DIY Packa?

[beep]

Amazing to me how the creator of the Packa comes out and offers advice on how to copy his design. Bloody fantastic! Tremendous forum and kudos to you Cedar Tree.

Methinks he knows how much work and effort is involved! I've usually found that our cottage makers offer a good value for their product.

[charley]

Smalls, we need to get together. I have been thinking of doing this, too.
Cedar Tree, that is nice of you. That is kinda what I have been thinking.
Two Tents, I would like to look at your Packa if you don't mind. My daughter is home for a few days but I am pretty flexible. I am retired.
I forgot to say, I am sure this is an excellent piece of gear.

[smalls]

Charley, my schedule is pretty open. You're a bit closer to Two Tents than I am, but I'm only maybe 20 minutes out. You two lemme know when is good, and I should be able to make it.

Cedar Tree, I'm with the rest of these guys. That's a downright gentlemanly thing to do, offering advice on making my own version of your product. Thank you!

-Smalls

[packeagle]

Has anyone tried this DIY yet? I'm thinking along the same lines as smalls, I have the time and the silnylon already, I don't have the money for a real packa though. I was thinking of making the silnylon jacket (or use a Driducks) and then adding the pack cover to it as cedar tree suggests.

[packeagle]

So, I'm taking this as a no... I'll have to do it now and post results. I may do one with an old (read leaky) frogg togg that I have and then if it turns out make one out of a over sized Driducks/ Silnylon Green Pepper #124 Fairbanks Jacket.

[OneEye]

I threw together a prototype based on tight-wad's Poncho pack cover with plans to trim the poncho into more of a jacket shape with separable zippers joining the two sides and simultaneously serving as pit vents.

I have the pack cover made and sewn into the poncho portion but haven't yet made an attempt to reshape the poncho into a jacket with dolman style sleeves.

It has taken 3 hours just for the sewing so far, and that still isn't a finished product. Of course, I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Let us know what you come up with.

[stevebo]

Shug, I love the Packa video you posted! Thanks for laugh!

[Cedar Tree]

Has anyone tried this DIY yet? I'm thinking along the same lines as smalls, I have the time and the silnylon already, I don't have the money for a real packa though. I was thinking of making the silnylon jacket (or use a Driducks) and then adding the pack cover to it as cedar tree suggests.

Make the jacket with silnylon first. Don't use the Driducks jacket. I've experimented with Driducks some and sewn seams will fail easily under stress.

So, I'm taking this as a no... I'll have to do it now and post results. I may do one with an old (read leaky) frogg togg that I have and then if it turns out make one out of a over sized Driducks/ Silnylon Green Pepper #124 Fairbanks Jacket.

Do you already have a packcover you want to use? If so, make the jacket and use the procedure I posted above. I would recommend pit zips on any jacket. If you don't already have a packcover, make the jacket and packcover as separate stand alone alone items first. Make sure the jacket fits you, and the packcover fits your pack. Then combine them with the procedure above.

Good luck

CT

[packeagle]

Wow thanks, cedar tree. I was hoping to save the effort of making a jacket then cutting it up, only to be disappointed by the outcome, by using the dri ducks as a prototype. I may still use the old frogg togg jacket i have as a prototype understanding it won't be useful in the field, to save heart ache of ruining hours of work.

[tpkanu]

I ordered the plans from Quest Outfitter and made a "Parcho" several years ago. I love it! It is really great in warm weather, since it breathes so well. It is a challenging item to sew, however. Go for it.

Happy Trails.