The vast majority of cottage gear makers are in the backpack business. I always felt that market was saturated to capacity and in terms of creativity only experiencing incremental steps forward.
We stayed out until we saw a niche that was completely unfilled: the ability to carry a bear canister securely and balanced on a lightweight pack. This proved to be the perfect compliment to our busy goose down sector: self limiting public interest, and technically challenging to design and make, unlike the shoe-box shaped standard offerings.
As one should never stop tinkering for health of brain and business, the Bears Ears line is now up to half a dozen models.
Here’s the latest: A hybrid that can look and feel like a normal, well designed framed pack when no canister is needed, but when called for can take a canister securely in the best balanced location for rugged travel: in the small of the back. It is also a location that happens to work well for those primarily walking on trail.
The patterning process required to make the bottom area fold in and out while working optimally in both modes was delightfully complicated. The finished design has minimal pieces and very few stitch lines. It is quite possibly more durable and slick than normal box bottoms, however for long life we opted to use the new Ultra Weave TX that is bonded with a 50d polyester liner and fiber x grid.
The volume of the two current prototype versions are 45 and 55 liters internal, plus pockets. The weight is 34 and 36 ounces.
Please see an album here:
