Pack straps??

**TFC Rick** · 09-23-2011, 17:08

I have a huge case of the DIY bug and would like to make a pack. How are you guys making straps/waist belts? I need a fix! Lol thanks in advance.

**vinnya42** · 09-23-2011, 17:55

staps are made from heavier nylon (flag nylon at Hancock fabric) and closed foam inside. I made my shoulder straps 5" wide and double the padding...works great! Don't forget the head strap works really well read all about it.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ght=head+strap

**ljcsov** · 09-23-2011, 21:22

I recently made a pack but I wasn't thrilled with it. Its basically a top loader with some pockets on the outside.

To make my straps I used nylon webbing for the portion that runs from the top of the backpack and comes out of the bottom portion of the backpack. For the section that makes contact with your shoulders, I used this stuff.

http://www.diygearsupply.com/cgi-bin/shelf.cgi?numb=67

For the hip belt I made a silnylon "pocket" and put foam in it and sewed that into the backpack seam. From this pocket the strap emerged that had the hip belt buckle on it. That part I was very pleased with.

The thing I guess I didn't like was the fact it was frameless. I did put a pocket into the backside of the pack where I could insert a foam pad. Even so, the backpack seemed too floppy for me and I missed having a more rigid structure found with an eternal frame or even just a thicker heavier duty back.

I suppose it would serve as a viable DIY pack, but I think I am leaving the pack portion of my gear up to manufacturers.

Good luck with yours! I hope that makes sense for a strap/hip belt idea.

**TFC Rick** · 09-23-2011, 21:29

Pics of your pack?

**vinnya42** · 09-23-2011, 21:33

I found the frameless part of my pack less than I expected until I turned my pack into a stuff sack and jammed all my soft stuff down as tight as possible in the bottom portion of the pack, which stiffened it up and it feels perfect for me.

**ljcsov** · 09-23-2011, 21:36

Yours looks really good vinny. It is less floppy in comparison to mine. I am just super paranoid my stitching is going to fail also and everything will spill out.

Is that a head support on yours or are you just sportin' your gang colors?

**Violent Green** · 09-23-2011, 21:39

I do padding from here:
http://www.questoutfitters.com/Foam%20page.htm#Foam

3D mesh from here(inside of the strap/waist belt):
http://www.rockywoods.com/Fabrics-Ki...ted-Mesh-Black

The outside of the straps/waist belt I just use the same fabric that the pack is made out of.

Ryan

**vinnya42** · 09-23-2011, 21:40

Ya the stitches really concerned me so I x4 stitched them them then siliconed them so there would be no moister that could rot them. I reallly stuff that pack as tight a possible and the makes a stiff pack, the stitching has held up to the most I can do to fill it tight. I don't put the sleeping bag on the outside anymore since I want it to pack into the pack. The sleeping mat is gone too, I am using an IX UQ.

The head strap rocks....try it.

**ljcsov** · 09-23-2011, 21:59

Originally Posted by vinnya42

Ya the stitches really concerned me so I x4 stitched them them then siliconed them so there would be no moister that could rot them. I reallly stuff that pack as tight a possible and the makes a stiff pack, the stitching has held up to the most I can do to fill it tight. I don't put the sleeping bag on the outside anymore since I want it to pack into the pack. The sleeping mat is gone too, I am using an IX UQ.

The head strap rocks....try it.

Might have to try it. It probably evens out your load.