Shortening Granite Gear extension collars?

I went and tried this pack on at REI and after trying to load it I didn't even have to try it on. I knew right there that this pack would drive me crazy every time I had to put something in it.

Keep us updated. I am sure plenty of people are interested in how it turns out. I personally would cut it off from the top and resew the cord channel.

I loosen the string completely then roll the top down. I don't have any trouble getting it out of the way.

Just some food for thought if you do plan to cut the extension…

I have been thinking about extension collars and their multi gear use. The whole bag including the collar can be used in conjnction with the appropriate sleep system as a partial WPB for your footbox area if needed. The length of the collar can influence the performance or use of the pack in this way.

I was thinking of making a multi purpose pack liner, bivy, collar system for summer warm weather trekking. Why not use the bag (flat) as part of your sleeping pad? Shorten the collar and you may reduce the amount of good it can do as a pad.

Or just cut it shorter and sew a new drawcord in.

I had this done by a professional who alters gear for REI. Cost me $25, and she did a beautiful job, cutting out material from the middle, producing a fine seam, and leaving about 9 inches of the collar, which turned out to be just right.

This thread reminded me that I need to send her my Vapor Trail now.

You'll make it much harder by cutting at the pack junction or trying to re-do the drawcord part. If you make two cuts in the middle – i.e. cut out a horizontal slice of 6-8" or so – and then resew it you retain the factory drawcord tunnel and the more critical connection to the pack. Even if you are a lousy sewer joining the two pieces together should be very simple and if it's not straight or pretty it won't matter much.

In the end, I've opted not to do it even though I've thought about it several times. It'd cut maybe an ounce – barely – and unless you find it really annoying, that's not worth the hassle in my opinion.

I cut mine probably the first week I had it. Cut off about six inches on my VT. Resewed the drawcord channel. Very easy, but I make stuff sack bags for just about everything and use the same method.

Instead of a eyelet for the line to exit, I sew a small rectangle of webbing on all sides. Then hot cut a hole for the line. Then fold over and sew the pocket for the line, with the hole on the outside. I've been using this method for about 15 years with no problems (originally saw this method in a kite magazine for attaching the bungee on the wingtips of a sport kite).

Steve

Wow – I can't believe this thread popped up when it did. I am planning on cutting the extension collar on my Jam2 down. Good info here.

Does anyone know how to install a rivet? I could use the one that I cut off, I just don't know how you would attach it. If I can't figure that out, I might try the "hole in the webbing" idea. That sounds pretty good.