MYOG Backpack – women’s

[And E]

The pack is all finished! Total weight comes in at 33.1 oz, including aluminum stay, ccf foam pad and removable hipbelt pockets.

Main Body (orange): X-PAc VX21
Back panel/bottom/shoulder/hipbelt straps: 420D PU coated Pack cloth
Side/Front stash pocket: Spandura

All for this lovely lady.

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Almost done! Just gotta do some trimming, finishing the raw edges on the inside and make hipbelt pockets. Will post higher quality (non phone) pictures later.

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3/15/14
Everything that needs to go on the pack panel has been added, except for the GG style OTT top/pocket that has been made but needs to be sewn on.

GG style Over The Top pocket complete. I gusseted it an inch so it can still be useful when main pack is crammed full.

Not pictured: added Spandura pockets to the side panels.

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3/12/14

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3/11/14

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Just started work on my fiance's pack. She's been wanting a lighter pack now that our gear is so light (her pack, Osprey Aura 50, is the heaviest thing we own) and after how well my own turned out, we decided to make her one, too.

This is a work in progress page and will be updated as the project matures.
So far, I've got the patterns drawn up, back panel cut out.

I haven't seen many women's packs here, and haven't seen any with contoured hipbelts specifically for women (but haven't really looked for it), so hopefully my picture/pattern can help others.

It's 4.5" at the center and 5 1/8" at the widest point on each side.

I made the pattern based on the hipbelt for the Osprey Aura. The curves/contours of the pattern hug my fiance's hips really well. Simple hip belts work well for guys, but women definitely need more contours on the belt to fit properly.

Side/front/top fabric is X-Pac VX21 storm orange (dyed with yellow/ redish pigment slightly stripped to make it more orange) from Rocky Woods. Back panel/bottom is silver 420D pack cloth from Seattle Fabrics. Webbing is silver gray polypro from strapworks. Front stash pocket will be a combo of the VX21 and orange Spandura from Seattle Fabrics. Got a frame from Gossamer gear as well.

A few sketches. Hers is the orange. The red/gray one is the second pack I'm working on for myself. It'll actually be blue/gray VX21 with GG aluminum frame.

[Darren Graff]

Wow! This ain't your first rodeo. The orange looks great. You even got the orange mesh. Does the top cover have a pocket? Great progress won't be long now. Is there a frame in that pack?

[And E]

Thanks Darren! This will be only the 2nd pack I've made.
The top lid/pocket section does indeed have a pocket with a #5 waterproof zipper. I pretty much am cloning the way Gossamer Gear makes their closure/lid for the Gorilla/Mariposa packs.

The pack will have a removable aluminum tube frame (from Gossamer Gear, third picture from the bottom of the post) along with a cut up piece of Thermarest Ridge Rest Classic.

I'm thinking the final weight will be just shy of 2 lbs, not ultralight, but still quite a bit lighter than the pack my fiance currently uses, and built to last (hopefully).

[MFR]

Andy–I really like what I'm seeing. Impressive for anyone, even more for your second pack.

I think I want your contoured hipbelt too. They aren't just for the ladies.

[And E]

PACK IS ALL FINISHED!!! WOOOOOO

[Darren Graff]

Nice Oranger, you will always be able to find her. The hip belt pockets turned out great very professional. Congrats on all the work it's paid off with great pack. What's your next MYOG project?

[And E]

Thanks, Darren! Her favorite color is orange, so it works out perfectly. I'll be working on making another pack for myself, also out of VX21, with frame. I've got all the materials already, but I'll be traveling to NZ for a week and a half so it's on hold for now.

[Greg Pehrson]

And E, these packs you're making are awesome–really professional. Lots of great features and attention to detail without being overloaded. Do you have an idea of the pack volume? Did you sew bellows into the spandura or is it stretchy enough to not need them?
I also enjoy your blog–very cool to read posts from both halves of an adventurous couple.

[And E]

Thanks Greg! I'm glad you enjoy the blog. The pack is a very satisfying project to do. The Spandura is not gusseted/bellowed, as it's got plenty of stretch to fit a bottle of water or two.

I've got some in black I'm planning on using for my pack, but might grab some power mesh to try out instead (spandura is some heavy stuff, 10.5oz a sq yard based on the .62 yd2 scrap I have left).

The finished dimensions of the main pack are 11.5 x 8.5 x 24 (highest closeable with lots covering the half cinch opening. Taller if no risk of rain) so about 38L, plus more with the pockets.

It looks as big as her Osprey Aura 50 (47L size Small), but should have much more usable volume.

[Daryl and Daryl]

And e,

Very very nice. It is obvious that a lot of thought and skill went into this.

[George Tate Hunt]

What is the hardware you are using to hold the two cords along the front panel (the hour glass run from top to bottom).?

[And E]

I put them through the ring side of a set of mitten hooks (comes with hook with ring side and just the ring for the other mitt) http://diygearsupply.com/product/micro-o-ring/ . There's also hooks made specially for running one end of the cord through and then hooking the other end. You can find it here: http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/hardware.html

It's the clip hook.

[Author]

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