I had an idea for a new kind of UL backpack that probably takes us back in time 200 years. Imagine taking your wool blanket, rolling your gear up in it, tying the ends, and slinging it over your shoulder. Easy and lightweight. I did the same thing but with tyvek, essentially creating a tube that tightens at both ends and has openings down the edge to be able to access things as you're walking. It uses a single piece of tyvek, two drawcords for the ends, and several stitches along the length of the tube but perpendicular to the tube. It weighs 4 oz (100g), has a 50 liter capacity and can be worn over either shoulder.

Here are some pictures:







I would reckon it is comfortable up to 15 lb or so, and you can always switch shoulders. Downsides are that it slightly inhibits pole movement on one side and that thread holes may grow over time and weaken the fabric. It is also not well-suited to carrying bulky sleeping pads.

Advantages are that you can access any part of your pack at any time by sticking your hand in the fold at the right place, so packing your stuff carefully isn't such a big deal anymore. Just be sure to balance the weight at each end.

Edited by Legkohod on 03/29/2008 07:16:57 MDT.

Nice job on thinking outside the box, Rick. Yes it may not be the most practical, and yes it may not be as good as something else and yes you may find you don't like using it. But to all this I say, so what. You probably spent a half hour sewing it, two dollars on materials and had an afternoon's worth of spending time walking with it outside - - all of which is well worth some experimentation. Thanks for posting the thread and pics.

If I remember correctly David Carridine, aka "grasshopper", carried a bedroll/pack very similar to what Rick is working on in the TV series Kung Fu. Recalling this really shows my age.

Very interesting concept. You indicate it interferes a little with using your poles; you also infer it's not well balanced, side-to-side, since it's all on one side (but you change shoulders.) What if you took it a step further, and mimicked the Civil War photos: bedroll over one shoulder, with a haversack over the other shoulder? Your bedroll could consist of your shelter, bag, pad, spare clothes, and maybe tomorrow's food. Your haversack could hold today's food (maybe tomorrow's, too?), your stove and fuel, map, compass, water treatment, and other small items you might want easy access to. It would also put perhaps half the weight on each side. I'm thinking something like a large Granite Gear Air Space box-shaped, zippered, stuff sack with a webbing shoulder strap would make a good haversack - you could also build one yourself, with two or three sections to allow you to organize things a little. (Of course, the haversack would add 3 or 4 ounces to your kit; maybe it could justify its weight by stuffing clothing in it at night to form a pillow?)

A Platypus could go in the haversack, or simply clip to your belt.

Another thought on pole interference: you could try using only one pole, switching hands as you switch shoulders.

Neat idea - let us know how it works out.

Edited by garkjr on 03/31/2008 10:41:10 MDT.

Hey, thanks for the feedback.

By the way, this idea came from reading about how Ray Jardine hikes with his backpack slung over one shoulder. I thought, "a backpack really isn't specifically designed for single-shoulder use," and I started thinking about backpacks with just one shoulder strap, but them it would keep falling into your armit from behind. The only way around this was to have it loop around your body like this. If the weight is balanced between front and back, it won't tend to change position. If you change shoulders every hour, it probably wouldn't put too much strain on them.

I intend to take this on a summer outing some time when I will be in my hammock and won't need a sleeping pad. I'm a little sheepish about walking with it on trails, but I think part of the point of what so many of us are trying to do here is to limit the influence of peer pressure and do what really works for us, so I will just grin and bear it:)

Great idea! The "pack" could be used for a groundcloth too. I too was inspired by Ray Jardine and his writing on Grandma Gatewood, and several years ago developed a single-strap daypack. My lightest version is 2 oz, in 1.1 oz silnylon, with a water bottle holder and plenty enough room for ultralight day gear, including lots of water and a synthetic vest. Its really simple to make.

I'd be cautious with this and suggest 2 instead of 1.

Putting a load like this onto one shoulder for extended periods does lots to mis-load the body and the spine.

If you threw away your sticks would you still be omfortable?

With light loads it's not a problem, but as the load weight goes up then having a load that is a damped pendulum and on just one shoulder will be more tiring than a properly integrated load.

Yet on a recent day-walk I did take with me a monk-bag that had not very much in it rather than bother with a backpack.

I would also suggest 2 instead of one if carrying any load. Postmen in England carry post bags crossed on each hip like 2 of these. If you want to avoid the problem with your stick/s you need 2 rows of stitching across the tube 100mm each side of the middle. This will produce a pocket which you can access seperately which you can use only for flat items. The bulge of the tube would then only be infront and behind you

now that looks like my favorite Baby Sling!

H

Edited by Mitchell on 04/14/2008 01:19:38 MDT.

Got to hand it to you for the innovative thinking. Brings to mind the newspaper bag I carried as a kid. You might check what paperboys are carrying now days and replicate it in lighter fabric.

Chuckle!
It's called an Australian Swag, more or less. Dates back ... almost 200 years.

Cheers

Some swagmen


http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aaac.100megsfree5.com/pics/swaggies1880s.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aaac.100megsfree5.com/people.htm&h=78&w=111&sz=17&tbnid=8rIpk0u3yUcJ:&tbnh=78&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dphotos%2Bof%2Bswagmen&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=2

That's cool! I do agree it's a little dorky looking though...

I just don't look forward to wearing any backpack and have been thinking about something similar based on the civil war era bedroll. Seems like the weight balance front to back would be a big plus. I figure the light, bulky items - sleeping bag, tent, tarp, bivy, etc. would go in the roll. Small heavy items would go into a small pack or a belt pouch where the weight would be better handled.

Maybe a psuedo-commercial arrangement could even be put together? It could have a main strap with a long, narrow pouch on the front, similar onthe back and a small square one at the low end of the strap...

my precious..

You could do like they do in Africa, and put one end on your forehead, and let it ride in the middle of your back.