MR Pop Up-Inspired Lumbar Pack (Build-Along)

[4090Sharps]

Here's the packed "frame" (minus the couple D rings noted above)

 

[4090Sharps]

I finished up the back part of the panel and tested everything out with a 40lb bag of salt.... I think this may actually work out.


Checking out how everything will come together with a load here.


Ready for a load.


Salt bag loaded up.


Here you can see I installed a second female buckle for the cord buckle to the top of the frame. It's used to secure bulky layers and such at the top of the lumbar pack, but can also help secure/stabilize the load left in the bag when in pack mode. I tucked my kill kit bag under the exterior shock cord for purposed of demonstration.



I carried the loaded pack around the house for a bit using the backwards and not fully tightened Kifaru belt, with one hand over my shoulder to stabilize the top of the frame (lacking any shoulder straps, load lifters, etc.) and nothing collapsed or failed. I'm really curious to see how comfort and sag is with a properly fitted belt and shoulder straps.

At this point, I think it's safe to say this proof of concept is going to be a success. I can work through minor execution and design issues in the subsequent iterations that are almost certain to follow.





Here's the full frame package, poles and all, using the existing cord to secure the package. Heavier than I wanted at 10.4 oz, but I can work on that.

 

[4090Sharps]

I took my K4 belt off it’s frame to use as a pattern for a 1/4” foam belt and realized it has the same Velcro orientation as my pack—I could have used it as a stand in the entire time.

If it wasn’t so overbuilt for my purposes, I’d probably just swap it in, given how comfortable I find it.

 

[doncarpenter]

Seriously impressed with how fast this is coming together.

I'm curious to see how or if you're going to articulate the frame panel with the shoulder harness/yoke.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

 

[4090Sharps]

Seriously impressed with how fast this is coming together.

I'm curious to see how or if you're going to articulate the frame panel with the shoulder harness/yoke.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

Thanks, at 3 weeks in, I feel like it's taking FOREVER.

The shoulder harness will look like this, and I'll simply reroute the webbing connecting the harness to the pack through loops in the frame. It won't be pretty, but hopefully will get the job done well enough.



Something like the lefthand side here. Half inch webbing (lavender in the awful drawing) routed up through the red sections of webbing attached to the frame.



Like a very Spartan version of Kifaru does with the Duplex Lite shoulder harness retention.

 

[4090Sharps]

The belt is done. I used some Spandura I dyed on the stovetop. Ran out of the good batch so I'm down to the ugly batch.

The cord hip stabilizers are working out better than I had thought after I got the bag together, but I made the belt at least 1" too long. Oh well, this is just the first iteration.

I think the squadron fabric is on with the "wrong" face showing, but I liked the look better.



You'll see here the outline of a backing strip where the shoulder harness will connect.


I tried using this hybrid UHMPWE webbing for the belt. It slips a little. That's annoying, since it did well in testing, but I think I was using different ladder locks than the ones I grabbed this time....







Black stitching on brown fabric is really hard to get to come out nicely, but I figured why change things up this far in the game.

 

[4090Sharps]

These could be fun bounds to work within for a small lumbar pack.

 

[WoodBow]

Looking great. One big perk i have found of a pack like this, over a traditional lumbar only pack, is debris doesn't get funnel down your but crack. With a fanny pack, anything that rolls down your back gets funneled right in. Especially cedar.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[4090Sharps]

I tried using this hybrid UHMPWE webbing for the belt. It slips a little. That's annoying, since it did well in testing, but I think I was using different ladder locks than the ones I grabbed this time....

Turns out I'm just an idiot and had sewn the ladder locks in backwards... I cut the plastic, removed them, and filed slots into the bar of a new pair of ladder locks, and now they're in place.

I have some free time tomorrow and will start on the shoulder straps.

The right side will have two pockets, similar to the Mountainsmith EVO strapette--outermost for a rangefinder and taller inner for my phone.

The lefthand side will hold my pocket binoculars. At the moment I am leaning heavily toward sewing in the single column Squadron strip. Then making a magnetic closure pouch to attach to it.

My first inclination was to make the top of the pouch flip forward like a Marsupial pouch. Thinking about it more, it might make more sense to have the magnetic top flap flip up and back, normally, and sew a magnet into the shoulder strap to hold it open.

 

[4090Sharps]

Work and family obligations have kept me from finishing this project, but I found some time today to get it right against the finish line. Sorry, didn't take any pictures during construction.

The righthand shoulder strap holds my phone and a rangefinder in front.

The only thing left to do is sew on the laser-cut Squadron fabric on the lefthand side and make a small pouch to carry my pocket binoculars.

The current weight right now, with the two EXO hip pockets is 3lb 1.7oz. It wouldn't take many changes to get the weight below 3lb in a future version--lighter fabric and sewn-in hip pockets would probably be enough.

I spent an hour carrying a 40lb bag in the cargo sling, plus another 12lb (weight of bag and a bunch of gear) in the bag. It wasn't quite as comfortable as a heavier frame, but not uncomfortable and surprisingly stable. I'm really impressed at how well the cordage load lifters worked out.

I never did sew any loops into the frame to route the shoulder harness webbing through--I don't think it's necessary.

 

[4090Sharps]

I make a quick and dirty binocular pouch today. I got frustrated with my original plans for the gusset/sides of the pouch and simply slapped some elastic band in place.

The closure is magnetic, which is my preferred closure, but with only room for one of the magnets I have, it doesn’t close quite as tightly as I would like. I could see adding a secondary or alternative mechanism later on.

 

[sebastian.cassell]

Dude you are very talented. Great stuff

 

[4090Sharps]

Dude you are very talented. Great stuff

Thank you! This project was a ton of fun.

 

[4090Sharps]

I forgot to add a couple finished, stowed pictures I took of this pack. I haven't bothered to replace the EXO hip belt pockets yet, and am still bouncing around ideas for the next iteration.

 

[4090Sharps]

I need to rig up one of the hard side hydration systems for this pack. I should have built an elastic band into the shoulder straps for a hose….

 

[FrankNess14]

Very cool and extremely impressive work!

 

[elsb0048]

Curious about the shoulder strap pouches: is this designed around mostly Archery hunting?

Badass concept and execution though!

 

[4090Sharps]

Curious about the shoulder strap pouches: is this designed around mostly Archery hunting?

Badass concept and execution though!

No, but it would be a good early season pack for archery in cooler climates too. I designed it for many of the areas I hunt and scout year round where I find myself climbing through, up, around, and under all manner of boulders, brush, and trees to reach points of interest. Minimizing weight and maximizing mobility really helps.

Places where visibility doesn’t often need more than a pair of pocket binoculars.

I figured I always want my rangefinder and binoculars accessible, hate reaching past a hip belt to get my phone from a pocket to take a picture or check my GPS, and as a sweaty dude in AZ, prefer to not use a binocular harness when I can avoid it. I’m gonna have shoulder straps anyhow, so might as well make the most of them.

 

[elsb0048]

No, but it would be a good early season pack for archery in cooler climates too. I designed it for many of the areas I hunt and scout year round where I find myself climbing through, up, around, and under all manner of boulders, brush, and trees to reach points of interest. Minimizing weight and maximizing mobility really helps.

Places where visibility doesn’t often need more than a pair of pocket binoculars.

I figured I always want my rangefinder and binoculars accessible, hate reaching past a hip belt to get my phone from a pocket to take a picture or check my GPS, and as a sweaty dude in AZ, prefer to not use a binocular harness when I can avoid it. I’m gonna have shoulder straps anyhow, so might as well make the most of them.

Makes sense.

Can you still shoulder a rifle with that rangefinder pouch on the strap?

 

[4090Sharps]

Makes sense.

Can you still shoulder a rifle with that rangefinder pouch on the strap?

Yeah, you can shoulder with it on easier than your typical pack for a couple of reasons:

1. The pocket is low. The rangefinder and phone pocket sits just below nipple level.
2. The straps hug the body closer than you might think. They don’t interfere with the shoulder pocket where you’d rest your rifle.
3. The straps are relatively thin—only 1/4” foam.