Custom Dyneema Backpack?

First I assume you are talking 210d Dyneema Grid.   If so I recommend talking to Zimmerbuilt or Superior Wilderness Designs.

If you want full woven Dyneema perhaps Dan McHale.

I could make you a pack any dimensions you want with a roll top dry bag closure that could give you extra room when not boarding a plane.  I use 1.43 or 2.92 Dyneema, or use 4.85 Gridstop.  I also have a lot of X-pac 21.  I’m not professional but I make really nice packs and very light.  Thanks Andrew

What if instead of a new pack you got two two tall narrow stuff sacks that you put in the two side pockets of an existing pack and held them secure with the side lash/compression straps, effectively “widening” the carry capacity of an existing pack? It would limit what you could carry in the total space (working with a space of 10-12″ width and two more spaces of 2-3″ width each instead of one space of about 16″ width), but it could easily solve your problem with existing equipment and also give some flexibility in packing (if the full 16″ width would be too much for a particular space you could pull one or both side sleeves out).

I have a custom pack made be Dan McHale and had it done because I couldn’t find a pack that fit me AND had the features I want for my style of hiking.  If Dan is still making packs (could be retired) he will be the person to talk to, he’s been making them since the ’70’s.  You can contact him through his website, McHale and Company, or do a search using his name. It will cost you some cash however, my pack was $1,300 when all said and done.  That sounds expensive but, that pack has 10,000+ miles on it and it’s what I’m going to carry on my CDT sobo, starting mid June this year.

https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/

Not dyneema, but waterproof sail cloth.

UL Backpacks made for the Urban, Carry on Traveler.

I have their discontinued Tortuga Air, which I used in Cambodia for 10 days….plenty of room for someone who applies UL methods.

Think you will appreciate their minimalist design.

Tony

I’ve been using a full dyneema hmg porter 4400 large for travel. it fits in carry on but you can’t pack it higher than the top of the shoulder straps. Very durable of course, but the pack is only moderately comfortable since it lacks load lifters. Also very pricey at $600. I think there might be a better option out there but wanted you to know that this pack fits those specifications. I’ve had it on carry on with Delta, Alaska, Avianca, Jet Blue.

Good option on the full dyneema HMG. Durable as can be, and light.  We’ve used our 3400 porters on several trips and they have been great traveling, the excellent when you get to your destination of choice

For those that have flown with metal stays in the pack, has it ever been a problem? We’ve always taken them out up to this point.  Going frameless would have its perks for sure here!

Overshot i haven’t had a problem traveling with the stays. My pack is durable yes but it is 46.6oz so I think if Mark wants something lighter maybe a similar but smaller pack would make sense.

Dan (McHale) is very much not retired and is still making packs. Just finished the process with him a couple months ago. Give him a shout and see if that works for you.

I’m just returning from a much needed vacation and have read everyone’s posts.  Thanks so much for the information, everyone.  I am thinking of the 210d Dyneema Grid material.  The “Homebase Backpack” at http://www.tortugabackpacks.com is generally what I’m looking for from an overall size standpoint, except that I would like it to specifically match the dimensions (55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm).  I want to maximize volume and minimize weight.  I don’t need the separate organization for the laptop, nor do I need to hide the straps of the Homebase Backpack.  I would like it to have only one lift handle, on the top, a pocket on each side, and a mesh pocket on the back. I hadn’t contemplated a “rear loader”, but I think that makes more sense for this purpose than a top loader.

I will check out the HMG bags.  I had looked at them before and didn’t see anything like what I wanted.  That said, I find their website hard to search through all of the options.

You all have given me a lot of good information and have started me on my way.  I very much appreciate your help.

Mark, I didn’t realize you were talking about the dyneema grid. You can probably disregard my post about the HMG packs because I was referring to woven dyneema laminated to non-woven dyneema, and I don’t think they offer the grid as an option. So Brad’s comment about Zimmerbuilt or Superior Wilderness Designs is more applicable.

Ben, I’m open to a lot of options at this point and am trying to work my way through them.  Surprisingly, I’m more concerned about the durability of the material, especially abrasion resistance, for this backpack than I am for the ones that I take on traditional backpacking trips.  Even though I plan on using this as “carry on” luggage, I think that I will occasionally have to “gate check” this bag and the baggage handlers won’t be as careful with the bag as I would be.  I’m not that knowledgeable about materials, but I think the dyneema grid is more abrasion resistant.

I did look at HMG and their packs tend to have the typical 12″ +/- width and I’m looking for a 15.7″ to maximize volume.

I do appreciate your comments as all of this is getting me to think more rigorously about what I want.

yeah the grid will be better than the normal hmg stuff which is nonwoven dyneema laminated to 150d polyester. The full woven dyneema will be better than both, but extremely pricey. Maybe someone here can chime in comparing durability of xpac X42, dyneema grid, and fully woven dyneema?