I'm a long time lurker of this forum and really enjoy looking at the various homemade projects. I thought it was time to post one of my own.
This is a pack made from Dyneema X from thru-hiker.com. I used the gossamer gear G4 pattern with a few modifications. I left off the wings at the bottom, added 2 grommets to the bottom for water drainage, added 2 compression straps and moved the pockets around a little. The top closure is similar to a Gust or Jam Pack. The weight came out to 15.7 ounces which I am happy with for a pack with such durable material. Hope you enjoy.

Beautiful!

It looks very professional, and sub-pound for a sturdy pack is great.

Sweet!

You can lurk around my sewing machine as much as you like.
I'll even provide the fabric.

Nice Job.

Very nice.

nice looking pack!

looks professional

Thanks for all the compliments although it doesn't look nearly as good on the inside! Using the printed pattern availible at quest outfitters helped alot with the parts of the pattern that weren't squares, shoulder straps, hip belt, etc.

If that's your first pack, it's an impressive feat. Nice choice of color; the usual bright blue doesn't seem to look good in the Ozarks to me.

Wow! I'm impressed. I wish I could sew like that.

Beautiful, how many cubic inches?

If you follow the G4 instructions to the letter the pack is supposed to come out to 4400 c.i. I would guess mine is around 4000 fully loaded; it has a good sized extension collar. Its big enough to hold my 3 season gear plus a BV500 without having to put a puzzle together to make it fit. It is my second pack, the first being little more than a stuff sack with straps that didn't turn out very good . . .

Tom: Where was your avatar pic taken?

Thanks again for the comments. Ive been following Jasons projects for a while now. Great stuff!

Edited by LukeOchsen on 01/18/2009 18:15:40 MST.

I've always worried about a hydration bladder leak in my pack. The grommets are a great idea! I think I'll put some in mine.

Great looking pack.

Luke: I wasn't actually backpacking at the time, in fact I had a fall the day before and was taking a short hike to work out the kinks, I don't know if it helped as the kinks keep creaking. :-) That is the Current River near Big Spring at Van Buren, MO, and there are some decent trails nearby. It's a pretty place. I find it interesting that a river can be that size and still be crystal clear.

Looks like a cool area. I wish I had trails like that around my town. The closest place that offers any decent hiking to joplin is the piney creek wilderness area around tablerock lake which is 45 min. from my house. I guess it could be worse...