The story starts this way I won a Six moon designs swift 10 on ebay .I loaded it up with 30lbs I carried for 3 miles I was so impressed with how easily it carried the load conformed to my back with the folded up Z rest virtual frame and how dry my back stayed.
I have always been fond of panel loaders I was looking at the Terra Nova 35 liter center zip pack .I watched Stick's You tube review on the Terra nova 35 center zip I really like what I was viewing.
So I started thinking I wanted a center zip panel loader that carry heavier loads and large capacity of 45 to 50 liters constructed out of Thru Hiker dyeemna grid stop fabric with vx21 X pack bottom,shoulder straps and belt, side draw string and center compression system, large fabric pockets that could carry lots of water a # 8 water proof zipper.
The pack also would have a detachable mesh pod that would be attached to front compression straps to dry out wet clothes or tarps kind like the ULA Omh pod. I call it the turtle because of the shape and the webbing legs that stick out.
I drew out the design in my pack design book I draw out different pack idea concepts in. And and then drew out the pack templates on poster board.
The first hurdle was to trying and find the driglide fabric that was use as the back panel of the SMD swift 10. I took the SMD swift 10 to a upholstery fabric outlet that all the upholsters use to buy fabric . They did not know what kind of fabric it was. I went to joann's fabric other fabric stores I found a non stretch polyester that was the same fabric and weave but it was very very thin and it would rip under stress.
So I went with 3D foam for the back panel sewn to the pack and and the pad sleeve pocket It works great.
So I sewed the pack together and loaded it up and took it on 3 mile test walk up and dow the hill were i live and caries great and holds my 2 liter source water bottles I could realistically carry 1 litter more in each pocket.
I wanted to find out the approximate capacity but with all the complex curves the math was giving me headache. I went to UPS store to buy foam peanuts to measure the capacity with they gave me a big bag of used foam peanuts. I have 2 liter bowl So I load the pack up with foam peanuts to get a approximate capacity and with I came out with 55 liters of foam peanuts in the pack body,4 liter for each pocket. But because it was not ping pong balls I would say it between 45 to 55 liters at the most.
So I really liked how this pack turned out one and I have some photos below for to you look at.
Thanks for looking,
Terry
Pack front:
Pack front with turtle pod:
Side of pack:
back of pack:
