MYOG Version of the Unaweep Pack

Thats actually about the same Ligtweight type of pack I feel SO should have been making all along .

It would be a stiff competitor (pardon the pun) of many sub 40 oz framed packs out there.

Looks like you used the Evo frame rather than the Unaweep? It looks like the frame curls up underneath the packbag.

No its the Unaweep frame, they both curl back a bit, probably to get the frame out of your way as you walk.

Excellent work.

Is the frame a bit tall or do you just wear your hipbelt low?

Dave it depends on how I position the hipbelt (high or low grommet). In that picture the frame is a bit tall but the pack has no real weight in it. With 40 pounds in the pack it sinks down a bit more and the torso height is just about perfect.

cool.

Your MYOG packbag looks great. I like the idea of using sleeves to attach the packbag to the frame; seems like a great way to simplify the production process over the harness system.

I'll be anxious to hear how it works out. I'm interested in eventually getting my hands on a smaller packbag for the unaweep frame. Please keep us posted.

Nice job Luke. VX42 on the bottom panel?

Getting the back panel width just right is crucial, the first bag I made for the frame had to be redone as I didn't properly account for seam allowances and it ended up being too narrow.

The Unaweep and Evolution use the same frame.

Seek Outside is definitely looking into making a smaller, more UL backpacker specific model. I've given them lots of ideas.

Are your frame sleeves padded? I sewed an Evolution-style back panel system for my frame and harness to make a hunting pack out of my Unaweep. I used a full width padded back panel and ran the frame sleeves up the front (the load side, not the wearer side) of the back panel. The pack is so buttery-cushy to wear, it's crazy, and I'm fully protected from any stuff poking me from the load area of the pack.

Yes Dave that is a single layer of VX42 on the bottom. I went with VX21 for the back reinforced with VX42 where the straps are sewn on. The sleaves are Dyneema X folded double. One half is sewn onto the VX21 back panel (about 5 lines of stitching) and the other half makes the top of the sleeve.

The seam allowances were almost an issue. As it is the frame sits about half an inch higher then I thought it would due to the bottom seam being a bit tight.

I'm hoping Seek Outside will make something along these lines too.

Edit – No padding on the back, as far as I know Dave did without so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm thinking the thick hipbelt and articulating frame will be enough to keep it from wearing on my shoulders.

Now that you mention it though that is a possible idea, make frame sleeves with pads running along the insides.

Nice rig Philip. I like the Kuiudox.

All the Paradox packs require fairly careful packing too keep from getting poked; no way to save weight and have the protection of a framesheet all at the same time. I've put a foam pad inside the pack bag to provide some cushion from a particularly awkward load (whole quartered mule deer and little else) which worked well. Not unlike the approach you'd have to take with a truly frameless pack, but with much better load transfer.

I looked at pics of my Unaweep and it looks exactly like yours. Looking at the pics, looks like the base of the frame curls up, to me. Looking at it in real life, its the way the frame curves, or bows, away from your back. To me, its an optical illusion. How much lighter is it than an Unaweep in Cuben Fiber?

If my scale is correct mine weighs 35 oz so about 7 or 8 oz over a Cuban Unaweep if I have the numbers right. Actually I understand Seek Outside is discontinuing the Cuban Unaweep.

I looked at their website the other day and didn't see Cuben as an option. I was thinking about getting a 3900 packback to go with the 4800 I already have. There was only the gray and coyote colors as options.

I'm confused if you can purchase just the unaweep frame, if the talon is the unaweep frame, or if i'm just looking in the wrong place. the packs look great.

Michael

Sorry Michael, yes I bought the frame and hipbelt by themselves. Unaweep doesn't normally list the frame but you could always call and ask.

The talon refers to the black pocket on the pack. I made my own but the Unaweep usually has a similar one. The pocket is not sewn onto the pack in any way. It just attaches via the compression straps. So the pocket is removable but it also gives you more options for strapping stuff onto the pack.

Earl – If your hear is set on a lighter pack bag you might see if Chris Zimmer would make you one. He could probably either make you a clone of the regular bag or sew the shoulder straps on like Dave and I did and save some weight. Make sure there is adequate spacing between the shoulder straps, this is a bit of a trip with the frame getting so narrow at the top.

Good Job Luke. That is one of the advantages of MYOG. You can make it fit what you need, and work for you (and also take responsibility if it doesn't work as expected).

I've had numerous conversations with Dave about packs. He is a terrific ambassador for us, because his use and expectations are very similar to ours , such as 4 season , reasonable durability , and good performance.

We are very aware of where we can save weight, and where weight savings compromise longevity, comfort or product life span. An example of this might be the harness. Yes, you can save weight by sewing a harness directly, and harness mods are generally easy on the packs, however we are hesitant to do that, and here is why. We want the products to have a long life cycle of use. To do that, it needs to be able to fit many people easily. If it does not, then you can't easily loan the pack to someone, or if you decide to stop backpacking you cant sell it to someone that has a very different torso length. In fact, we are going a slightly different direction even, and will soon be offering a long harness option as well, for people the are very broad in the chest or taller than 6 ft.. This allows the pack to get more use , longevity in our opinion. We also have a lot of people say these are among if not the most comfortable packs they have ever used, so wholesale changes to save an ounce or two on the harness doesn't seem wise to us.

I still see a lot of Dana packs in use today, especially in the winter, and for that I have to say KUDOS. Those products had a long useful life cycle. We hope to keep our useful life cycle very long as well, but everything degrades somewhat over time (You / Me / Mountains / Canyons / Buildings) . It is a fact of life. In the end however, we want them to be used for a very long time and exceed reasonable expectations for days in the field.

That being said, I think we have some compelling things we are working on in the back end, but it takes time to get them to market and we are taking a very systemic approach so it may be a long time.

Carry On

Thanks for the kind words Kevin. I'm pretty sure my shoulder straps aren't as strong as your's. For me that is an okay trade off since this is a small pack that won't be packing out deer or anything like that, for other users your system makes a lot of sense.

I can't wait to see what you guys come up with next.

That's $349 to purchase the frame and suspension, which come together. Is that right, or am I missing something? Thanks.

Samuel $349 would get you the frame, suspension and packbag to go on it. I just have a frame and belt, the rest I made.

By the way I loaded it up for a Big Bend trip and decided I need a bigger pocket, I only put one fold in mine, two would have been better and a wider pocket would be nice too. We'll see when I have time to fix that.

The Evo is $349 for frame and suspension and pack bags are extra.
The Unaweep , is generally $379 – $409 all inclusive.

There seems to be some confusion , the Evo can be used without a pack bag, and pack bags can be changed out. The Unaweep pack bags can be changed out as well between Unaweep bags but it can not be used without a pack bag. The Unaweep and Evo can be changed out as well , but it requires the suspension components of the EVO. So you could have a 3900 and 4800 Unaweep, swap between is pretty easy, and a 6300 EVO in which belt /harness frame move over to from Unaweep to EVO or the opposite direction. It is very adaptable

Hope this makes sense, trying to clear up some confusion and frequent questions

Thanks for the price information. Some variation, but definitely what I needed to know.