Hello, I took it upon myself to seek out and give new life to a backpack from times past. I enjoy reminiscing hiking with my father and a giant, bright orange framed backpack which made me dispise the great outdoors.
Anyway, got this for $6 and hiked with it several times as is, no hipbelt but musical, chimey aluminum rings. After flipping the shoulder strap back from it's twist for the millionth time I put it under the light for a makeover.
BEFORE weight: #2 10oz
AFTER weight #1 12oz
So far I took off all the rusty buckles and replaced with plastic, added shoulder straps to the actual bag and frame to shoulder adjustment. Replaced metal behind hip mesh with a nylon cinch strap, removed top frame bar (plugged with cork) and cut all pockets.
I need advice on the hip belt now.
here I cut out some 1/8 packing foam, double layered it to see how well it protects my hips from the new multi-hip tightening straps. Worked very well but yet to see if 1/8 is enough with a load.
— Should I use 1/4" blue foam or a GG 1/8" mat where the white is? or keep the mail packing sheet in picture that seems to slowly deflate when squeezed ard, but weighs .2oz for 4 sheets?
— and should I loose the mesh hip(1.2oz) and wing idea and do a full 360 degree hip cushion instead?
outside of the hipbelt, I plan to trim the lid and update the pack body with shockcoord, also replacing all pins with large aluminum rivets and washers. Any other ideas appreciated to make this better than I can imagine!
