I've stolen a few minutes today (ok, so about an hour or so - shhh don't tell!) to play with my Molly Mac Pack.

I've already moved the shoulder straps down one row (so they are on the 5th row from the top) and that made the pack fit more comfortably as the straps now are curved around the tops of my shoulders.

I've discovered that very well stuffed silnylon stuffsacks - even cinched down - tend to squirt out sideways from the load. My MacCat made a break for it!

I already suspected, and have just proved, that one can never have too many stuffsacks! So I'll be adding some webbing loops to mine and digging around for lightweight yet non-slippery material for more sacks.

http://images44.fotki.com/v1581/filebSRg/bb5a7/6/1556686/7962784/CIMG1515.jpg

The enormous blue bag on the bottom of my pack is my hammock, weathershield, underquilt, and top quilt in my black bishop type bag. The straps are just long enough to go around the bag. But the bag is not quite stuffed to the gills so there is room for the straps to cinch down. If I were to have bulkier quilts in there I'd have to pack my topquilt separately.

The shiny plastic thing next is my big bear canister. I rarely use this big one and the little one is going to be challenging to keep in place. They rival silnyl for slipperiness.

The next row is actually a double row, with my green drybag for clothes under the MacCat bag. The MacCat had already started escaping at this point.

The screaming orange near the top of the pack is an orange stuffsack stuffed inside a left over plastic food container. I am not confident that the plastic container will stay firmly attached to the pack without a little help.

At the very top of the stack is a much-mutilated freebee waist pack that has the stuff I always carry with me.

http://images50.fotki.com/v399/filebAv1/bb5a7/6/1556686/7962784/CIMG1519.jpg

This pic is with the small bear canister and I've temporarily rounded up the MacCat and attached to the very top of the pack. Now you can see that the green bag is starting to ooze out one side.

http://images50.fotki.com/v399/fileBuxg/bb5a7/6/1556686/7962784/CIMG1520.jpg

And finally, the backside of the pack - with my new shoulder strap placement. You can see the large and comfy waist pad that Mac includes, as well as the slight curve to the pack at the lumbar region created by the bear can on the other side.

I think the answer is strap guides on the stuff sacks ... but boy ... nice looking rig. Even got your toes in the shot huh? ;)

Ordered one of Mac's front packs ... but looks like I'm going to have to take the plunge eventually for the whole shooting match.

Really worked nice for Ken's work pack doing trail work.

Thanks for sharing ... when you going to "road test" that bad boy?

Great pics and feedback, eay! I've been making new stuff sacks and adding some PALS type webbing using the old Walmart straps from my Risk test hammock trials. You can then feed the MMP straps through the webbing to secure the sack. Any similar measures you could add to your sacks -- even a single anchor point -- could be used to secure them horizontally. ...a thought to consider, perhaps; we learn together. :)

Looking good, EAY!

For those slippery sacks, the webbing loops you are going to add will be just the ticket. Also, cinch things up as tight as you can. I'm reminded of rock climbers, who place protection as they go up a section... when they come back down, they grab the rope and give it a big shake, to see what comes loose! You should do something similar with your Molly Mac Pack.

Would you try something for me please? Put the bear cannister on the bottom, using all three cinch straps, cinch it up tight and make sure it doesn't go much below the bottom of the pack and waist belt. Then, jam your hammock, et al, on top of that, and cinch all of it tight. See what you think of that, compared to the load you have pictured.

I'm going to play with HOI's bear cannister this weekend. I'm curious about how best to build a load with a can.

- MacEntyre

I'm just going to stop reading these threads until my gear account has been replenished.
They sure do look good! :shades:

I'm going to play with HOI's bear cannister this weekend. I'm curious about how best to build a load with a can.
Here's one harebrain thought. With a full size can, could you make a simple harness of straps, e.g., a circumferential ring at each end of the cylinder, say 2" in from the end, sewn to a third loop that wraps around the ends along the cylinder length. The horizontal loop would really be a belt secured by a plastic buckle. That would give you sites for tie points.

Here's one harebrain thought...
I bet there is a picture similar to what you describe in The Ashley Book of Knots.

- MacEntyre

I'm just going to stop reading these threads until my gear account has been replenished.
They sure do look good! :shades:

I feel your pain :(

Custom sized stuff sack with pals webbing for the slippery bear cannister might work.
Nice looking MacEntyre and eay.

I bet there is a picture similar to what you describe in The Ashley Book of Knots.

- MacEntyre I'll bet you're right. I was thinking of something like a barrel sling, but rotated and secure. I'll have to look through the book.

Looking good, EAY!

Would you try something for me please? Put the bear cannister on the bottom, using all three cinch straps, cinch it up tight and make sure it doesn't go much below the bottom of the pack and waist belt. Then, jam your hammock, et al, on top of that, and cinch all of it tight. See what you think of that, compared to the load you have pictured.


That (bear can on the very bottom) was the first thing I tried. Didn't like it! The can hung way down and bounced on my butt. The load seemed more stable when I moved the can up one set of straps.
A fully loaded big bear can like the one I have is heavy loaded up.

... but boy ... nice looking rig. Even got your toes in the shot huh? ;)
:)


Thanks for sharing ... when you going to "road test" that bad boy?

I'd hoped to get out for a day hike this week - maybe tomorrow on Friday. Longer trips will have to wait a bit.

Here's one harebrain thought. With a full size can, could you make a simple harness of straps, e.g., a circumferential ring at each end of the cylinder, say 2" in from the end, sewn to a third loop that wraps around the ends along the cylinder length. The horizontal loop would really be a belt secured by a plastic buckle. That would give you sites for tie points.

That might work.

I tried to figure out how to attach a canister to an old external frame pack and never did find a good solution. I'm thinking that a purpose-made cover for the can - with tie out points - would also be a solution. Counter Assault makes one for their bear can as does Garcia.

Since I usually use my small bear vault I'll play with that one first.

That (bear can on the very bottom) was the first thing I tried. Didn't like it! The can hung way down and bounced on my butt.
Perhaps you should shift your cinch straps up, no matter where the cannister is located.

I might have shipped yours with the cinch straps on every other row, starting with the bottom row. Usually, I start on the second row.

- MacEntyre

Here's some more thoughts on MMP and bear cans.

Perhaps you should shift your cinch straps up, no matter where the cannister is located.

I might have shipped yours with the cinch straps on every other row, starting with the bottom row. Usually, I start on the second row.

- MacEntyre

Mac, you did ship my MMP with the straps starting on the second from bottom row.

As you can see, the small bear vault can is just about as wide as the 'standard' strap spacing.
http://images108.fotki.com/v1583/fileWCnc/885b6/6/1556686/7962784/can1.jpg

For this series of pics, I've moved the two outer straps in toward the middle - so you get three in a row. Fits the small can much better. However, I still need to work out some anti-slip-off-the-ends-of-the-can.
http://images53.fotki.com/v1578/filebAeU/885b6/6/1556686/7962784/can2.jpg

These next two pics show the ability of the can to roll up and down the vertical dimension of the pack - illustrating the tendency of the can to roll to the lowest position when the pack is worn.

Can attached to pack - lying flat on floor
http://images44.fotki.com/v1581/filerzOd/885b6/6/1556686/7962784/can3.jpg

Can rotated to lower position (as it would be when gravity has its way). Observe the can hanging off the bottom of the pack.
Keep in mind that this is on the second set of attachments from the bottom
http://images51.fotki.com/v174/fileHm1a/885b6/6/1556686/7962784/can4.jpg

This is why I ended up putting the hammock bag below the bear can.

Ok, I have it!

First, interlock the straps with one another. That will keep the outer straps from slipping off.

Second, move the middle strap up one row. That will keep the can from rolling down.

Let me know how that works!

I'm off to Hot Springs!

- MacEntyre

Hey eay,
Good looking pack. Very nicely done.

http://images50.fotki.com/v399/filebAv1/bb5a7/6/1556686/7962784/CIMG1519.jpg

One thing that we found helpful is to locate the smaller diameter sacks closer to the back panel. In the picture above it looks like the small diameter clear/orange sack is farther away from the back panel than the one's below and above it.
If it was relocated to the inside and the other two larger diameter sacks placed on board after it , they would help secure the smaller one by partially trapping it into place.
This in addition to keeper straps on each sack or cylinder should keep everything nice and secure.

Thanks for the pictures!
Cheers,
Darrel :D

Ok, I have it!

Second, move the middle strap up one row. That will keep the can from rolling down.

Let me know how that works!

I'm off to Hot Springs!

- MacEntyre

Have fun at Hot Springs!

I tried moving the middle up one row, that helped. Still a little roly-poly.
But having the outer straps on the very bottom row and moving the middle strap up TWO rows did the trick. The can is very stable and the pack is happy. And I am also.

Will work on keeping the can from wiggling out sideways a little later.

:drool:

I want an MMP more than any other piece of gear I can remember. This thread and Mac's willingness to understand, learn, and improve the gear is tipping me over the edge!!!!! :-)

:drool:

I want an MMP more than any other piece of gear I can remember. This thread and Mac's willingness to understand, learn, and improve the gear is tipping me over the edge!!!!! :-)

Dive! Dive! Dive!