My first traditional bag, versipack, haversack, whatever you might call it is done. Well, the main body is actually a hungarian small army rucksack. If I'm right they issued as 37M tornister pack. The first few rucksacks made of cowhide. Very soon it became expensive to make, so they swapped to canvas. This bag was issued even during the communism. Unfortunately without the proper set up and the military accessories the bag was very uncomfortable, because it slides down on your back. You needed the filled canteen, gas mask and the ammo pouches, full with rounds hanging on your belt, which to the bag was attached, to keep it in balance. Thus I figured I'm going to make a versipack out of it. I have different needs anyway how they packed this little fella in WWII. I didn't want to buy a Maxpedition Versipack, cause of the modern fabric, made out of it. The other problem with Max is the fixed shoulder strap. You either buy a right handed or a left handed version. And if your shoulder gets tired on the long trip and you would like to swap shoulders? Frost River packs are awesome, but why shall I spend 300 bucks when I already have a bag. Just needs a little transformation, like Cinderella. Yes, they are other bushcraft bags which are also cool, but lot of them has an attachment point for an axe on their side, which I don't really like. It takes the bag out of balance. Simple haversacks don't have enough organizing parts for small items. So, I might be a bitch, but I have lots of issue with the bags you can purchase in a shop. I took the bag to pieces. Hm. First concern. This is a fifty years old bag. It doesn't matter it is in mint condition. The fabric itself has became old. It was questionable whether I can sew it back together. I was thinking of what I usually carry for my bushcraft trips, how I like to store, reach and carry them, how many space they will take up in the bag. After considering all these things I started to finding the place for them on the pack or make one for them. I wanted to keep the design clean, because of the bushcraft purpose, yet wanted to see my stuff well organized and keep the chance for modularity. Yet I didn't want to give my new bag a too tactical look. So many request on a given subject. After one and a half year of innovating and developing I came up with sumtin which is nearly perfect. I did the first ramble today to a local forest to a lakeside, to find out how the new bag works on the field. First problem already occured. The concealed zippered pocket is too close to my collarbone and if I'm wearing only a shirt the seam allowance is rubbing my bone. Not a pleasant feeling. Especially with a fully loaded pack or on a long walk. Small things here and there. Otherwise not too bad for first shot. And because the bag is not in issue anymore I've had to make every new part from scratch (the Nalgene Bottle Holder, the GP pouch and the shoulder strap). Considering this fact, pushing the value of the final product further. I mean without the proper fabric building sumtin like this is quiet good IMHO. That was the starting point:
And this is what I came up with:
I've removed the shoulder straps, made a new one, plus I sewn two side pockets, which are removable, but I kept the leather straps on the bottom for blanket, sleeping mat or tarps.
The back side of the shoulder strap is not padded, only holds a leather strap and a loop, made from bungee cord to accommodate my luvly axe.
The front part of the shoulder strap has webbing which offers you to attach small outer pockets, first aid kit, pen, flashlight, etc. The snap hooks are original USMC ones. The Austroalpin buckle gives you an emergency quick release option if it is necessary. The Nalgene bottle holder can accommodate narrower canteens or thermoses without wobbling, thanks for the bungee cord. The holder is insulated with military closed cell foam and has a slide in pocket for water purifier tablets.
You can see my Eagletac flashlight on the top of the shoulder strap. When the bag is on my person the flashlight illuminates the path approx. 3 meters in front of me. I have also sewn webbing onto the flap of the main compartment and added a bungee cord. This allows you to attach other bulky items, what you don't want to store in your bag or offers a quick access point for your poncho for example.
Or just bungee your jumper onto the top platform when you are getting feel hot. The original webbing between the pockets allows you to attach further stuffs, like your knife to keep them at hand
to be continued...
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