What's the stuff on the base of this rucksack for?

[shibafu]

These pictures are the underneath of a rucksack I bought some time ago:

I've never figured out what this arrangement of velcro flaps, cord loops and webbing is supposed to be for. I think I did try asking the firm I bought it from but got no reply.

From top to bottom in the pictures (which is from back to front when wearing the pack) there is:

1. A row of PALS webbing
2. A strip of 2" webbing stitched like a carry handle, but there's only room to fit 2 fingers through the loop. It seems designed to carry significant load because it's reinforced with another strip of 2" webbing inside the pack.
3. A line of 4 loops of cord
4. A pair of flaps, with velcro that allows them to be joined together to form a tube about 1" in diameter. The velcro on the outer flap extends beyond the ends of the flap by about 2.5" either side, and when you stick that velcro down it partially closes off the ends of the tube.
5. Another line of 4 loops of cord
6. Another row of PALS webbing.

Has anyone seen this arrangement before, or care to make a guess at what it's for? The two flaps would wrap around some sort of tube I guess, and then you could lace a cord back and forth through the cord loops either side, to stop the velcro coming undone maybe? But then why the velcro "ears" either end of the flaps, or the bit of 2" webbing?

My two best guesses were that it's for a pack frame, or for pulling a sled of some sort (the pack does have a hip belt). Neither of those feels convicing though. There are no other apparent fixings for a pack frame, and would you even use one on a rucksack that's only about 30-35 litres? Towing a sled feels a pretty niche requirement and I don't know why you'd want it integrated into a rucksack.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Can you share the name of the brand and name of the pack, or whatever you have?

I don't think its for a frame or a sled, but not sure what it could be for. The handle may just be badly executed design. The rest seems more like its for attaching items and I was wondering if the brand sold any accessory pockets that are meant to attach to this.

 

[shibafu]

The brand is Bulle UK, which seems to be the own-brand of flecktarn.co.uk. It looks like they're still selling the same rucksack in tan: https://www.flecktarn.co.uk/sdrsb1nx.html
They do all sorts of pouches but they're all standard MOLLE stuff.

The luggage straps hanging off the bottom in some of their pictures are threaded through the two rows of MOLLE/PALS webbing on the bottom of the pack, they don't seem related to the other stuff.

 

[stonepark]

Attachment points for sleeping mats or other bulky gear would be first guess for pals\molle\loops and extra large pouches or similar.

Attachment of rucksack to quick detach first aid kit would account for another such as velcro area.

Rucksack also appears to have dump straps which is good.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Thank. The Flecktarn page doesn’t give anything away, other than the pack appears to ride very high, which is not unusual for tactical packs. Makes me wonder if the weird attachments are for integrating with a belt or web gear system.

 

[shibafu]

I think we can agree it's for attaching something, but exactly what is destined to remain a mystery it seems.
@C_Claycomb you're right, it does feel high on the back, which makes the hip belt of dubious value.
@stonepark dump straps, is that the side-release buckles on the shoulder straps? They are quite handy until you use them and realise you forgot to release the chest strap!

 

[stonepark]

I think we can agree it's for attaching something, but exactly what is destined to remain a mystery it seems.
@C_Claycomb you're right, it does feel high on the back, which makes the hip belt of dubious value.
@stonepark dump straps, is that the side-release buckles on the shoulder straps? They are quite handy until you use them and realise you forgot to release the chest strap!

That's them.

I also strip the chest strap off all my rucksacks, really do not like them.

 

[shibafu]

I also strip the chest strap off all my rucksacks, really do not like them.

Interesting! I'm the opposite, I always add one to rucksacks that don't have one.

 

[Sooty22]

Interesting! I'm the opposite, I always add one to rucksacks that don't have one.

I can't live without one. Big chest / wide shoulders for standard packs, and the straps end up pulling to the side, so I need the chest strap to pull them together.

 

[Sooty22]

These pictures are the underneath of a rucksack I bought some time ago:

I've never figured out what this arrangement of velcro flaps, cord loops and webbing is supposed to be for. I think I did try asking the firm I bought it from but got no reply.

From top to bottom in the pictures (which is from back to front when wearing the pack) there is:

1. A row of PALS webbing
2. A strip of 2" webbing stitched like a carry handle, but there's only room to fit 2 fingers through the loop. It seems designed to carry significant load because it's reinforced with another strip of 2" webbing inside the pack.
3. A line of 4 loops of cord
4. A pair of flaps, with velcro that allows them to be joined together to form a tube about 1" in diameter. The velcro on the outer flap extends beyond the ends of the flap by about 2.5" either side, and when you stick that velcro down it partially closes off the ends of the tube.
5. Another line of 4 loops of cord
6. Another row of PALS webbing.

Has anyone seen this arrangement before, or care to make a guess at what it's for? The two flaps would wrap around some sort of tube I guess, and then you could lace a cord back and forth through the cord loops either side, to stop the velcro coming undone maybe? But then why the velcro "ears" either end of the flaps, or the bit of 2" webbing?

My two best guesses were that it's for a pack frame, or for pulling a sled of some sort (the pack does have a hip belt). Neither of those feels convicing though. There are no other apparent fixings for a pack frame, and would you even use one on a rucksack that's only about 30-35 litres? Towing a sled feels a pretty niche requirement and I don't know why you'd want it integrated into a rucksack.

The loops are a quick-disconnect attachment for something pipe-like. See if this sketch makes sense: you start from one end looping towards the other, and your secured item has a bar/similar that you can pull and it releases it very quickly. No idea what it is for in this particular bag, but something that might need jettisoning quickly.

 

[Herman30]

Interesting! I'm the opposite, I always add one to rucksacks that don't have one.

Me too. Feels like shoulder straps don´t sit properly or will slide off shoulders without sternum trap.