Dream Day / Patrol pack. Ideas please.

[forestwalker]

Personally? One-huge-pack philosophy, no compartments, just side pockets.

Chanels and such behind the side pockets: skis, fishing rods, folding bucksaws, etc.

No zippers that is absolutely essential (Klättermusen IIRC makes/made one pack with a roll-closure on a lower pocket, that is a neat idea). I'm planning ona couple of small buckles to allow zip-less closing the lid pocket on my Sabre 45.

A small pocket on the shoulder strap (compas, map, notepad, perhaps sunglasses: like a shirt pocket).

Clip points, like you have with the carabiners on your current pack: for small stuff one takes out for camp/breaks but do not want to loose (stuff sack for tarp, etc).

Drag handle so that you can hang the pack from a tree if the ground is very soggy.

Attachment points for rope and such. Plenty. Thermoplastic only lasts 25 years or so, so I'd prefer good leather.

 

[Wayland]

Sounds just the sort of thing I've got in mind.

I may add attachment points on the shoulder straps so I can add or remove a pouch rather than have it permanently fixed.

 

[Skaukraft]

I would highly recomend you forget about pockets and stuff on the shoulder straps. Fancy stuff on the straps tend to get caught up in all kind of s**t. Keep them clean and tidy. If you for example fall in water, go through the ice in winter or fall into a hole in a marsh, getting rid of your backpack as fast as possible could save your life.
Keep all the fancy stuff to the pack itself, and let the shoulder straps be just sholuder straps, thats my advice.

 

[Wayland]

That tends to be my thinking as well but having attachment points does mean I can experiment.

 

[Wayland]

Oh.. I forgot to add one essential requirement.

Cabin baggage friendly which gives a maximum size of 56cm long x 45cm wide x 25cm deep.

My plans should be under that without the side pockets.

 

[mountainm]

I would highly recomend you forget about pockets and stuff on the shoulder straps. Fancy stuff on the straps tend to get caught up in all kind of s**t. Keep them clean and tidy. If you for example fall in water, go through the ice in winter or fall into a hole in a marsh, getting rid of your backpack as fast as possible could save your life.
Keep all the fancy stuff to the pack itself, and let the shoulder straps be just sholuder straps, thats my advice.

Depends what you're doing - going for a walk with the kids in the local woods isn't quite the same as yomping over bog and boulder. My camera is my most reached for item - followed by my water bottle. It would be good if I had safe storage for these without needing to take my pack off.

 

[grey-array]

More this...

I always really love this kind of design, but would like to make it with modular side pockets instead them being permanently on there, perhaps even make the side pocket able to serve as belt poucheshttp://www.fjallraven.com/outdoor-equipment/backpacks-and-bags/vintage-30-l
and Though I never had a problem with a hipstrap getting in the way I might be able to see your problem with it, yet is shouldnt be a mayor engineering challenge to get that modular as well. You have inspired me Gary I'm gonna draw something up and design a new, vintage but still innovative pack.
I will lets you guys see into the progress as that goes ^^
Yours sincerely Ruud

 

[Dreadhead]

i like that design iv been thinking of making something similar to strap to an external frame. looking for cheaper options than buying a load of canvas i came across old army canvas duffle bags as an option. just a big canvas tube very easy to mod. there are several on etsy and ebay.

as others have said just add buckles so you can add pouches when neccessary. ill be keeping an eye out on this to see what you come up with for some inspiration

 

[andybysea]

The pack Clint(Hemlock) used in the Eiger sanction,the bit when he was doing his pre climb training,looked like a nice old school day pack.

 

[Jared]

Have wondered why there hasn't been a pack with strips of leather stitched on with eyes in, so could lace other pouches/kit to it.

 

[mountainm]

i like that design iv been thinking of making something similar to strap to an external frame. looking for cheaper options than buying a load of canvas i came across old army canvas duffle bags as an option. just a big canvas tube very easy to mod. there are several on etsy and ebay.

as others have said just add buckles so you can add pouches when neccessary. ill be keeping an eye out on this to see what you come up with for some inspiration

There's always one of these - perhaps even easier to mod
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007HQD1...de=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B007HQD1LK

 

[Wayland]

Have wondered why there hasn't been a pack with strips of leather stitched on with eyes in, so could lace other pouches/kit to it.

I tried something along those lines with my old Cyclops Roc but it didn't work quite as I wanted it to.

The PLCE type zip system is a lot more stable and I'll incorporate that into the build of this bag as well.

 

[Wayland]

Hmm.. Experimenting with my clip on belt idea doesn't seem to be very stable.

I'm probably going to just include belt loops so I can use a belt or not as I like.

Very roughly, this is the plan then.

It'll probably change as I go on, the first casualty in any plan is the plan as they say but it does at least point my thoughts in the general direction I want to go in.

 

[sandbender]

"...Hmm.. Experimenting with my clip on belt idea doesn't seem to be very stable..."

The old Lowe Vector Commando pack used two flat metal pins to secure the belt to the pack, it was very secure and stable, Here are a few pictures posted by johnboy on this earlier thread.

Looks like a great project so far.

 

[TinkyPete]

Here is a link to a similar project by someone on BCUSA, thought you might like a look Gary:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68319

 

[malley]

Did the ideal pack ever get constructed? Looks great.

 

[Wayland]

I'm still thinking about it really.

Got a few ideas though.

 

[S.C.M.]

heh, I'm thinking bout making a bag out of a lump of bright green tablecloth (it's tough - the other bit went to mend a deckchair) it's about 55x130cm.
Any ideas Wayland? It's either going to be a short-trip pack or a pack for day-to-day: Uni, bike-shopping...

 

[Laurentius]

Bit of an impossible dream I think. I am forever hovering between what I consider ideal, sometimes it is hi tech and light and other times rugged and traditional, I am going more toward leather and canvas at the moment. I think my ideal right now is something that is not too big that you are tempted to stuff it with more than you really need. I have just bought myself a yugoslav pack and what I like about it is the way you can use it as a rucksack or haversack. I am probably going to pimp it.

I think a pack that you can expand by strapping additional stuff to it is the way to go, but not over the top Molle loops everywhere, just where you are likely to need them.

 

[Gary Elson]

Hi Wayland
Have a look at Millican ( www.millican.com ) they make all sorts of bags and have some clever ideas
I'm a college lecturer and use one of their messenger style bags and it seems to carry all the crap I need you know laptops books students work bottle of malt etc
Not suggesting you purchase but you might get some ideas
Gary