I've sort of got interested in vintage backpacking gear. I sure hope I don't get the bug, since I already collect TOO many things that I never actually use, especially for my budget. I thought it might be interesting to try an old backpack. I don't want a rare and expensive collectible, but something I can take out for an easy overnighter and not have to worry about damaging.

Any suggestions? I use a Granite Gear Vapor Trail for modern life now.

Like WWII surplus, or were you thinking a little later 'vintage' than that?

Were you thinking old REI gear?

I use a Gwaltney Gear "Nessmuk" rucksack quite a lot (and I believe that it's available from other suppliers, too), a waxed canvas and leather pack with a nice arrangement of side pockets. It's not actually a vintage pack but it is a current version of a venerable design. Excellent for day hikes along with my Ventile smock.

There's also a Swiss canvas rucksack sitting in my wardrobe at the moment, made of the old "salt and pepper" canvas and leather, which is a lovely item but remarkably heavy for its size; not one for the trail so much but it gets a lot of use as a general purpose bag and has the great advantage of being widely available at army surplus prices.

If you really want to explore the world of vintage (i.e. cotton duck and heavy canvas) packs then you'll find that such things are still widely used in canoeing circles as well as by bushcraft and primitive skills enthusiasts.

How about this beauty
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Other/auction-143593373.htm

I still see some die-harders carrying these things around here!

Dude, you should totally check out the Jensen pack from RMW: http://www.rivendellmountainworks.com/

"Vintage" in style if not in fact..

Allison,

That pack looks comfortable as heck!


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Other/auction-143593373.htm

Piragis of the Northwoods may carry some Duluth style packs that you may be interested in checking out:

www.piragis.com

www.duluthpack.com

Chad

You can find nearly any, or at least a lot, of vintage packs on ebay if you are patient. It helps to narrow down your choices a bit, internal frame, external frame, soft pack, specific brand. Someone mentioned the revised Rivendell Mountain Works- you can't tell the new packs from the originals, I have both. Sized correctly they carry very well. If you narrow down what you are looking for I may be able to help you find something.

Class 5 Quim


Hine Snowbridge Serex


Holubar Royale Pack


Hine Snowbridge Tamarack


Lastly, the Rivendell Giant Jensen, aka, the coolest pack ever made

Edited by justmeagain on 03/13/2008 14:05:23 MDT.

I have a Trailwise external frame pack I bought in 1967. I don't know if that qualifies as vintage, but it's a great pack. It still has the original shoulder straps, with load lifters. In the early '80s I did replace the hip belt with a more modern one. The neat thing about Trailwise is that the two guys who started Trailwise sold it and started a company called Sierra Designs, which they sold and started a company called Walrus, which REI bought. It was cool to go into their "Factory Store", around the corner from the Berkeley, CA REI and watch them designing new tents in the back.

The Walrus service was really something. I left the tent poles for my Walrus Solo One behind when we broke camp because of an emergency. I went into the store and asked about replacement poles and one of the owners crawled up into the rafters and rummaged through boxes of poles until he found a set. He gave them to me for free and wished me good hiking.

I saw these at a gear shop in Kyoto.
I don't know if you can get them here.

I saw this earlier today.

http://thegoat.backcountry.com/blog/2007/12/14/vintage-backpacks-for-old-school-hikers/

Swedish M-39 (1939 model) Rucksack.

http://www.fatiguesarmynavy.com/store/item/SE1901/Genuine_Swedish_Army_Infantry_Backpack_w_Frame

http://www.armynavydeals.com/asp/products_details.asp?SKU=bbgswed01&ST=2

Or if you can possibly find one a M-35 (1935 model) which seems identical to the 39 model, but with 2 side pouches and a back pouch. Extremely hard to find though.

Edited by Jared on 03/18/2008 14:10:03 MDT.

Hey, this is backpackingLIGHT.com, NOT RETRObackpacking.com! ;)

Nothing wrong with a little vintage. Kephart wrote about exceptionally light kit; Nessmuk, indeed, was notorious for it.

Materials may have changed, but the desire to get into the outdoors relatively unburdened has been with us since well before John Muir.

Mind you, I just love old camping stuff so I'll admit to a little bias here :)

I have two of potential interest: A Hine/Snowbridge Serex w/ optional side pockets, and A Frostline Venture Pack. I have modified them over the years, so they're not pristine original, but of course MUCH better packs as a result! I had a snow scree put in the Serex, royal blue to contrast with the Navy pack. The orange Venture now has contrasting blue daisy chains, and two additional external pockets on the top and back to accommodate quick-access stuff. Both were professionally done (Pack mod section in an outdoor shop near Ft. Bragg, NC) Email me at hjdonohue2@nc.rr.com if you're interested and I'll send pictures.../Hugh

Ive still got an early eighties Lowe Alpine Systems internal frame pack. And its still in good condition. This is THE CLASSIC original style, internal frame backpack...no frills. I figure its got another 500 miles on it at least. Back then, they made backpacking gear bombproof and most packs were made out of very durable cordura nylon.

Its heavy, its bombproof, it can handle a 100 lbs no problem as long as your fit to handle 100 lb loads and it looks mean...its an ULighters nightmare. And its a classic.

Eric

Vintage? Wouldn't that be a Golite Breeze? Or a GVP? Those are pretty classic man!

Then you could put a floorless Tarptent Squall inside.

Dude- flashbacks! Can all of you remember when Cuben was, like, NEW? I think I do!!!

And didn't there used to be stuff called "cordura"? Wait a second, do I hear Flock of Seagulls playing?

:-)

>And didn't there used to be stuff called "cordura"? Wait a >second, do I hear Flock of Seagulls playing?

1000 denier cordura...GREAT STUFF! You could: 1)throw it out of a plane and it would survive intact; 2) break off the trail and bushwhack through the thickest, nastiest briers and brambles that would totally tear up a UL pack; 3)go for years and years without having to buy a new pack; 4) use the pack to carry mega heavy resupply loads to base camp...UL packs simply wont handle that; 5) not have to worry about babying your pack while setting it on the ground during trail breaks or during airport handling.

Id like to see a synthetic pack material with the ruggedness of good old cordura nylon, but with the lightness of silnylon. Im not sure that would be possible, however.

Eric

Edited by 50Miler on 05/01/2008 22:47:59 MDT.

Wow! A Granite Gear Vapor Trail? I have a used one that I haven't used in over a year. Is it vintage yet??