external frame w/ dcf option for bag?

I haven’t tested epoxy or silicone on DCF yet, but if it works well at bonding it (and it should, especially if you slightly rough up the surface of same), you could build a no sew pack pretty easily and quickly, by using a composites approach, similar to what I talked about very recently in the MYOG section.  I will draw up a diagram and put it on my MYOG thread in the near future.

Instead of using 2mm EVA foam, you could use some very light and cheap fiberglass as the core, lined with some DCF on the inside and some light’ish (40D) nylon on the outside (for abrasion protection and specific color and to protect skin against fiberglass).  But still using epoxy/strips of carbon fiber for the rectangular shoulder to hip area of the pack (to increase stiffness of the area some).

If you’re interested, I can do some bonding tests of silicone and epoxy on DCF and see how it goes?

Edit to add: I personally wouldn’t use DCF in such a composite because it’s too expensive for me right now, and fiberglass is plenty strong enough for it’s weight.  But if cutting out the foam, it would be an excellent adjunct to such a composite system, as long as epoxy and silicione adheres well to the surface.  You would want to use at least 1.43 stuff, and as mentioned, very lightly rough up the surface side that will be bonded.

Mike- SO used to make a DCF bag for their Unaweep. It was a great pack. Wish I had kept mine. You might find one with a WTB in the Gear Swap.

Justin sounds like a neat project!  I’m not much in the diy realm though, hoping for an off the shelf solution if possible, but I’ll keep an eye on your project  :)

Ed- SO frame and dcf bag would be perfect!  Wonder why they quit making it?

I’ll keep my eyes peeled for one, I’m guessing they made some in the 75-ish liter range

Mike

I’ll do some DCF bonding tests with silicone and epoxy.  If both work well, I’ll update you about it, and probably do a MYOG post about it.  I think I do actually do have enough DCF already on hand, that I don’t have any other plans for besides using small strips, to build a prototype.

Thanks :)

A couple months ago someone was selling their DIY DCF bag made for the SO frame. It looked well thought out w/ good craftsmanship. I’ll see if I can find the post in gear swap. You may want to reach out to them to commission one.

Edit: “A couple of months ago…” Haha, it’s funny how time flies. More like 3 YEARS ago. Anyways, here’s a link to the thread mentioned above: https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/fs-pack-bags-for-seek-outside-frames/

Alex- thanks; looks like pretty good workmanship

I’ll try and contact him

Mike

I’m the guy who bought the custom DCF pack bag listed above to use with my SO Revolution frame.  It is superb; I have tried to convince the maker to do another for me with some tweaks, but he has a pretty busy life and wasn’t interested.  I have found a couple cottage manufacturers to make me a custom DCF top lid for my Revolution.  You might check with them to see if they’d do a bag.

PS:  I’ve talked with SO more than once about a DCF pack bag, but they weren’t interested – cost and durability issues seemed to be their concern.  That said, they have branched out more into the UL backpacking scene and are making a DCF shelter, so they might be more open to a DCF bag.

https://www.gyverdesigns.com/

myerstech hammock lab     https://www.facebook.com/myerstek/

you can attach a pack bag to the Luxurtlite frame. It carries loads like a dream.

good info guys, I’m going to call SO Monday (closed today) and see if anything is in the future