"DIY Duluth" - home made canvas/leather pack (pic heavy)

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Excellent work mate.

The sit mat idea is good. I use a canvas german mountain pack for day trips and that has the same feature. Its come in very handy.
 
:wow1: That's a grand job you've done there Kerne.

You've every reason to be proud as that looks like a professionally made pack that's going to last you for years to come.
 
On the other hand, to paraphrase the advert: the satisfaction of making it yourself - priceless!

I gave up trying to justify making things myself, on the basis of saving money, years ago.
Learning new skills, time well spent and making something to your own specifications that often turns out better than you could buy is justification enough.

Your fantastic pack proves that.

Thanks for sharing the excellent idea with the sitmat in the back. I will definately be using that idea when I get round to making a pack myself.
 
Thanks for all the encouraging comments, folks.

Just finished making the detachable pockets this evening - I'll try and post some pics over the weekend.
 
That's a fantastic piece of work,and hugely inspiring, I might have to dig out my gran's old Singer sewing machine.

And living in Brittany, I love the fact you've decorated it with a Triskell.
 
Spent my evenings this week making the pockets for the rucksack. I used much the same technique so, basically, I made two tiny rucksacks - about 3 litres each. They, therefore, give you the option of bringing the capacity of the rucksack up to about 36 litres and the total weight up to just under 4lbs:

pockets3.jpg


An empty pocket:
pockets1.jpg


They attach to the rucksack side straps via sleeves sewn onto the back:
pockets2.jpg


To make it look like this:
pockets4.jpg


pockets5.jpg


Modelled by me:
pockets6.jpg

pockets7.jpg


Hoping to get out into the woods to do a field test in the next couple of weeks. I will post a review when I do. In the meantime, got to get on with those jobs I've been ignoring in order to get this finished...
 
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Hi Kerne, Wow that looks good , and you can use the pockets on a belt as possable pouch ?

Cheers Topknot.

Thanks - can't wait to see your finished pack.

I think the sleeve at the back might be too wide to give the pockets a firm carry as a possibles pouch. But, now that you have mentioned it, you've given me an idea - if I were to make two narrow sleeves rather than one large one (or stitched a seam about 50mm below the top one). They could double up. As it happens, the first pocket I made was a little too small for my liking (about 2.5 litres) so I made some more. I think I will dig it out and see if I can adapt it as a matching belt pouch - thanks for the idea!
 
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WOW! Thanks for posting that link - great video and it's given me all sorts of ideas about the next pack I try to make. I like the guy who says "I just kinda eyeball it" - it sums up a lot of traditional crafts for me and is a refreshing approach in these days of CADCAM. It is also refreshing to see a company producing quality products without "outsourcing" labour to a cheaper country.

BTW - love the video in your signature:lmao:
 
Nice work:)

I like your idea of the removable pockets, I suppose that if you make your own pack you can tailor it to your own needs:rolleyes:

Richard

P.S. Where did you get the canvas from?
 
glad you like it,

wouldnt mind having a go at making my own pack, thanks for the inspiration,
can i ask, what kind of sewing machine do you use, and what thread?
is it a normal household one, or wouldnt it do???

cheers

I used an ordinary household sewing machine - a fairly ancient Brother. It handled the job fine except when I got up to about 4 or 5 thicknesses of canvas, when it struggled a bit. I also bought canvas/denim needles which are stronger than the standard ones. I used Gutermann polyester thread which I am assured is pretty strong. I noticed in the video that Duluth use a much thicker thread but their industrial machines can probably take it easily. Mine (or SWMBO's to be precise) wouldn't get near handling that thickness of thread.
 

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