gardenville
11-13-2007, 14:44
The subject of using an External Frame Pack comes up from time to time.
I agree that an external frame pack is the way to go. I ended up making my own. I have made a bunch over the last couple of years and just finished my latest one. It uses a few parts from a Mountain Hardwear Harrier pack. The Frame part as it turned out weighs just under 18 ounces. The pack bag I am using as I test the frame is the bag that came with the Harrier. When I am happy with the frame I will make a new bag about the same size but out of very light weight Cuben Fiber.
I made a new hip belt that is mostly foam stabilized with thin plastic sheet.
The shoulder straps are also new and made from a very strong and very special Cuben Fiber (6.25 ounces per sq yard) by itself. The shoulder strap system is very adjustable.
The Scandium tubes from the Harrier attach to the frame, transfer load to the waist belt and provide torsional compliance so the pack can move with your body. The Scandium tubes also offer vertical rigidity.
My Frame weighs 17.67 ounces. The stock Harrier frame weighted 55.65 ounces.
The stock Harrier pack bag at 3600 cubic inches weighs 34.86 ounces empty and I will make a new bag about the same size out of Cuben Fiber. The new Cuben Fiber Pack Bag will not have all the zippers and junk the old bag does but will connect to the frame the same way. That makes changing the size of the pack bag easy.
I am using the stock Harrier pack bag for testing the frame. The bag (with stuff in it) and frame weigh 21 pounds. I am walking 2 miles twice a day to test the frame. I will add weight over time till I get up around 30 pounds. I have carried this set-up for 16 miles so far. I have tweaked the setup a bit and it seems to be working well.
If this new frame and bag works out it might be used for something like a long AT hike in 2008.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=19792&c=516
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=19793&c=516
I agree that an external frame pack is the way to go. I ended up making my own. I have made a bunch over the last couple of years and just finished my latest one. It uses a few parts from a Mountain Hardwear Harrier pack. The Frame part as it turned out weighs just under 18 ounces. The pack bag I am using as I test the frame is the bag that came with the Harrier. When I am happy with the frame I will make a new bag about the same size but out of very light weight Cuben Fiber.
I made a new hip belt that is mostly foam stabilized with thin plastic sheet.
The shoulder straps are also new and made from a very strong and very special Cuben Fiber (6.25 ounces per sq yard) by itself. The shoulder strap system is very adjustable.
The Scandium tubes from the Harrier attach to the frame, transfer load to the waist belt and provide torsional compliance so the pack can move with your body. The Scandium tubes also offer vertical rigidity.
My Frame weighs 17.67 ounces. The stock Harrier frame weighted 55.65 ounces.
The stock Harrier pack bag at 3600 cubic inches weighs 34.86 ounces empty and I will make a new bag about the same size out of Cuben Fiber. The new Cuben Fiber Pack Bag will not have all the zippers and junk the old bag does but will connect to the frame the same way. That makes changing the size of the pack bag easy.
I am using the stock Harrier pack bag for testing the frame. The bag (with stuff in it) and frame weigh 21 pounds. I am walking 2 miles twice a day to test the frame. I will add weight over time till I get up around 30 pounds. I have carried this set-up for 16 miles so far. I have tweaked the setup a bit and it seems to be working well.
If this new frame and bag works out it might be used for something like a long AT hike in 2008.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=19792&c=516
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=19793&c=516