The Nomad Desert Ruck is something I have been wanting to design for awhile it just took Thru hiker to get Dyneema X Gridstop in the color of ever green.

I have always wanted a ever green pack with contoured professional look to the pack and a zippered entry in to the pack and large combo front/side pocket that compress the pack also . I also wanted to try a idea with a breathable back panel using one 10" panel of Zlite pad sewed in to the back of the pack to keep your back dry. The pack weigh 28 oz. I also can use my 4 foot Ridgerest pad unrolled inside for a virtual frame. When I sleep at night the combo length of the Ridgerest pad and Zlite back panel is long enough for a full length sleeping pad.

I used Thru Hiker ever green Dyneema X Gridstop for light weight pack body and front of the lid, 500D foliage green cordura for the combo back/bottom and part of the top zippered lid pocket of the pack for strength in stress/abrasion areas. I used heavy duty heavy weight mesh to hold the Zlite pad sandwiched in place between the 500d cordura back panel.

I use 3/4" ,1", 5/8",3/8" flat webbing and ITW nexus Jet series hardware and cord keepers. Replaceable shock cord system when it wears out.

# 5 water proof zippers you will notice I use a top compression shock cord keeper to hold down on the front of the pack over the zipper lid to take some pack weight stress off the light weight #5 zipper. If I would have use #8 Or #10 zipper I would not have worried about it.

I also used the removable Jandd Cloud 9 type shoulder straps I made with 3/4" webbing attachment instead 1 " webbing and cross-linked olefin foam 1/2" padding I found at local brick and mortar shop called UFO,

The shoulder straps can be swapped between packs that why they are grey Dyneema X grids stop. Also a removable 1" webbing waist belt.

The Zlite back panel has worked great in keeping my back cool in testing of the pack I am happy with simple design.
Enjoy,
Terry

Photos:
Nomad Desert Ruck front:



Nomad Desert Ruck Side:



Nomad Desert Ruck Back:



Nomad Desert Ruck Zlite breathable back panel:

Edited by socal-nomad on 08/04/2012 11:16:51 MDT.

Very nice!! I especially like the mesh back panel and zippered pocket for the zlite.

Hey Terry,

Nicely done!

Once before on another thread concerning the dreaded "sweaty back" I suggested that the key was air flow.

The Equinox Katahdin has a similar solid mesh back for ventilation.

Re-purposing the Z Lite foam pad sections in concert with the mesh back panel seems to be an elegant answer to the question of getting rid of the sweaty back in a MYOG ultralight pack.

Don't "sweat" the #5 waterproof zipper's durability, pun intended. ;-)

My last MYOG pack used a #5 waterproof zipper in the same sort of application. I've taken it out fully loaded quite a few times and durability hasn't been an issue. I do like the design of the compression system.

What kind of mesh did you use? Does it have zero stretch? I keep waiting for the MESHRAW1/8 to get back in stock at Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics or replaced with the "COMING SOON IN NEW STYLE" mesh that they say will replace it. ;-?

"When I sleep at night the combo length of the Ridgerest pad and Zlite back panel is long enough for a full length sleeping pad".

Just curious here, could you have used a full length "rolled" Z Lite as a virtual frame and achieve the same goal? I'm assuming that you have a pad pocket of sorts for the 2 sections of Z Lite in your pack that would defeat this idea.

Why not call it the So Cal Desert Nomad? ;-)

Pretty pack!

Party On,

Newton

Looks like MYOG packs are few and far between, Glad to see one, your pack is nice, I'd like to see some detail of the inside. Looks like the HMG windrider rear pocket compression system. Cool pack

Terry,

Thanks for posting. This pack looks good enough to hang on the shelf at REI and with the materials you used it should last forever.

Does the breathability of the z-lite back panel come from what appears to be bumps in the foam that allow air to circulate?

Daryl

Thanks for the comments about the the Desert Nomad pack. I am really proud of this pack I have been taking my time and improving my pack designs and seamstress skills.

Sean,
I liked to clear up one thing their is no internal pad pocket for a Zlite pad Like they use on Six Moons packs. I only used one section of a Zlite pad that is sandwiched between the back Cordura fabric and the Mesh.

The Zlite back Pad has a dual use to give me more air flow on my back when hiking and as a foot pad at night for sleeping in conjunction with short ridgerest. I like the ridgerest because it is not as thick as the Zlite and takes up less room inside the pack when unrolled and also makes a better virtual frame.

The mesh I used is Mil Spec heavy weight mesh from Rockywoods fabrics. Jandd and other pack manufactures use this mesh for back panels but they use a open cell foam that is similar to foam used in aquarium filters.

I found larger panels 3/4 inch thick of the aquarium type foam but the price is is is about $65.00 is not worth the price for a one off pack. I also looked for shaped foam for example cross liked poly olifin foam with raised pyramids or just ridges like Rei and Osprey uses on their packs also again the price was to expensive for a one off pack.

http://www.rockywoods.com/Fabrics-Kits/Mesh-Fabrics/Mil-Spec-Heavyweight-Mesh-Fabric

Terry

Edited by socal-nomad on 08/05/2012 11:06:56 MDT.

Terry, very nice pack you made. The construction looks top notch. I like your back pad idea. Have you found that it works well on hot days or is your back still wetting? Those shoulder straps look really thick and comfortable. What did you pad those with? How much weight are you comfortable carrying in the Ruck?

Rob,
Thanks for your comments the breathable back panel keeps your back pretty dry compared to a fabric back or my Osprey Talon 44 pack. I have found even the trampoline mesh back packs like the osprey Stratos 18 I use to own your back still get wet just from sweating.

So it keep your back dryer than most packs and also serves as a a foot pad when sleeping.

The shoulder pads are a copy of Jandd cloud 9 shoulder straps the foam I used is 1/2 inch thick crosslinked closed cell foam used in bodyboard construction that is very dense I found at UFO fabrics remnants department. I found the key to shoulder pad is not the thickness is the with the part that goes over your shoulders should be at least 3 to 3.25 inches wide to take the load comfortably.

The pack will carry up to 30 lbs. if needed, I prefer to carry only 20 lbs. or less when backpacking.
Have fun making your pack.
Terry