Seems like I rarely have time to tackle big projects lately, but I had fun doing these small ones to solve a few gear quandaries.

I've been looking for small summit packs to take for side hikes on layover days. We tried the Sea to Summit "Ultra-Sil" daypack but the straps are horrible; I'm not convinced it was designed to actually carry anything. We really like the REI Flash 18 but they're pretty heavy. I made these from 1.9oz silnylon (which feels a lot more robust than the 1.1oz sil) and thru-hiker 3D Mesh for the straps. They weigh 2.8 oz (only 0.4oz more than the Sea to Summit packs.)


Quest had some 2-layer Hi-Vent fabric that looked interesting, so I made this simple anorak. I really love this fabric! Very breathable, really nice soft drape. Weighs 4.3 oz.


I think I've finally found my pillow solution. I'm a side sleeper and like soft thick pillows. I've tried them ALL... and the only one I've liked is the old Thermarest foam ones that I use for car camping. But they weigh 7oz. So, I made a hybrid pillow attached to a pillow case. The pillow part is lined with climashield and filled with about a 1/3 of the Thermarest pillow foam pieces. In the picture, the top pillow has my Montbell down inner stuffed in the case part, the bottom pillow shows the pillowcase back. Made from 1.1oz nylon. 3.4oz each.

Nice rain jacket, I am not familiar with Hi vent, any idea of the breathability and HH figures?

Sorry, I don't. But my husband has a Marmot jacket with their "MemBrain Strata" and the fabrics seem very, very similar. This is what Quest says about the fabric and I believe the Marmot's MemBrain Strata is also a polyurethane coating.

"HI-Vent is created by applying a polyurethane coating with a special DT print matrix which acts as a dry-touch, half-layer coating. This half layer adds durability and comfort by physically separating the hi-vent polyurethane coating from the skin, eliminating the need for a liner. Hi-vent DT is extremely water repellent and wind resistant."

Hyvent is the same stuff North Face uses for some of their rain jackets. Backcountry has specs on some. Here's the first I saw.

http://www.backcountry.com/the-north-face-venture-jacket-mens

That's a really nice pullover. I wish I could make things as complicated as that. I only just started MYOG sewing stuff but even then my mom ends up doing almost all of the sewing.

Really like those pack- nice and simple and elegantly efficient.

Could I convince you by any chance to post a few more pics- of the straps and the attachment point to the bag?

Thanks!

Thanks. Construction is really simple -- front, sides and bottom are one piece of fabric. I just mitered the corners to create a box. Total volume is about 7L.

Shoulder strap is one piece, more secure attachment and less sag, imo. Made a port for bladder hose.


Mitered box corner. 1/2" webbing/buckle.

Edited by DetroitTigerFan on 03/16/2013 11:27:21 MDT.

Sumi, is the mesh on the straps backed with fabric, or just edged? Nice packs!

@dk, I used the 3D Mesh from thru-hiker, which is mesh backed with very light fabric (actually a really fine mesh). I edged it using 3/4" grosgrain tape.

Anorak looks great! If you used a pattern, would you mind sharing which one? I have about 3yd of hyvent left in my closet.

I modified the "Rainier Wind & Rain Suit" pattern by Green Pepper. I used the pattern for the hood, with minor modifications to the drawstring casing, and the raglan sleeves. I changed the front so that it's a simple one-piece design. The zipper is a little longer than the pattern. It would also be easy to add pit-zips (though I personally don't miss them with this fabric.)

I got the pattern from Quest Outfitters but found other sellers as well.

Sweet, thanks for the pictures of the daypacks -- I am going to make this exact type of pack for our JMT hike this summer. And now I have a good example for the straps. Love it.