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Chris Zimmer creation “The Eugeneius Pack”


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  • #1278593
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    I'm still processing how killer this pack came out, I haven't even received it yet but no have no doubts about it's quality upon arrival. Chris Zimmer is a fabric wizard.

    A few months back I contacted Chris with my desire for him to build a "do-it-all" tank of a pack, one capable of carrying more gear than typical UL solo stuff, things such as: 2 quilts, larger shelter, pad(s), extra insulation, larger volume pot and stove kit, and camera gear for myself and my two kids. I figure if I'm going to be sherpa on kiddo oriented trips or toting bulkier camera gear I may as well do it comfortably. The main goals of this pack were long term durability and comfort, as well as flexibility in purpose and ease of access. I shifted my thinking some in the design and sketch phase and went with a panel loading concept roughly inspired by the Arcteryx Miura, which is a unique crag pack that has fillets open allowing uninhibited access to pack contents with an innovative drawbridge enclosure, it's a hybrid between a top loading roll top and a panel loader. Confusing? Pics below show the pack opened up fully. This is the most unique aspect of the pack I think.

    Overall weight was far in the back of my head when choosing fabrics, durability resounded loudly. I went with a 500 Denier coated Cordura™ Nylon fabric with Dyneema Reinforcement for the high wear/stress areas (pack bottom, side pockets, backpanel, hipbelt) and XPAC for the main pack body and roll top closure (available from Rockywoods). These obviously aren't the lightest fabric options for a pack, but do provide bomber durability at a relatively low weight.

    *Details:

    – Removable hipbelt (better serve as a travel pack off trail in the future)
    – Removable internal stays (load transfer and support)
    – Significant compression (control pack load, bulk, and contents)
    – Large easily accesible side pockets for additional storage, water tanking, holding tripod, larger shelter, etc.
    – Wide contoured shoulder straps (comfort, I find wide cushioned straps are more than enough up to about 20lbs.)
    – Overflow storage (rear kangaroo pocket w/ lid and external compression for storing windshell and wet gear)
    – Hipbelts (snacks, necessities)
    – Fully opening pack body w/ interior compression for ease of access to all contents

    Chris took my sketches, quacky ideas, and specifications and created a monster, the guy is good. Enough talk, photos below.

    Side

    side

    side pockets

    backpanel

    back

    front

    front

    snaps

    opening

    detail

    detail

    #1773464
    Justin C
    BPL Member

    @paintballr4life

    Locale: East Coast

    Awesome looking pack. I like the fabric choice. I had Chris make me a pack and the shoulder straps are the most comfortable ones I have ever used.

    #1773468
    Terry Trimble
    Member

    @socal-nomad

    Locale: North San Diego county

    Very cool pack design Eugene! Chris's craftsmanship and sewing packs is second to none. His finished custom packs are better than the manufactures can offer right now.
    Terry

    #1773523
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    Definitely, I have a small day pack made by Chris, the construction is spot on. He's really good at what he does.

    Chris sent me renderings of the shoulder straps, that is probably the part of the pack I'm most excited about, nice wide and cushioned.

    #1773533
    HkNewman
    BPL Member

    @hknewman

    Locale: The West is (still) the Best

    Really nice pack. Like how you have it planned out to be a family gear hauler plus a travel pack. From the above it sounds like UL-ness wasn't a primary goal but what are the specs?

    #1773535
    David Ure
    Member

    @familyguy

    Looks like an Arcteryx RT35. Nice pack.

    #1773536
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    @ HK,

    Forgot about those details.

    Pack came in at 2lb. 9oz. with hipbelt pockets and frame, should be able to bring that down a wee bit after trimming the excess compression length, volume is roughly 3400 ci.

    #1773540
    John Donewar
    BPL Member

    @newton

    Locale: Southeastern Texas

    The Eugeneius Pack by the Pack Genius Chris Zimmer.

    Eugene, great ideas and design with, as always, great work from Chris.

    Very nice indeed.

    Party On,

    Newton

    #1773550
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    Slick pack man, I like em in black.

    #1773572
    Barry Cuthbert
    BPL Member

    @nzbazza

    Locale: New Zealand

    Love the pack, some really cool and clever ideas and some slick construction. A fantastic collaboration.

    #1773573
    Eric Lundquist
    BPL Member

    @cobberman

    Locale: Northern Colorado

    What a pack! This looks better than any pack I think I've ever seen before. What did this set you back?

    #1773698
    Danny Milks
    BPL Member

    @dannymilks

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    Incredible craftsmanship and innovative ideas. I really like this pack!

    It makes me think of my Mountainsmith Ghost, as interpreted by ULA or some other cottage UL company.

    #1773700
    David Ure
    Member

    @familyguy

    Except that the Ghost returns in 2012 from Mountainsmith…..

    #1773704
    Robert Cowman
    BPL Member

    @rcowman

    Locale: Canadian Rockies

    except the new ghosts and phantom weigh the same two of the old ones…

    #1773715
    David Ure
    Member

    @familyguy

    Well of course they do.

    #1773716
    David Chenault
    BPL Member

    @davec

    Locale: Queen City, MT

    Fantastic.

    #1773748
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    More kudos to Chris for another great pack, and to Eugene for handing over to Chris some fantastic ideas for a pack. A wonderful collaboration!

    #1773755
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    Eugene- nice pack, and you didn't even have to dye it! :)

    might of missed it, what's the weight? also what are you looking at for max loads?

    Mike

    #1773812
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    @ Mike,

    Weight according to Chris came in about 2lb. 9oz. w/ both hipbelts, internal stay, full length cording/compression straps. Max loads? Approx. 25-40lbs. (bulky contents, camera stuff, gear for two, etc.)

    #1773845
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    not bad at all :D

    #1773930
    David Vo
    Member

    @sygyzy

    Really beautiful pack!

    #1777616
    Christopher Wilke
    Spectator

    @wilke7000

    Locale: Colorado

    All I can say is wow. Awesome pack.

    #1787551
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    "Except that the Ghost returns in 2012 from Mountainsmith….."

    Seriously?? How cool. Will it be the old gray Ghost or the newer bronze one?

    #1787589
    Ken K
    Member

    @thefatboy

    Locale: St. Louis

    >> What a pack! This looks better than any pack I think I've ever seen before. What did this set you back?

    +1 on all of this. Especially the price. Attainable (on par with non-McHale cottage manufacturers)?

    #1788150
    Pamela Peng
    Member

    @wuffruff

    This is the sexiest backpack I've ever seen!
    Rugged yet stylish. The features are also fantastic!
    Especially in the UL category where the packs are light, functional but really ugly IMO.
    I love how the entire bag opens up!
    Can you please tell me how much it cost?
    Would you mind letting others make the same/ similar design?

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