I recently completed a new pack that is a combination of a few recent designs. It's pretty similar to my others, but the removable lid is new. Here are a few pictures, with a close up of the lid connection.

(Sorry for the poor image quality. My phone has a scratch over the camera lens)

Looks great, any plan to post more photos on flickr? I, for one, would love to see them!
Steve

Thank you Steve! I shipped this pack off to my brother, but I will get him to take some pictures and send them to me. I'll add them to flickr after that.

Edited by mpd1690 on 08/17/2012 19:30:49 MDT.

Michael,
Another fine looking pack and great job I am sure your brother will love the pack..

I am looking at the removable compression straps it looks like your using
a new plastic "D" ring for removal of the straps instead of the cut ladder lock.
I was looking at outdoor wilderness fabric they have 5/8" stamped zinc or nickle metal triglides/sliders that the webbing would be attached to then use a 3/4" loop lock. Then slip the 5/8" metal trigilde in to the loop lock.
Camp 7 backpacking equipment use to use this style of attaching pockets on their modular packs with 3/4" metal triglide and 1" looplock.
Terry

Edited by socal-nomad on 08/18/2012 09:34:07 MDT.

Thank you Terry.

I'm using loop locks. They work well with the straps on and work better than triglides with the straps removed. I wish that OWF carried that in plastic. I try to stay away from metal on my packs. I am always looking for something that will work better.

I was able to get my brother to send me some much better pictures

Here are some more pictures at my flickr:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/67046387@N04/sets/72157631150550598/show/

He takes much better pictures than I do.

Edited by mpd1690 on 08/21/2012 10:07:10 MDT.

Thanks to your brother for taking the pictures and to you for posting them. It makes it much easier to copy your good ideas!!
Steve

No problem at all. If you have any questions or need any help, feel free to post or pm me. I'm always happy to help.

Michael,

Can you comment on how you did your frame design and belt/pad design?

I made an external frame pack similar to a Zpack Exo this year and I am having problems with the belt fabric wearing at the pack interface. The material is 3oz cuben with the nylon layer.

Certainly. The frame consists of 2 6061 aluminum stays and a foam pad for comfort. The stays attach to the pad sleeve. The stays connect at the top where the load lifters are. The bottom attaches where at each edge of the lumbar pad. This allows for the load lifters and hip belt to transfer the load in a more efficient fashion. The pad is underneath.

Where exactly are you having the breakdown? Do you have a picture? Is the frame a hooped, external stay? How is it connected into the pack? Once I know these, I should be able to help.

Do you mind commenting on the front pocket? It looks like VX-21 from the pictures. Does it have some kind of stretch mesh underneath or is it just a sleeve more or less?

If possible, I'd love to see some pictures of the suspension and the stays. That sounds very similar to what I have in mind for a project, so it would be good to see how you did it.

Also--I like your hipbelts. Very well designed.

It is actually not a pocket. I put a sturdy material there (VX21 in this case, but I have used DX40 in the past) so that when things are strapped in between the daisy chains, there will be greater abrasion resistance. This way I can use a lighter material on the majority of the pack, while still having a tough area for lashing gear. You can use shock cord or velcro or straps (switch the compression from the side to the front) to secure things.

I do not have a picture of this stay system. I have a picture in my flickr account of a different one though. They are slightly different though. I used vx21 for the stay sleeves on the green pack. I also used a wider velcro, since this one has load lifters. I wanted more holding power. The title of the album is TX07 pack.

Edited by mpd1690 on 08/21/2012 22:37:51 MDT.