looking for custom designed backpack

Hi,

I'm looking for someone that can make a custom designed back. Any Suggestions?

Thanks

Randy at cold cold world,...

Hey Mike,

Shoot me an email at josh @ tufaclimbing . com with a small brief on your design and maybe we can work together.

My online portfolio isn't super up to date but you can see some of my older work at TUFA Climbing

I know Randy also does some really high quality custom work.

Cheers,

Josh

Danomcq and Josh, thanks for the replies and info.

Josh, I'll send you an email this weekend with details.

You might also want to contact Graham Williams at Cilogear.
cilogear.com/

Marc801 wrote:You might also want to contact Graham Williams at Cilogear. cilogear.com/

Lol, Cilogear makes a kickass pack but if you want a custom pack it's gonna start at $15,000

Cilogear customs

Josh Kornish wrote: Lol, Cilogear makes a kickass pack but if you want a custom pack it's gonna start at $15,000 Cilogear customs

That news to me! At one time when they were smaller, Graham did do custom work and mods. Fair enough.
Of course the OP didn't say why he wants a customized pack or exactly what he means by customized. With the abundance of different packs with a plethora of different features from a variety of manufacturers, I'm really curious about what he thinks he can't find without customization.
He also didn't mention anything about price range.

For sure, custom can mean absolutely anything these days. I think graham is definitely onto something with his custom programs haha.

Josh Kornish wrote: Lol, Cilogear makes a kickass pack but if you want a custom pack it's gonna start at $15,000 Cilogear customs

Dang, I thought that was just sarcasm, but they actually do say $15K.

Anyway, I'm talking about an original design from scratch.

I've been looking for a particular design for over a year and it just isnt there, so my next thought is to see if someone can make it for a reasonable price.

Zimmerbuilt does a lot of custom work (he shows examples on his website). Seems like he caters to the lightweight backpacking and fly fishing crowd more than climbers, specifically.

Don't hesitate, contact Randy Rackliff at Cold Cold World. I had him make 2 custom packs for my son and me based on the modified Ozone pack featured in the Coldthistle blog. Ours are in the more durable cordura, but he will make them in lighter weight fabrics. What was custom about ours was primarily the addition of daisy webbing on each side of the single strap closure so you can configure ice axe, crampon or trekking pole attachments, a webbing rope catch under the lid, and a durable webbing grab loop above the shoulder straps.

The packs carry very comfortably for climbing, skiing, etc and include a simple, removable foam pad. Best pack I ever owned and I've had many!

P Corry, if you are able post some pictures of those fine packs. Always good to see what systems are working well for folks.

Patrick Corry wrote: Best pack I ever owned and I've had many!

Linnaeus wrote: P Corry, if you are able post some pictures of those fine packs. Always good to see what systems are working well for folks.

+1 on the picture request. I've been thinking about ordering a Valdez with modern tool attachments, a hydration port and maybe bigger ski slots. How does a ~38L pack like the Ozone work for skiing without compression straps?

Linnaeus, here you go...

modified Ozone

modified Ozone, front.

modified Ozone, bottom panel

inner lid, with zipped pocket. Gray straps are the rope catches

top pocket (upper lid pocket)

lid removed, rope catches showing, blue grab loop

gray extension collar extended, drawstring/spring lock closure

size comparison with Cilogear 40B. I guess the CCW mod. Ozone is 35 liters?

In reply to Todd, when I referred to the pack with regard to skiing, I meant it wears well - hugs close to the body- which also works well for climbing. Our version does not have dedicated ski slots, etc. but I'm sure Randy would add those. On my old Wild Things Ice Sac, there were two stitched-on heavy web straps on the sides at the bottom to catch ski bindings, and then a compression strap to hold the tops A-frame style. I imagine you could have Randy do the same thing..... I just didn't need this for these packs.

A few of the details; the bottom of the webbing for the main lid closure has a couple of daisy chain bar-tacks. This is where I thread a short webbing draw which is threaded through the heads of my ice axes & secured with a carabiner. You're always gonna have these two items when you're ice climbing anyway, and once the axes are off the pack you can use them for climbing. Tops of the axes are secured by loops of velcro style tape which stick to themselves- got it at Home Depot. You could also use heavy shock cord & cord locks- these attach to the tops of the 2 daisy webbings sewn on either side of the lid buckle. These daisys also allow the attachment of crampons- bring your own buckle strap(s). Velcro does double duty to attach your trekking poles once you're at the vertical stuff.

The lid is removable, attached with 2 fasted buckles & heavy duty, wide velcro just above the main strap attachment point. No hydration port- I guess Randy would do this- I just run the tube out the main bag under the lid and attach to the pack strap- the hydration bag goes in the foam pad slot. There's a sternum strap- adjustable up and down roughly 5". It may not be perfect for all uses, but for me, it's the most comfortable pack ever. It's size limits my penchant for bringing 'extra' stuff, and the lack of extra straps/adjustments/big logos/and other marketing nonsense appeals to my minimalist self!

Any specific questions will be gladly answered. One caveat...Randy stitches his logo in white thread. I blacked it out with a Sharpie cuz I like a stealthy look.

Now that I see the photos posted, they're kinda dark.. If anyone wants specific pictures in daylight let me know.

I've got a semi-custom chernobyl from Cold Cold World - fucking great pack, made my old Cilogear packs look like the rubbish they were. Was pretty inexpensive for the quality too... Highly recommended.

Yeah, I forgot to add... CCW packs are pretty reasonable, 150 bucks each for ours!

Other possibles:

toegear.com/

mchalepacks.com/

I have a TOE and a CCW. Both made by highly experienced climbers and both of impeccable design and construction. I have not owned a McHale but I'm told by folks who have reason to know that there's nothing out there that's better. The McHales are super spendy, though.

The TOE and CCW packs are almost unbelievable values for the money and both Rackliff and Tuttle will work with you to meet your needs… though Rackliff is getting a bit grumpy about it. I think he'd prefer to stay a bit closer to his standard designs. Tuttle does prototype work and may be a bit more flexible if you want something that departs from a standard design.

My next pack will be a Tuttle/TOE.

And I absolutely agree with Graham's above comment that all of these packs make Cilogear (which I have also owned) look like rubbish.

I have a McHale and a CCW pack. McHale is far more geared to hiking and long distance backbacking, IMO.

I have a CCW Chernobyl and Ozone. Ozone is an awesome, awesome slim-line pack, and the same price as anything you would find at an outdoor store.

As far as the custom Ozone mentioned above, I believe randy is now offering a scaled down Chernobyl that is almost the size of the ozone. Ski slots and all that. I have been eyeing it!!

flextrek, hands down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAtzN_ScKXY

^^^ FTW