The Ultimate Climbing Pack

Hey y'All, over the cold months I got busy and sewed up my version of the ultimate climbing pack. It is designed specifically for 2+ pitch routes with a walk off descent so it just carries my descent shoes and an jacket. You can read the complete story here on my blog:

amospatrick.blogspot.com/20…

Here are a few pics:

Lemme know what you think!

Thanks! I just have a White sewing machine. Nothing fancy. Picked it up at Jo-Ann Fabrics for around $100 (I think). Seems to work fine as long as I use sharp needles.

My goal was to make a pack that was comfortable to lead in so that both the leader and the second could carry their own stuff. I think if I were to extend to to hold two pair of shoes and 4 liters of water, I would be better off just having the second carry the approach pack.

-Amos

yes, i support the caryy your own stuff philosophy.

This was impressed upon me reccently when I was caught at the top of a pitch, oout of the sun, in 40degree weather wearing only a vest. My jacket was in the second's pack. I almost went hypo due to a very arduous follow.

BTW, the pack looks sweet.

Evan

This is cool, although I would make it a fanny pack. Nice work!

Looks durable and simple, great pack!

Nice! I want one. I normally hate climbing with packs because they're usually too big and just get in the way. But I also hate my approach shoes dangling off my harness, so this looks like it's a good way to solve those problems.

Evan, I hear you. I always found it strange to have the second carry your warm jacket. You end up freezing while they clean the first pitch. And once you are cold, it is so hard to warm up while belaying them on the second pitch.

Forestvonsinkafinger, what part of Iowa are you from? I moved out to CO about a year ago from Iowa City.

Nice job on that pack. You are very talented. It does look beefy and well designed. Kudos to you!

goatboywonder wrote:Forestvonsinkafinger, what part of Iowa are you from? I moved out to CO about a year ago from Iowa City.

I live in Cedar Falls right now, grew up in the stix outside Indianola

Very nice design and craftsmanship.

Looks pretty cool. If you ever become a commercial operation, I'd love to get one of those.
Have you seen the Cilogear 20L leader packs? They look pretty cool also.

This could be wrong, but I was once told that it's safer to wear an empty internal frame pack while leading to protect your spine from falling rocks. But this greatly inhibits your freedom of movement and is probably/definitely overkill for cragging.

Very nice. Reminds of the Petzl Bug, which has a nice little rope attatchement system sewn in. Works well if you don't mind hiking in with your harness and rack on. Yours appears better in every way though :)

Cheers.

Nice job, indeed. Creative design.

For those of us without his sewing skills that like to carry a small bit of gear on lead, check out the Stealth Pack from Mountain Tools. I've had one for years and love it. It rides flat on your back rather than sticking out like most small climbing packs (I always thought the BD Bullet was well named, but that didn't mean I wanted to climb in it).

For those pack aficionado who are interested, here are links to the Cilo Gear and Petzl packs.

Petzl Bug

Cilo Gear

Mmmm. I have always had a softspot for the Cilo Gear packs. And $50 is hard to beat! It is hard to tell just from the pics how durable they would be though. I wonder how many chimneys it would survive? Then again, they said they made this for Kelly Cordes so it is probably plenty durable.

The Petzl looks nice but it seems like it would feel like another pack to carry. I cannot see it fitting inside my current pack with all my other gear. I have tried simply wearing all my stuff and a camelback on the approach bu it tends to wear on you after about an hour and a half of walking up to Sundance. Plus I feel like a poser with all that crap hanging off of me on the trail!

I had never seen that Mountain Tools bag before. It looks like it could fit the bill. But $109? Cripes!

Kudos man! That looks like a nice pack. I've been in the market for a good multipitch pack to carry my decent shoes, clothes a snack and a bit of self rescue crap, this would be perfect

Nice job

About the problem of approaching the climb with harness and rack and all that bulk...

Is there a reasonable way to add a few straps or flaps or expando sleeve tubes, sort of like a rope bag tarp, just for the carry up? Then you'd cinch it back down when a lot of that stuff is removed and on your person.

Yeah, that is like the holy grail. A pack that both handles the approach and is minimal enough to climb with. Unfortunately, (at least for trad climbing) you have to carry so much weight in that it requires some sort of framed pack that rides on your hips to be comfy. And framed packs generally suck to carry when leading because they are long and interfere with the stuff on your harness. Perhaps a pack with a frame that can be broken down so it becomes a short pack? Hmmm.

goatboywonder wrote:Perhaps a pack with a frame that can be broken down so it becomes a short pack? Hmmm.

Yeah, almost like an extendable tent pole... hmm indeed.

goatboywonder wrote:Yeah, that is like the holy grail. A pack that both handles the approach and is minimal enough to climb with. Unfortunately, (at least for trad climbing) you have to carry so much weight in that it requires some sort of framed pack that rides on your hips to be comfy. And framed packs generally suck to carry when leading because they are long and interfere with the stuff on your harness. Perhaps a pack with a frame that can be broken down so it becomes a short pack? Hmmm.

With a decently-packed bag you do NOT need a metal (or any) frame in your pack to handle 20-30lbs of weight on long, even multi-day approaches. The frame would be heavy and detrimental to the climb, not worth any potential benefits on the approach. For day trips and long cragging routes where you'll climb with a pack on (which can be typically avoided, but that's another topic...) look at something like the Cilogear 30L pack, with removable lid.



You can fit a rope, rack, clothes, food, sleepingbag, and shoes in to these, but leave the waist belt and foam frame sheet at home if climbing with it on your back. It fits snugly against your body for climbing and weighs one pound or less. Take the lid off before climbing as well, and you can alwaysstick your camelback bladder into the empty frame sleeve.

Forestvonsinkafinger wrote: I live in Cedar Falls right now, grew up in the stix outside Indianola

Nice dude.
I grew up in CF.
It was a good place to grow up....

josh