It amazes me how much gear we can make for a trip on which we are each only taking one backpack. But, oh, how much these backpacks can hold! Sati and I have been busy in our shop making and customizing gear for our trans-Alps trip. Here is a list of what we’ve made or modified so far:
- Camp stoves w/ windscreens and one new ditty bag
- Conversion of our paragliding harness/backpacks into respectable, comfortable backpacks with frames, compression straps and helmet pouches.
- 20 sil nylon ditty bags.
- A solar powered charging station with backpack mount
- Hiking pole – monopod conversion
- Hiking pole – tent pole modification
- Rain pants
- Pack covers
- Poo shovel mod (drill holes for minimum weight)
My biggest challenge was the harness conversion. It was also very important to me because while I love the super lightweight design and the airbag safety of my Nervures Air Trek harness, the original pack was far too tall for me and was cumbersome and sloppy to carry. It’s great for a day hike, but wouldn’t cut it for the long haul, filled with camping gear.
After wrangling my mid-1970s Kenmore sewing machine to punch through webbing and ABS to create pocketed frame sheets, I installed aluminum rods for an internal frame. I wanted a carry system that distributed the weight onto the hips and allowed flexibility for varying height. I replaced the waist belts and back surfaces with new ones I made with 3D mesh, foam and Spectra-reinforced ripstop nylon. The shoulder straps from old Northface packs worked well with the frame and allowed me to finally have a chest strap that could adjust over my chest (rather than right across it, or even more awkwardly, below it). I used the same super-tough ripstop for helmet pouches as well as for lateral and vertical compression straps. These straps will keep the form of a pack rather than that of a Barba Pappa when all packed up with camping gear. And so, the Frankenharnesses were born!
We still have a few things to make and modify. There’s a good chance we’ll be in and out of the shop working on gear til just before we leave. It’s how we do.