MYOG Prettylight pack: Success
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Hey guys; long time lurker, first time poster. (Skip to the copious pics for the Reader’s Digest version.)
I’ve followed the typical gearstyle genesis, moving from a big Osprey pack, double wall tent, full length self inflating pad, canister stove, etc. to hammocking, popcan stoves, and a CCF torso pad. Like most, I’ve missed some comforts, but the lighter hikes (usually) more than make up for the less luxurious nights.
Anyway, due to that overall lightening, I decided it was finally time to ditch my Aether (a marvelous but unconscionably heavy pack) for something lighter—no sense in carrying 12 pounds of gear in 5 and a half pounds of pack. Having never sewn anything in my life, the MYOG route was far from my first instinct. Knowing I was broke, but wanting a lighter pack, I checked out some Granite Gear packs, then Golite packs (the Jam looked good, but I wanted an exterior pocket or shockcord to keep my ghetto hammock tarp out of the main packbag). Eventually my search led me to Granite Gear’s website and I drooled over the Gorilla and Mariposa Plus—wishing there was a way to combine them (Gorilla’s durability, Mariposa Plus’ capaciousness and pocket configuration), throwing a little Jam in (wanted the Jam’s capacity and excellent Compactor system) and make that chimera pack cost less than $170 (a totally reasonable price, but I needed something more along the lines of…nearly free). I saw GG’s “make your own” section and checked out their opensource instructions for the G4. That was the first moment it occurred to me I could *make* the light pack with all the features I wanted for way less money. Looking for everything the internet could tell me about building backpacks, I quickly ended up here at Backpackinglight and read every MYOG backpack post I could find. I would never’ve tried bluffing my way through this thing if it weren’t for the fantastic projects you’ve all completed and published here, so thanks.
So, here’s my new pride and joy:
My pack goals/design parameters:
-Weigh less than 1.5 pounds.
-Hold at least 50 liters in main packbag, be compressible to a more routine 40 liters.
-Be bombproof (I take care of my gear, but I need it to shrug off accidents if it comes to it).
-Have ample exterior lashing points for drying, etc.
-Be comfortable
-Effectively transfer load to hips.Materials:
XPAC nylon from Rockywoods (awesome stuff–strong, crazy abrasion resistant, and only about 4oz a yard).
Wicking mesh for backpanel, shoulder strap and hipbelt linings.
Stretch athletic mesh for pockets.
For the most part, the pack satisfies those goals. Also, more pics:
Chris–yep, the pad sleeve has some shockcord sewn into the top but opens just underneath the straps:
to occupy a tri fold torso cut "blue pad" (I reinforced the fold seams with foil duct tape)
Mark, you're absolutely right about Rockywoods sometimes unhelpful product descriptions. The backpanel and pad meshes are their "dry-tech knit mesh" backed with an uncoated (very breathable) 160 denier ripstop Cordura.
Here are some pictures to better show how those layers went together:
I sewed the mesh to the uncoated Cordura, turning them effectively into a breathable, mesh-against-skin, but still weight-bearing appropriate layer–which I then sewed (the permimeters) to the XPAC. After which, I turned that inside out (right side out, actually) and inserted the ventilated foam cutouts.
And as for weight, I still need to find and add the removable sternum strap adjusters I want, but that's a matter of grams, so the basically complete pack (with compression system and shockcord, but without 7 oz torso pad) is ~23 oz.
Close up:
.That's just a cheapo kitchen scale, but it rings up a hair over 24 oz with two Cokes on it, so I think it's about right.
And, I must confess, I had lots of help/lessons from an extremely accomplished seamstress (my mom), so every time I thought I broke the sewing machine trying to bartack through two layers of ripstop nylon, webbing and a strap of seatbelt, she'd come to my rescue.
Also, I just re-read my first post and realized I said "Granite Gear" when I meant Gossamer Gear.
Thanks to everyone for the compliments! I'm taking the pack out the week after next for a field test, I'll report back with shortcomings as I find them.
Already I know it's probably bigger than I need (though I'm really proud of my compression system that can be used without interfering with the pocket contents, so it'll probably be always partially cranked in), and if I could (had to?) do it all again, I'd cut the front panel in a very slight trapezoid (13" wide at point where it connects with the bottom, tapering to 11.5 or 11 inches wide at the collar), to keep the weight even lower/closer.
Finally, I'm thinking about adding a removable curved stay. Anyone have any ideas? If I got a pair of aluminum arrow shafts, could I bend them into a slight S (enough to keep the bottom of the pack against my lumbar, and bring the top closer to the top of my shoulderblades) without weakening it too much?
Here's a shot of how it carries:
And Joe, I'd love to, but I Silk Street-ed enough other packs that I think I'd owe way too much in intellectual property royalties/patent infringement to sell these things.
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