tarp which serves as pack

[mnml crmnl]

i find it funny, that so many of us today seek to connect with nature, and wrap ourselves in plastic.

i have been thinking about lightweight canvas treated with linseed oil serving as a tarp and pack.

i folded a trapezoidal textile, the scale of a one pole tarp, into a burrito-esque pack.

i want inspiration from others who may travel with this one piece of material which serves two functions. perhaps they also use a felt cloak for ground cloth.

someone please help me, point me in some direction to satiate my thirst for knowledge of primitive alpinists and nomads.

im finding it amazingly difficult to find record of ancient "ultralight" "minimalists" for lack of better term of relation... before plastic ruled!


mainly im curious of how to hold the weight of the pack. for those who walked many miles for many days, how did they design their shoulder straps? can <15-20 pounds be held with no weight on the shoulders, by a wide belt on the hips, secured and balanced b/w the chest and back...perhaps two modular packs secured, together, to the torso under the armpits? i am fascinated by tribespeoples solutions for carrying children.

 

[Graham_S]

Hi.
Have you ever seen a Roycroft pack?
It's similar, and uses a Wooden frame.
I've built one before, and the frame and pack comprised of a tarp and the cordage to hang it, a blanket, and the frame for a bowsaw.
Nice and minimalist.

 

[sandbender]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Here is a vid where a Roycraft pack is made.

[video=youtube;EN3QPwb_pLU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN3QPwb_pLU[/video]

I regularly carry about ten kilos strapped to my back with a piece of cloth, my daughter, it can be a bit warm but comfy enough (for both of us).

 

[The Ratcatcher]

Look on Wikipedia for Swag (bedroll) for information about the traditional Australian swag.

AlaN

 

[udamiano]

+1 As above

From Mors site

http://www.primitiveways.com/pack_frame.html

 

[Corso]

Kephart's work describes lightweight kit quite well

failing that look for 'historical trekking ' references

 

[mountainm]

http://www.ehow.com/how_8495410_make-tarp-backpack.html

 

[Rod Paradise]

Hi.
Have you ever seen a Roycroft pack?
It's similar, and uses a Wooden frame.
I've built one before, and the frame and pack comprised of a tarp and the cordage to hang it, a blanket, and the frame for a bowsaw.
Nice and minimalist.

Excuse the slight hijack - but I just followed the link in your sig Graham & have been laughing all the way through that list - some brilliant ones in it!!

 

[Jared]

Dave Canterbury using a blanket as a backpack.

[video=youtube;XTFfnT5g0ls]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTFfnT5g0ls[/video]

 

[suburban bushwacker]

You might like Keith's blog The Woodsrunner's Diary and the market wallet he made.
He also has loads of authentic re-creations of the kit that he makes for 18th century trekking. Interesting guy, good writer.

SBW

 

[Home Guard]

So if I was to make myself one of this tarp/pack things, what sort of size material would I need and what type of material should I use. Will I need a blanket and groundsheet aswell?

Thankyou.