Pack Fit and Adjustment

[mule]

[mule]

That's on the TOP not the tip. There are two cross straps. tightening either will pull the free ends of the frame together so they should be balanced but rather tight? I think I get it.

[snubbie]

[mule]

Yep, got it, now. In connecting the top lid, we use the top set of straps, correct? When you add the top lid, that's where I get confused. I didn't use these, I sewed on a set of short loops with female buckles attached ti the same loops that those top triglides are attached with. Sorry if I am confusing everyone.

[mule]

In fact, I haven't yet used the top lid. I had it on and ready to go Friday, then removed it and put the gear and small gadgets back into the pack bag. To my eye the top lid detracts from the overall squared away appearance of the system. Since the top lid lacks the somewhat typical skirts on either side to keep it centered, I find it slides to one side and really looks like an afterthought. I've been thinking about adding the skirts myself. They would fill the area if the cord (portion of an arc) between the beginning and the end of the arc designed into the lid. The ArcTeryx-made lid for the Marine Corps pack has these skirts, as do Osprey packs and most other good brand name internals. It's probably of little concern to most. But I'm way happy with this pack and proud of it, so I don't want to display it with a large top lid that can make the pack look ill- designed. Problem is, if I sew one some black cordura or pack cloth to fill the cord shaped empty area that could help center the lid, it will be worse. I am a good sewer, make a lot of my own gear, but adding that would detract from the overall appearance. That's why I added the two new attachment points for the lid. Attaching it to the two innermost straps would have uses the straps that form the top cross strap and buckle system. Perhaps I am just totally missing something, but to me it seems less than ideal to attach the lid to these since it would pull on one side of the loop instead of using the whole length of stitching of a loop attached perpendicular to the tri glide loops.
I should mention too that I added similar loops perpendicular to the original loops that attach to the center set of straps on the talon. This way I can pull down the ends of the rolled top (or the edges of the top lid) without taking away the center two attachments for the talon. There too, using the talon attachments pulls at the loop from the side and should be pulling on a loop that is stitched so that the whole length of the loop's seam is sharing the tension. By me attaching a second set of loops perpendicular to those on the talon, this is achieved.

[soadmin]

You should show us photos of your customizations.

The lid is supposed to attach to the ladder locks that are opposite the load lifters. Then it can attach to either the middle or lower compression straps. I will be real honest here, and XPAC lid is very difficult, because it doesn't have the same flexibility that many other materials do. Thus skirts, of XPAC do not work, but Cordura will, but then that gets into color matching problems as well. The lid, IMO is functional, but a bit large for my uses, however many people expressed a desire for a lid that was large enough to put a jacket / backpacking stove, water filter etc in, and this suits that bill. Myself, I prefer the cleaner look of the roll top with over the top straps and all I would really need is a simple pocket that followed those contours, however it would likely not be large enough for many folks. Of course, I lean more towards the mostly organized minimalist. The Gateway front pack works really well for what I usually need.

[mule]

Thanks. I agree of course.

[mule]

I added cordura skirts to my top lid today. They fill the gap between the beginning and end of the cord made as the top lid curves around the pack. I installed bungee cord in the straight edges to make it grip the pack. Works and looks good. I found if I take the V strap OVER the top lid it helps make the lid look more like it was made the size of the pack. The lid was made to be large enough to hold a lot of gear and I like that, but, oddly, I like the looks of it on the pack when it is not puffed all up and looking full. I also put bungee criss crossing the top of the lid for compression and holding a jacket or something. Just Sayin!

[Nathan C]

I enjoy DIY projects as well mule, and this pack lends itself to that.

What kind of machine do you have?


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[mule]

Nathan, I just have a pretty heavy duty Kenmore. It's nothing special. I have made myself many hammocks, Bridge hammocks, packs, parka from DWR, suspension systems for hammocks, hammock weather covers, tarps, etc..
About half of what I make and design doesn't get used much because they need refined, so rather that make a lot of repairs I make a new one, usually.