I can't seem to get away from the sewing machine, and I couldn't fight the urge to make a really durable pack that can carry a bear canister on top. This will end up replacing this pack, because without any real structure, that pack ended up putting too much weight on my shoulders around 15 lbs. or more. Therefore, I wanted a pack made out of the stiff XPAC VX21 that also featured a full back pad sleeve and a removable aluminum stay. I figured with this combination, it would hold its structure well enough to be comfortable up to 25-30 lbs.





My fabric choices for this pack were...

Main pack and extension collar: VX21
Bottom of pack and bottle pockets: VX42
Front panel, bottle, and hip belt pockets: Dyneema X
Inside of shoulder straps and hip belt: Foam Ventilated Mesh
Full back pad sleeve: Lycra

Weight with aluminum stay and before strap trimming: 31 oz.

Some features I included in this pack were...

Shock cord to keep water bottles more secure:



Two webbing straps to hold bear canister in place on top of pack:



Removable (big) hip belt pockets that stay in place when attached:





I knew this pack would not be under 1 pound, and I did not intend it to be. I wanted it very durable, and I wanted it to hold its structure almost as well as an internal frame pack, and it just about does with the aluminum stay, GG Nightlight Torso Pad in full back pad sleeve, and the stiff VX 21.

Also, I wanted a closure system similar to the ULA Catalyst closure system. The extension collar rolls down, buckles on both side panels, and a center strap goes over the top.





I will take this baby on a day hike soon to try it out, and hopefully, it will be with me on the JMT in a month.

Edited by Shane112510 on 07/07/2011 22:11:46 MDT.

great work!

Sizzle.

Good looking pack! One thing I would be worried about is it does not seem as though there are and drain holes on the pockets. The Dyneema X will pool water I'd imagine. You could cut a small hole and put mesh over it to contain the contents.

Good pack though. What size padding did you use in the hipbelt and straps?

Excellent work Shane, I really like it. That hipbelt pocket looks very well done, and large enough to hold a lot of stuff.

Ryan

Thanks, guys.

All the pockets have drain holes. You just can't see them in the pictures, because they are located on the bottom of all the pockets.

I used 3/8" CCF for the straps and hipbelt.

Great job on the pack it is a bomber design and I like how it zipper less except for the detachable side belt pockets. I think the only thing I would do is make sure the bear can does not slip or shift side to side is make light weight stuff sack for the can with a daisy string runnner the length of the sack and can.

It can serve two purposes one the daisy chain runner will allow you to run the bear can attachment straps through to avoid side slip of the bear can. Number two also because your bear can is a expensive carbon fiber composite bear can it will act as sun UV shield for the bear can so the carbon fiber composite will not break down faster being exposed to UV rays of the sun,Like most composite materials do.
Terry

Beautiful job.
Do you think the can will be too close to the back of your head?

Looks great and I'm so glad I don't have to carry a bear canister ever.

Thanks, Terry.

The bear canister does not shift side to side at all with the webbing pulled tight, though I may consider a lightweight stuff sack as an extra precaution.

Samuel,

Doesn't touch my head at all. As a benefit, it provides more sun protection. :)

Rob,

I wish I never had to carry one either, but I think hiking the JMT is worth carrying it.

Made the bear canister stuff sack today, Terry.

1.8 oz.

Shane, sweet looking pack! Your time at the machine is paying off, keep up the great work!

Impressive! Very professional work combined with great design ideas. Well done :)

Where did you get that Bear Canister?

Shane,

I love the "modularity" of this pack. It's great the way that the shoulder strap and hip belt pockets can be used or removed as needed.

The creative way that you attached the hip belt pockets makes them securely located and still modular in design. Well done!

The shockcord water bottle "keepers" serve two purposes in my mind. Naturally they keep your water bottle secure but they also tip the top of the bottles forward to make them easily reachable and replaceable.

Very nice stitchwork, the waterproof zipper is especially well done and professional in appearance.

This is a truly great looking pack. Good luck on the JMT.

Party On,

Newton

Nicholas, http://www.wild-ideas.net/products.html

Shane,
Nice job on the stuff sack and that 1.8 oz. will pay off in the long run protecting that expensive carbon fiber bear can, also stopping to readjust a slipped can on the trail. Have fun on your JMT trip.
Terry

Edited by socal-nomad on 07/10/2011 13:01:40 MDT.

mad sewing and design skills! should serve you very nicely on the JMT :)

Thanks for the kind words, everyone, and thank you for the stuff sack idea, Terry.

Newton,

I used to use the Mountain Laurel Design hipbelt pockets with a Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus backpack, but I had to readjust them every time I took the pack off and put it back on. That's why I wanted to design a detachable pocket that would stay in place. I'm sure there are many ways one could secure them in place, but I decided on using the hook and loop from Quest Outfitters, which work very well, and run it through a looploc on top of the hipbelt and then through the webbing. Pack goes off and on with no readjustment necessary.

The second reason you mentioned for the shockcord water bottle keepers is exactly why I located them where I did. ;)

When is your next pack due? I'm looking forward to it.

Shane,

My next pack is on the work table of my machine as I write this. It will be a day pack for my wife. I am incorporating a lot of design elements into it such as a light and thin frame sheet with an aluminum stay, custom fit to the curvature of her spine.

Family priorities and my work have kept me quite busy and unable to devote as much time as I would like to this project. It will be forthcoming and there will be ample pictures to detail the hows and whys of construction.

Thanks for your interest but this thread is about your excellently crafted MYOG Black Bomber Backpack. You included a large number of well thought out features in your pack. I really like the black Xpac and the grey Dyneema together. It's what every "formal" backpacker should be wearing this season. ;-)

I do have one question. What is the purpose of that one visible seam below the upper most pocket on the front panel of the pack?

Party On,

Newton