1,800 cu in day bag for hunting with Challenge Ultra 200

Seek Outside makes amazing load-hauling frames and suspension systems for hunters. They also make a decent variety of pack bags in different sizes and pocket arrangements to go with their frames, but the smallest is 3,500 cu in (setting aside their tiny Merlin day bag). That’s the size I use on a 5-day elk hunt in Alaska, not what I want to carry on a day hunt. So a few years ago I started playing with designing my own day pack for my SO platform, and this is the latest iteration. So far I have made 4 of them and given them away to friends who also use the SO platform.

In the past I always used Xpac in VX21 or VX42 as I really like that fabric. But this time I went with Challenge Ultra 200, and I have to say that I’m pretty impressed with the fabric. It’s incredibly difficult to cut, so once I picked up a powered rotary cutter (which works great) and was actually able to cut my panels, the rest was smooth sailing. The Ultra 200 plays nicely with my sewing machine, is easy to manipulate, takes stitching brilliantly, folds effectively and holds its shape, and is just a pleasure to work with in every regard. Very light and insanely tough.

Here are the individual panels of the body finished and ready to join:

The side panels attached to the bottom panel which will create a 2″ bathtub bottom:

Three of the 4 sides joined:

I goofed one small detail up (the position of a gear loop), but otherwise I really like the final product:

My minor booboo: I meant to have the gear loop on the vertical seam above the top of the bottle pocket, not below it.

Anyway, I’m happy with it and from a sewing perspective I can heartily recommend playing with Ultra 200 as long as you have a way to cut it.