I like the idea of a small pack on a larger pack I can just grab and head off with. Be it having to go for help because someone is hurt, be it getting out of the canoe to go and explore an area, be it hiking to a spot where I’ll set up a base camp and heading out from there to go and explore. Whatever the reasoning, if I have to be away from my main pack, I will want to have insulation, protection from the elements, some food, first aid gear, water, maybe a few other odds and ends.
I talked here about my Kifaru E&E pack.
(I like it but....not sure that it really suits me perfectly. That typical Kifaru build quality means that it weighs about 900 grams, it’s only about three inches deep, which limits what can be put on the sides, and it’s meant to be carried on the back of a pack, which means the weight carried ends up being further out from the center of gravity.)
And here about the SOTech Go Bag.
(Wasn’t thrilled about the build quality, didn’t like how it carried, bit too big for what I had in mind for it.)
While out hiking I have time to think and dream and devise. I thought up a long, narrow pack, essentially a long box, carried under the top lid rather than attached to the back, and very simple, nothing fancy or elaborate, much lighter than the E&E.
I knew that I would want to be able to carry both water and a first aid kit as well. But I didn’t want to put those two items in the pack, but rather have them as separate components on the outside of the small pack. (You can see the two items a little further down in this post.) I took a different approach to attaching them. Rather than the usual PALS matrix, I chose to put tabs on the sides that I could use as attachment points. I call this Thomas’ Attachable Bag System, or TABS for short.
The dimensions of it are 15 cm (6") wide by 15 cm (6") deep by 40½ cm (16") high.
I knew that I would want to be able to carry both water and a first aid kit as well. But I didn’t want to put those two items in the pack, but rather have them as separate components on the outside of the small pack. (You can see the two items a little further down in this post.) I took a different approach to attaching them. Rather than the usual PALS matrix, I chose to put tabs on the sides that I could use as attachment points. I call this Thomas’ Attachable Bag System, or TABS for short.
The dimensions of it are 15 cm (6") wide by 15 cm (6") deep by 40½ cm (16") high.
I also put four tabs on the bottom with the idea that if, I should ever need to increase the volume I could attach a small Kifaru Pod to it.
The shoulder straps attach at the top through tri-glides.
At the bottom of the straps the metal bar slider slips through a metal loop.
I thought of several different ways to close the top. A zipper going around the body, over the top of the body, two zippers down the sides like the SOTech Go Bag, even a roll top closure. In the end I opted for a flap and buckle closure. I have the sneaky suspicion that I will make more than one of these, simply to try out a few different approaches.
Here it is side by side with the afore-mentioned E&E. They’re roughly about the same size, just different dimensions, and the Escape’mups is less than half the weight of the E&E.
Here it is worn. For reference, I’m 2 meters (6'7"), 108 kilograms (238 pounds).
Very happy with the way it turned out. Couple of very minor points that aren’t perfect, (the way the lid closes at the back, and I probably should have put a loop on either side of the bottom strap attachment point, rather than the one) but they’re not a deal breaker. Like I mentioned earlier, this is possibly the first of two or three iterations. I’d like to make this out of still lighter material, and maybe get some DriLex to put along the back, try a different closure, etc. Another aspect of it is that this is the first of what will end up being four components. How the other three interact with this component, may also dictate some changes. While the ideas are fully realized in my head and on paper, the proof is in the pudding. Ideas that seem plausible in theory, may not work out perfectly in practice, and may require some further tweaks or changes.
I’ve been wandering around with this on my back for a week, and so far it has proven to be very comfy to wear.
Oh, and wait for it, the whole thing was sewn by hand. :-)
Hey! Where is that little brat going with my pack?!
(Originally I had called it the EscapePod. The name comes from watching Clone Wars with my nephew.
“That’s a pretty cool ship.”
“Nah, not really. It doesn’t have hyper drive, or blasters, or any escape pods.”
EscapePod. That’s it! The main pack is the MotherShip, and if I have to leave it, I take the EscapePod. Brilliant!
Star Wars. Inspiring on so many levels.)
Here is the Escape’mups with two Kifaru LongPockets, docked and locked to the side.
Here it is mounted with the Ouch’mups docked and locked to the face, and a Kifaru small Pod mounted to the bottom.
It was ultimately designed to be accompanied by several other purpose built components. The Escape’mups, Slurp’mups, and Ouch’mups all together.
The fact that the Slurp’mups is an inch longer than the other two items bothers me a little. Not that much, but somehow the aesthetics of it are off a bit. Kind of silly, since this is ultimately meant to be a functional item, so how it looks is rather irrelevant, but I think the next iteration I may make the Escape’mups and the Ouch’mups an inch longer as well.
This is it clipped to the bottom of the Kifaru Express.
Thomas,
ReplyDeleteAwesome blog! I have been thinking about drawing up some patterns and such to build a pack similar to this. I was wondering if I could pick your brain on the particulars your? You can shoot me an email if you like at mobilecabinworks@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Andrew
That, is a B/A pack you have there. Well done.
ReplyDeleteExploriment,
ReplyDeleteI have only had a quick look about. Very good work. I will revisit your blog in the near future. I like your pic's.
Cheers,
Mountainman.