Inspired by Shewie's thread on the Duluth Bushcrafter pack:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46397&highlight=%22duluth+bushcrafter%22
But put off by the price
)!) I decided to research canvas and leather packs and to have a go at making my own. Stage one is just finished, i.e. the main pack - I am going to add pockets when I get the time. Sorry that I didn't take pics as I went along but here is the finished article:
I used the laser engraver at work to etch the logo.
I sewed a sleeve on the inside so that I can slide a sitmat down - this gives it a bit of inherent stiffness and stops objects sticking in my back:
I decided to add a leather bottom for protection against bumps and scrapes:
Modelled by yours truly:
I estimate that the capacity is just over 30 litres (depending on how tightly you want to pull the drawstring.) But it seems much bigger than my Sabre 30. The dimensions are roughly:
500mm high x 350mm wide x 180mm deep.
Weight - what with all that leather and copper! - is a tad over 3lbs. (Not for my lightweight long distance trips!)
I want to add detachable pockets that will bring the capacity up to about 36 litres.
Finally - a word about the cost of these packs:
After my initial thoughts that these packs were too expensive to justify buying, I have changed my mind somewhat. The materials for my pack cost me:
12oz water/rot proof Canvas - £12 a metre (almost 2 metres used)
Leather - £4.80 a square foot(about 3.5 square feet used - inc. waste)
Rivets - c£5 a pack of 50 (Bowstocks)
which works out as:
Canvas £24.00
Leather £16.80
Rivets - £5.00
Brass buckles - £5.50
Polyester thread/Linen thread - £5.00 (estimate)
Postage on all the above - c.£12
Which comes to a grand total of £68.30. Not bad in comparison to the offerings from Duluth, Frosts River, Rugged River etc. BUT - add in the cost of labour and the prices charged by these companies seem much more reasonable. OK, I know they buy in bulk, can make them in much less time than I did, have templates and machines set up in advance etc. etc. But, if I "paid" myself even minimum wage (currently £5.87 per hour) for 10 hours work (it took much longer!) and added it to the cost of materials, already the pack is coming in at around £127.00. So maybe these prices are not so exorbitant after all.
On the other hand, to paraphrase the advert: the satisfaction of making it yourself - priceless!
The next step is to take it out on a jaunt and see how it bears up to the rigours of the outdoors.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46397&highlight=%22duluth+bushcrafter%22
But put off by the price
)!) I decided to research canvas and leather packs and to have a go at making my own. Stage one is just finished, i.e. the main pack - I am going to add pockets when I get the time. Sorry that I didn't take pics as I went along but here is the finished article:I used the laser engraver at work to etch the logo.
I sewed a sleeve on the inside so that I can slide a sitmat down - this gives it a bit of inherent stiffness and stops objects sticking in my back:
I decided to add a leather bottom for protection against bumps and scrapes:
Modelled by yours truly:
I estimate that the capacity is just over 30 litres (depending on how tightly you want to pull the drawstring.) But it seems much bigger than my Sabre 30. The dimensions are roughly:
500mm high x 350mm wide x 180mm deep.
Weight - what with all that leather and copper! - is a tad over 3lbs. (Not for my lightweight long distance trips!)
I want to add detachable pockets that will bring the capacity up to about 36 litres.
Finally - a word about the cost of these packs:
After my initial thoughts that these packs were too expensive to justify buying, I have changed my mind somewhat. The materials for my pack cost me:
12oz water/rot proof Canvas - £12 a metre (almost 2 metres used)
Leather - £4.80 a square foot(about 3.5 square feet used - inc. waste)
Rivets - c£5 a pack of 50 (Bowstocks)
which works out as:
Canvas £24.00
Leather £16.80
Rivets - £5.00
Brass buckles - £5.50
Polyester thread/Linen thread - £5.00 (estimate)
Postage on all the above - c.£12
Which comes to a grand total of £68.30. Not bad in comparison to the offerings from Duluth, Frosts River, Rugged River etc. BUT - add in the cost of labour and the prices charged by these companies seem much more reasonable. OK, I know they buy in bulk, can make them in much less time than I did, have templates and machines set up in advance etc. etc. But, if I "paid" myself even minimum wage (currently £5.87 per hour) for 10 hours work (it took much longer!) and added it to the cost of materials, already the pack is coming in at around £127.00. So maybe these prices are not so exorbitant after all.
On the other hand, to paraphrase the advert: the satisfaction of making it yourself - priceless!
The next step is to take it out on a jaunt and see how it bears up to the rigours of the outdoors.
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