[pct-l] Re: Prototype Pack-More Info

[cmoulder@nyc.rr.com (Bob Moulder)]

Have you personally beta tested your new design yet? I mean, with an =
actual one- or two-night trip in the woods?

You have created a product for a niche that you know well, so why not =
take it out for a spin yourself? I know from experience that no matter =
how thoroughly you think you've thought things through, reality tends to =
shred "solid" assumptions and expose problems the designer never even =
thunk of in the first place. And sometimes a solution to one problem =
creates another. How does suspending the bear canister and water bag =
from the stays work in actual practice? How will it work for people who =
don't use a bear canister or a water bag? How does it work if you use a =
bear canister but not a water bag, and vice versa? Does drinking the =
water during the day throw the balance off? From a marketing standpoint, =
you will have to sell the concept before you can sell the pack.

Remember the old saying, "Perfection is realized not when there is =
nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away."

Don't take this negatively, because it is intended only to point out =
reality.

In the final analysis, I applaud your efforts. A lot of people talk -- =
very few people do.

-- Bob M
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Reynolds, WT=20
  To: Reynolds, WT ; 'Camping List' ; Reynolds, Ginnie=20
  Cc: 'pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net'=20
  Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001 9:10 AM
  Subject: Prototype Pack-More Info



  This pack is, of course, "The ADZPCTKO". I have simply borrowed from =
the
  many ideas that I saw last year. I do not currently have pictures.

  The pack is constructed of 400 denier pack cloth [not waterproof-use a =
trash
  bag as Glen Van Peski suggests]. It is dark blue. The pack bag is =
patterened
  after a Kelty Cloud pack [the white pack I had at ADZPCTKO last year] =
but is
  somewhat larger to accomodate about 4000 cu in [Kelty rates its Cloud =
at
  3500 cu in]. It is a top opening single bag with a drawstring top. The =
bag
  has a couple of velcro strips for attaching quick release stuff like =
an Ice
  Axe but is largely devoid of dingleberrys.

  The back length of the pack is identical to the Kelty Cloud. Kelty =
says that
  its pack is suitable for a 16-18 in back. My experience is that the =
pack
  will work for 6-2 [me] down to 5-8 or 9. The shoulder straps are sewen =
into
  the bag [no yoke] and are more suitable for the shoulders of a man, =
again
  like the Kelty Cloud. I find the pack very comfortable as did Tim =
Karau, the
  manufacturer [6-0]. It was to big for my wife [5-4].

  The suspension system is dual parallel aluminum stays and a separate =
hip
  belt. There is no framesheet or pad [use a Ridgerest or Thermarest =
wrapped
  around the aluminum stays if you desire this again a la Glen's GV4 =
pack].
  The hip belt is NOT the rigid belt like the Kelty. It is, instead,
  patterened after the Natural Balance pack with the exception that the =
foam
  used is somewhat denser than the Natural Balance Material.=20

  The design goal of this pack is to carry 30-40 pounds but weigh less =
than 2
  pounds. The idea is to suspend your water bag [a standard REI fabric =
covered
  plastic bladder]or bear canister from the top of the stays [they =
extend well
  above shoulder height for this purpose] thus transferring weight =
directly to
  the hip belt without causing compression to the rest of the load. It =
is
  therefore suitable for baseweights of 15-18 pounds, light but not
  ultralight, as is fitting for my much discussed, much maligned, =
opinion of
  appropriate pack weight.

  Tim Karau, a personal friend, is a professional bag maker. The pack is
  excellently constructed but is nevertheless the first prototype. We =
would
  like someone to load this up with 30-40 pounds, carry water in the
  configuration envisioned, and walk down the trail some miles......and =
give
  us a report. We do NOT want someone carrying 20 pounds total weight =
[get
  Glen's GP4] or someone carrying 50 pounds [get a Dana]on those long
  waterless stretchs with a full load of food.

  Who is interested?

  Ladies, I am not discriminating against you. The next pack will be 4"
  shorter in the back 12-14" back] and designed for my wife. We will use
  lighter fabric and hope the pack will weight about 24 ounces and have =
a 3500
  cu in capacity. We intend to gain the other 500 cu in of capacity with =
a
  removable top pouch that weighs about 4 ounces.

  My plans?
  I am building a pack for my wife. Tim Karau will market the result. If
  someone really wants to order one for a 2001 PCT thruhike, we could =
supply
  them at AZDPCTKO. Price is $200. However, the first two are =
prototypes. One
  man and one woman needed as per the offer previously posted. [see =
below] The
  color will not necessarly be blue. My wife prefers green but =
availability is
  a problem.=20

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Reynolds, WT=20
  Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 6:30 PM
  To: Camping List
  Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
  Subject: Prototype Pack


  I have my First prototype pack.

  It weighs 2# 1oz. It has a full suspension and hip belt and is a =
single bag
  of about 3500-4000 cu in. It is suitable for a person between 5-10 and =
6-2.

  You may prototype it [you agree to send it back] or you may purchase =
it [you
  send me a use report but you keep it] for $100.

  So?

  Tom

  Ps: my second pack will be for a woman about 5-5


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