The first line
Four kinds of gear, each listed by what it's built from. These are the specs we're building to; we'll post the finished spec sheet, weight included, with each piece when it's ready.
Day packs
For a full day out: water, an extra layer, food and the Ten Essentials. Two sizes, because 21 to 35 liters is where most hiking and travel daypacks land.
| Sizes | 24 and 32 liters |
|---|---|
| Body | 500D nylon, PU-coated inside |
| Base | 1000D nylon, the part that gets set down on rock |
| Stress points | Bar-tacked at shoulder straps and haul loop |
| Harness | Sternum strap; removable hipbelt on the 32 |
| Water | Two side bottle pockets and a reservoir sleeve |
| Outside | Webbing loops for poles and a jacket |
Why a hipbelt on the bigger one: REI notes a hipbelt makes a real difference once a daypack goes past about 15 lb. REI, Daypacks: How to Choose
In designBelts & carry
A belt stiff enough to carry a pouch or holster without rolling over, and pouches that sit flat on it.
| Webbing | 1.5 in nylon, two layers stitched together |
|---|---|
| Buckle | Aluminum, quick release |
| Sizing | By waist, in inches; measure the belt you wear now |
| Pouches | 500D nylon, sized for a phone, a flashlight and a multi-tool |
How to measure: lay your current belt flat and measure from the end of the buckle to the hole you use most. That's the size to order.
In designRange bags
A bag for the range or the truck bed: stiff walls, a base that doesn't soak up water, and dividers you can move.
| Shell | 1000D nylon |
|---|---|
| Base | Padded, with a waterproof bottom panel |
| Inside | Hook-and-loop dividers you can move or remove |
| Outside | Label window, two end pockets, shoulder strap |
We make bags, not anything they carry. Check your state's rules for transporting what goes inside.
In designCamp kit
The small things that keep a camp dry and sorted: a tarp you can pitch more than one way, and pouches that close against rain.
| Tarp | Ripstop nylon, 8 tie-outs, reinforced corners |
|---|---|
| Pouches | Roll-top closure, taped seams |
| Closures | Side-release buckles in standard sizes |
| Colors | Ranger green and coyote |
Why roll-tops: folds of fabric are hard for water to work through, which is why REI calls a roll-top a more weatherproof seal than a zipper. REI
In designWhat "500D" means
Denier is the weight in grams of 9,000 meters of yarn. For the same fiber, a thicker yarn weighs more, so a higher denier means a thicker, heavier thread and a heavier fabric. Thickness grows with the square root: double the denier and the thread is about 1.4 times as thick.
Definition: Denier (unit), Wikipedia. The drawing is to scale for thread thickness only.
Three words worth knowing
Bar-tack
A short, dense zigzag stitch that pins two layers together where a strap takes the load, like the top of a shoulder strap.
Box-X
A square of stitching with an X inside it. It spreads the pull across the whole width of the webbing instead of one line of thread.
Ripstop
Fabric with a grid of heavier threads woven in. If it gets a small tear, the grid stops it from running across the panel.