A little bit ago I posted about making my jacket fit over my pack. After looking at the options and already spending money on a jacket for the thru-hike, I decided to try and chop up the one have.

Jacket - REI Ultra Light, $155.00 (on sale now for $115.00:mad: )
Rain Cover - REI size 60, $24.00
Seam sealer - $6.00
Seam sealer tape - $10.00

Total - $195.00

1) I put the jacket on and put the full pack on over it. I had Tami mark the top, sides and bottom of where the pack was on my jacket - remember to pull the jacket tight so you dont get a crooked cut.

2) I cut off the draw string portion of the pack cover (this took away about 1.5" of material from the pack cover) then I measured the pack cover (24" x 12") and centered that around the marks for the pack that Tami made on my jacket.

3) I used duck tape to hold the modified pack cover in place. I only put the duck tape on about 1/8" of the pack cover.

4) following the edge of the duck tape, I used the sewing machine to do a single stich all the way around the pack cover.

5) After finishing the stiching, I took off the duck tape and carefully cut off the panel on the back - I used the stich line as a guide of where to cut.

5) After cutting out the back panel I put on seam sealer on the threads and inside seam of the cut edge. Using the seam sealer tape, I covered the inside seam and stiches.

6) Using the left over material I cut out from th back I place that over the stiches on the outside to give a more finished look and better water proofing.

Here is the finished product, the wind was blowing pretty good, so I couldnt get a good shot of the back area that I cut out.

Front shot:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/wrongway_02/jacketmod001.jpg

Side shot: I am not wearing the pack, so it looks a little trash bag like.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/wrongway_02/jacketmod002.jpg

back view: No pack on, so this is the worse it will look :eek: !

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/wrongway_02/jacketmod003.jpg

Very cool, you are a creative guy! It really doesn't look too bad at all without the pack. I assume that you are wearing the pack over this most of the time? And under in the rain?

It would be cool to see a photo with your pack under it filling it out :)

Hope your hike and your new jacket are terrific!

I'll keep the pack under it when wearing it, helps the ventilation work right.

I will get a photo with the full pack in the next day or so.
Okay, I just grabbed some clothes and the sleeping bag to fill my pack,
here it is with the pack full:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/wrongway_02/jacketmod005.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/wrongway_02/jacketmod004.jpg


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/wrongway_02/jacketmod006.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/wrongway_02/jacketmod007.jpg

Looks good. Can you make it so that it (the pouch) folds away (into the jacket) when not wearing your pack? If so, I think you got something that can be marketed.

That looks great, but you could have saved some time and money buying a Packa for $110. Of course you wouldn't have the self satisfaction of doing it yourself.

Nice job, great idea!! Thanks for sharing.
MrsG

I really like that, way to go. The packa is nice, but you are limited to how they make it, the material, etc. This looks like it does the job of both a coat and raingear, along with some nice ventilation.

When are you hiking with it so we can get a first use report? :)

I will be hiking dec 6th-9th, Penn Mar to Harpers ferry. Hope it rains and snows to get to try it out - of course it'll be cold enough to need the jacket by then, should be able to see how well it works then.

Was looking at the Packa but wanted something a little more "jacket" looking and I already spent the $155.00 on this jacket.

Looking at the photos, it looks like my pack fills up the rain cover, really its just the wind filling up the dead air, my pack is a lot smaller the the rain cover.

Thanks for all the positive feedback :)

That looks great, but you could have saved some time and money buying a Packa for $110. Of course you wouldn't have the self satisfaction of doing it yourself.
Where do you find a Packa for $110? Thanks!

www.thepacka.com (http://www.thepacka.com)

Well, it doesnt leak.......took advantage of the rain to check it out, then put the water hose on it to "pressure" test it :)

So far so good, 1 week before I can test it in real world hiking.....

Great job Wrongway on making a very nice Packa. Thanks troglobil for recognizing the Packa and posting a link to my website. Here is a pic of the very first Packa, made in this same fashion.

Cedar Tree,
That looks great! You have some nice looking Packas, if I didnt already spend the money on this jacket - I would have bought one.

I have heard nothing but good things about them.

Has anyone made one of these from scratch? Jackets aren't hard to make - the zippers would be the hardest part.

Cedar Tree - 90+% of people will always be too scared to attempt to make any gear that requires more than a straight stitch so you will continue to have a market. The more Packa styled jackets found on the trail, the more business you will have.

Great job Wrongway on making a very nice Packa. Thanks troglobil for recognizing the Packa and posting a link to my website. Here is a pic of the very first Packa, made in this same fashion.

Has anyone made one of these from scratch? Jackets aren't hard to make - the zippers would be the hardest part.

Cedar Tree - 90+% of people will always be too scared to attempt to make any gear that requires more than a straight stitch so you will continue to have a market. The more Packa styled jackets found on the trail, the more business you will have.

Got my Packa in the mail last week. One look at it and I knew I should've bought one a looong time ago.

Really great idea.

Got my Packa in the mail last week. One look at it and I knew I should've bought one a looong time ago.

Really great idea.
I know what you mean. Since I got mine it has not rained on a trip and I have actually been disappointed. I am sure I will pay for those thoughts one day.