[pct-l] packs: comfort vs weight: Why packs work

[Bighummel@aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

Brain storming on pack design:

Has anyone attempted to make an external frame pack using the slender (1/4 
inch) diameter Easton aluminum tent pole material?  A method of bending the 
poles and attaching the pack bag would have to be worked out (I don't suppose 
too difficult).  It just seems that a heavy gauge or larger diameter aluminum 
frame is not required when the Easton poles have sufficient strength to 
handle the range of typical low weight loads.  I keep looking at the heavy, 
large diameter frame of my old Tioga and questioning the need for it when 
proper design using lighter weight, slender diameter materials could work 
better.

I continue to like the idea of an external frame pack for ventilation and 
complete load support.  However, the oxymoron of an external frame having to 
be padded to protect it from the body seems to be wasteful in weight when 
that is designed into the internal frame packs already.  

I'm working on the concept of a bamboo, hourglass shape, external frame pack. 
 The hourglass shape is made by crossing the vertical stays at the lumbar 
area.  The shape comes from the idea of the lumbar flexible plastic frames 
like the North Face "Back Magic" of the late 1970s -- early 1980s.  Bamboo 
because it is the lightest weight, strongest, most flexible natural material 
that happens to be growing in my backyard!  I keep meaning to dig it up and 
get rid of it, but the material is so intriguing in that it keeps bugging me 
to find new uses for it.  I know that steaming and bracing the bamboo can 
form it into the shape of my spine and hips.   

Greg

"Salvitur Ambulando"
(walking solves all things)
            St. Augustine


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