Home Made - Titanium/Carbon Fiber External Frame, Pack Bag/Moisture Wicking System

[gardenville]

I started working on a Pack System for an AT Thru-Hike (April Start - NOBO) a little over a year ago. I knew what I wanted but it took awhile for me to find materials that would give me something close. I first made the frame part out of Aluminum then found some flat sheet Titanium (Thru-Hiker.com) that I was able to heat and bend into the different parts of the frame. I used Aluminum Easton tubes for the up-right support at first then replaced them with Carbon Fiber tubes from Fibraplex. The stripped External Frame weights under 7oz. It is full size and very strong. I made the Pack Bag out of some left over material and it also very light.

At first I made my Hip Belt and Shoulder Straps out of Silnylon like most others are made. My goal was a to find a material that I could use that would not absorb moisture and push the pack away from any contact with my body. This I would call a Moisture Wicking System. If it worked I would have a system that would be very cool to carry and not over-load the moisture wicking garments I might need to wear. My first real prototype was a little weird looking but proved the idea would work. I happened to luck upon some mold-able plastic that is used in the medical field. I was able to get enough samples of this material to made several version. My last version is about as close as I think I will get using this material. The plastic material is soft to the touch and made to be used next to your skin.

I hope to use this system or an up-dated version for some miles on the AT this April - NOBO - starting 1 April 2005 at Springer Mt.

I just finished an 8 week Radiation and Chemo - Cancer Treatment Program and have a lot of tests and exams over the next several months. I am alive and well as you can be this close to when the treatment was over. I have managed so far to keep the month of April clear of any appointments. My plan is to try and get about 30 days on the trail going North and play it by ear from there.

I have posted 3 pictures of the Moisture Wicking System to include pictures of the pack on my Photo Gallery here. I don't know how to add a link to my Gallery.

[The Solemates]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6167/sort/1/cat/last7/page/1

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6166/sort/1/size/medium/cat/last7/page/1

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6165/sort/1/size/medium/cat/last7/page/1

[gardenville]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6167/sort/1/cat/last7/page/1

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6166/sort/1/size/medium/cat/last7/page/1

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6165/sort/1/size/medium/cat/last7/page/1

Thanks, it looks like it is just a simple copy and paste of the picture URL. I will try it on another picture.

[SGT Rock]

Those straps look like cheese graters for the skin. How comfortable is it?

[gardenville]

Those straps look like cheese graters for the skin. How comfortable is it?

["I happened to luck upon some mold-able plastic that is used in the medical field. I was able to get enough samples of this material to made several version. My last version is about as close as I think I will get using this material.

The plastic material is soft to the touch and made to be used next to your skin."]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6169/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

[ocourse]

I looked the pictures over and I am impressed! I guess you can't really give it a trial yet and don't have a feel for how well it might perform. The theory seems sound. I read recently about your medical problems and your treatments. I want to encourage you! I can't imagine the rough road it has been for you but I do know folks who have been there. Keep on planning your April hike - it's the excitement of hitting the trail that drives you and will keep your spirits high. :jump

[gardenville]

I looked the pictures over and I am impressed! I guess you can't really give it a trial yet and don't have a feel for how well it might perform. The theory seems sound. I read recently about your medical problems and your treatments. I want to encourage you! I can't imagine the rough road it has been for you but I do know folks who have been there. Keep on planning your April hike - it's the excitement of hitting the trail that drives you and will keep your spirits high. :jump

Version 1 was finished early Summer 2004.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6170/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

It was tested in the Texas heat and found to work as well as I expected it to. It was a winner. There are several pictures showing some details.

The material for my first working prototype was a little heavy but proved the idea would work. I now just needed to find a better material. That happened several months later on 8 Nov 2004 as part of the prep for my Radiation treatment. I was so intrigued with this plastic stuff I put everything else out of my mind. I asked for some of it and was given a bunch. My Doctor saw my interest in this materail as a positive thing and I think he was the real reason they gave it to me.

Since you mentioned it. As far as my treatment went, it was terrible. Chemo is about as bad as anything someone should ever have to endure. The Radiation ever so slowly sneaks up on you. One day you start to find little bits of your beard on your cloths, you throat is sore and doesn't get better, your hair starts to fall out, the list is long. I lost about 2/3 of my hair. I pretended I was doing fine. This may sound crazy but I just would stay focued on making gear and taking care of my cats. When I lost 10 pounds one week I pretended the sore throat and everything that went with it was from the hot Mexican food I was eating. I was eating the Mexican food. I stopped eating at the hospital and ate all my meals out. The hospital food wasn't enough to feed the cancer and me. After the nausea from the Chemo passed I forced myself to eat like a horse. The first time I re-gained 6 pounds the following week. The second time I lost 10 pounds I re-gained 8 pounds back. It was mind over matter. I just played a game with myself and it worked for me. I was able to go home for awhile almost every day. I would work on gear or sit outside and play with 2 baby kittens. My older cats would sit in my lap and try there best to purr me better. I had very little real energy and still don't have much. I came out of the treatment 23 pounds less than when I started it. I lost and am still losing my hair. I lost all my beard. Do I care about those thing, not one bit. It will be 12 to 18 months before some side effects are gone or things like the teeth that had to be pulled can be replaced. Am I happy about any of this, no. It will pass and I have done better - faster than any of the people I was around.

In 50 days I hope to start a 30 day hike on the AT. I believe a road is only as rough as you let it be. You can beat cancer lots of folks are doing it everyday. During all of this I have gotten emails from so many really nice folks wishing me a fast recovery. It really makes you feel good.

I am anxiously looking forward to seeing how my home made gear works on a real trail test. If I and my gear make it for 30 days on the AT we both may get a chance to try for the whole thing, a Thru-Hike.

[gardenville]

I have been wearing my pack during my daily walk of about 4.5 miles. As I have added weight to my pack I have made a few minor changes to make it more comfortable. I will continue to tweak it and hope to try it out for a couple of weeks on the AT soon. I added some new pictures this morning.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6376/size/big/sort/1/cat/500

[JojoSmiley]

Wow! What an encouraging story! You go for it. The Pack you made looks quite interesting. I don't sew so have to depend on others to make a neat pack. We just got some packs made by an outfit out in Seattle, WA that makes them for forest rangers/fire fighters. Neat pack, great suspension and lots of pockets that are easy to get into.
Good luck on your upcoming hike!

[berninbush]

I just came across this old thread and was intrigued. The links to the pics don't work any more, but I think I saw the one you're talking about in the gallery.

I'd love to make my own pack but don't have the materials or skills. How much does this cost? Were you happy with the end result?

[Lanthar Mandragoran]

I just came across this old thread and was intrigued. The links to the pics don't work any more, but I think I saw the one you're talking about in the gallery.

I'd love to make my own pack but don't have the materials or skills. How much does this cost? Were you happy with the end result?

You might dig around in Bill's blog... he's reposted a LOT of his stuff there...

http://ultraliteskunkworks.blogspot.com/