axial load on the cervical spine is not a great idea for anyone with significant cervical spinal disease, especially if symptomatic.

Cervical Disc Disease: Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

Cervical disc disorders encountered in physiatric practice include herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), degenerative disc disease (DDD), and internal disc disruption (IDD). HNP (seen in the image below) is defined as localized displacement of nucleus, cartilage, fragmented apophyseal bone, or...

emedicine.medscape.com

sweeper · Jul 9, 2022

This showed up on Youtube this month

Bob B. · Jul 9, 2022

Great video! I tump my canoes and gear. I have come to really appreciate them on longer portages.

Bob

Bob B. · Jul 9, 2022

Tumping my gear with my dog tethered to me.

Robin · Jul 18, 2022

Camp Temagami this week,

lowangle al · Jul 18, 2022

While I was tying the boat on at Paul smiths college this past weekend my wife went back for the pack. I was surprised to see her using the tump, I guess she really likes it.

Glenn MacGrady · Jul 18, 2022

This article discusses the benefits and risks of tumpline carrying from historical, cultural, statistical and medical perspectives:

Why It’s Better to Carry Weight on Your Head

People have done it for centuries. Maybe everyone still should.

www.theatlantic.com

Yvon Chouinard, the founder of the Patagonia Company, studied how Nepalese porters tump carry heavy loads all their lives. Note how he recommends attaching the tumpline to the bottom of the load for proper spine angle pressure: