Who uses mid-tech external frames?

[OhCanada]

I am pretty modern in my gear but just picked up a used external frame pack in nylon (finally found a green one) made by CampTrails, a Canadian company.

These are the frames popular around the 50-70s, by no means old fashioned but still flies in the face off todays internal frame packs.

I'd like to hear from those still using these packs for multi-day trips.

How old is yours? Why do you still use it? etc.

 

[Hoodoo]

Still have my camptrails but I stopped using it several years ago. Replaced it with another external frame pack, the Kelty 50th anniversary pack. Much lighter and more comfortable, it is really an amazing pack imo. Doesn't rattle while going down the trail either.

Here's a review.

 

[greg2935]

I still use A-frame (prefered) and H-frame rucksacs, and prefer them to modern internal frame rucksacks. The oldest A-frame rucksac I own is from the 1940's; a caravan owner rode over it. I have 2 other A-frames from the 50s and 60s, (canvas bag on a steel frame). I also have a small H-frame rucksacs from the 70s made from nylon bag on an aluminium frame.

Personally I like them because when they were made, they used a heavier, more robust material. I find modern internal frames tend to use the bar shape to get their strength (and therefore are cheaper and lighter as less material is involved).

Some years ago I bought a 75l karrimore. It was a good bag but I found the frame buckled after some use when stuffed with kit, and that got painful as the distorted bag changed the centre of gravity.

I prefer canvas because although it is heavy, it is repairable with needle and thread.

Finally I like the way A-frame rucksacs push gently into the small of the back and keep you stood upright with good posture, rather than the modern trend of having the bag ride high on the shoulders where it gets in the way of every overhanging branch and causes problems when trying to keep your balance on loose ground.

 

[OhCanada]

That's a nice pack Hoodoo but looks a lot like a modern internal.

Yeah, like the review said I got the clevis pins with all the parts that jingle and jangle. Will work on making it quiet, figure some washers and wire should do it.

Nice to hear Greg that you have gone even more traditional. I haven't come across a canvas H frame yet.

 

[Adrian]

I still have my old CampTrails Astral Cruiser frame and Horizon bag - good kit in it's time (I've had mine 32 years), and still usable. The pack itself is not as useful, and closes with nylon cord rather than straps(and is orange). I now have a Norrona Recon 2 - with the new sykroflex external frame. Very comfortable with 125 litre capacity and more external straps than I know what to do with!

 

[Ogden]

Some years ago, when I used a Gregory internal frame pack (which is a nice piece of kit), I did not like the performance when loaded with more than 20 kg.
Too much pressure in the middle of the back. And: I like the backpack to be
waterproof. Traditionally you take a second lightweight waterproof bag inside
of your backpack and use it as top-loader. But I don't like that:complicated and heavy.
So I started to look for waterproof expedition-backpacks and found nothing good.
I always used an ALICE pack for short trips and decided to go for a big external
frame pack. Since then I use a Haglöfs Alaska frame, I removed the sack and
combined the frame with a 100 l waterproof Cordura bag.
For me this is the perfect combination. I think I will never carry anything else than
external frames any more: the advantage of using it as a Kraxe for wood (or game if you want) is impressive, my back loves it , it is simple and very durable.
The waterproof bag is a great plus too. It is not heavier, although it is made of
heavy Cordura, because I spare many small waterproof bags and bottles.
And it's my conclusion from experience with vermin and Monsoon. (How about
jumping into a river with this kind of backpack? Of course it swims, but the real
plus: you don't have to remove it, works like a flotation vest)
I even tried to get a Norrona frame, but the company salesman-idiot told me, they
don't sell the frame only. Anyone an idea where to get it?

 

[greg2935]

You might come across a canvas H frame rucksac soon: I've just finished my ventile coat (double layer + removable liner), and am just waiting for the canvas to arrive to replace the nylon bag!

It's nice to hear that some people still like external frame rucksacs. I thought I was the only one left.

 

[greg2935]

no idea, sorry, your local army surplus store might be able to get something similar though.

 

[Abbe Osram]

I am pretty modern in my gear but just picked up a used external frame pack in nylon (finally found a green one) made by CampTrails, a Canadian company.

These are the frames popular around the 50-70s, by no means old fashioned but still flies in the face off todays internal frame packs.

I'd like to hear from those still using these packs for multi-day trips.

How old is yours? Why do you still use it? etc.

Mine is a swedish army bag, I like to have external frame to keep my options open.
I might carry firewood home, or meat from a hunt. I am even consider now to remove the bag and only roll my stuff up in my tarp and see if I get the weight down. I dont like much a bag. Here is a pic where I carry a log home that thing was around 70 kg.

cheers
Abbe

 

[Neil1]

I have been using external frames a few years now, I normally buy the frame then make up a harness and pack to fit it.
I have an old karrimor frame and built a complete pack system to fit it, all the parts are interchangable (side pockets zip off to form a day pack, lid comes off and fits to the hip harness to make a good sized waist pack,etc).
Currently I am using the swedish 35ltr, these packs are the ideal bushcrafting pack, I change the buckles, fitted compression straps and fitted a new harness, its the most comfortable pack I have ever used and best of all - no sweaty back!
Neil

 

[BlueTrain]

I still find most comfortable my US Army mountain rucksack manufactured in 1942. It is somewhat similiar to the British Army bergan of the same period. In a way it is surprising how comfortable and easy it is on the shoulders considering how thin the web shoulder straps are but they are wide. A critical point even with these old things is the fit but this one fits me perfectly. I guess you would call it an A-frame but old manuals called them "Norse" packs.

One thing I never liked about more modern packs, even when it makes it possible to carry more weight with more comfort (but hardly with less effort) is the trussed-up feeling you get with the waist belt fastened, even more so if there is a chest strap. And they do usually carry the load higher and that makes balance critical. If you lose your footing for a moment, your pack can really throw you off. And I am only speaking of walking on ordinary trails.

But the older A-frames are not that easy to pack and may not have all the room you want. That is a little surprising, considering the original intent of the pack (for mountain troopers who carried a lot more stuff than regular soldiers). So I also have used a PLCE bergen, purchased brand new five or ten years ago. The years go so fast!

I have modified it slightly.

Some packs seem to place a lot of pressure on the lower back. The old style A-frame packs never did that, which is a good thing. But this new PLCE bergan sure did. I treated the problem by inserting a junk piece of curved sheet steel, which convieniently fit my lower back, in the lower part of the back pocket. Suitably wrapped in thin plastic foam, it worked beautifully, although at the cost of additional weight. But the pack is easy to load, there is lots and lots of room and I can't think of a single improvement except I wish the waist belt tightened by pulling to the right rather than the left. I know it came out at the same time as all the other PLCE web gear but it doesn't seem to me like it would be compatable with any web gear around the waist with pouches and whatnot.

Not that it matters to me.

 

[BorderReiver]

Mine is a swedish army bag, I like to have external frame to keep my options open.
I might carry firewood home, or meat from a hunt. I am even consider now to remove the bag and only roll my stuff up in my tarp and see if I get the weight down. I dont like much a bag. Here is a pic where I carry a log home that thing was around 70 kg.


cheers
Abbe

That looks like a really good idea Abbe.

 

[KIMBOKO]

I still use my 50l karrimor rucksac on an external alloy frame. Its probably 30years old now. I use it because it was the thing to have at the time so I grew up with it and now can't see a reason to change.

 

[Abbe Osram]

That looks like a really good idea Abbe.

thanks mate,
I really enjoy having the options, I always would vote for an external frame.

cheers
Abbe

 

[qweeg500]

I recently converted back to external frames.
About 15 or 20 years ago I had a bright orange Cobmaster rucksack which I sold on to a mate. A bit unfashionable and all that.
Ever since I've had the usual internal aluminium framed rucksacks that abound everywhere. But about a week ago I bought an old Swedish External framed sack on e-bay for 99p (£5 delivery). It needs a little TLC but I have to say it's fantastic.
When it's fully loaded it looks as if it'll cripple you but it's amazingly comfortable and distributes the load incredibally well.
I've re-learned how great external framed sacks are.

Matt

 

[Ogden]

Any idea if there is an external frame pack for a child?
I want to make a "ready to go outdoors"-pack for my godchild next year.
She is about 7 years old then.
open for suggestions