u/NeonEchoe28

Trying hard to get more freestyle moves out of a packraft. What kayak moves are worth to try in a packraft?

This is a lightweight but high-volume load-hauling backpack, weighing around 1.2 kg, that I built specifically with packrafting expeditions in mind. It has been used on two test hikes and is still in very good condition.
The pack uses a lightweight yet sturdy aluminium U-shaped frame. The frame transfers the load directly into a large, fully wrapping hip belt. I have used this type of load-transfer system on previous backpacks and expeditions with loads of up to around 50 lbs.
With its 110L capacity, the pack is particularly well suited to packrafting. It easily accommodates a complete whitewater packraft setup together with camping gear and other expedition equipment. The large side pockets provide plenty of room for paddles, water bottles and additional gear. The compression straps can be removed when not needed, and the pack can be compressed down easily enough to fit inside a packraft tube. Despite being designed primarily for packrafting, it also works well anywhere a bulky or relatively heavy load needs to be carried.
The main body is made from Ecopak EPLX400, with a more abrasion-resistant Cordura 1000D bottom. The side pockets are made from Ultragrid. All main seams are sewn and then covered with 1” grosgrain binding, giving them a double-stitched construction. The side pockets are deliberately sized to provide a generous amount of usable space and can easily accommodate two 1L water bottles.
The hip belt and shoulder straps are constructed from 210D nylon with 1/8” spacer mesh. The shoulder straps use 5mm genuine Evazote EV50 foam, while the hip belt uses a slightly denser 10mm Evazote foam. My torso length is approximately 19”, and the pack fits me well. I would expect it to work for torsos in the 18–20” range, depending on your preferred fit and how high or low you like to carry the pack. The height of the hipbelt can be adjusted for different toso sizes in a range of 3“. The most reliable way to check is to measure the same distance on a backpack that already fits you well, ideally one with load lifters.
I have built a handful of backpacks so far and use them exclusively on my own packrafting trips and expeditions. I’m an amateur MYOG enthusiast who occasionally sells a pack to help fund the next project — MYOG is an expensive hobby!
I build my packs using an industrial sewing machine, 1/2” seam allowances and Heavy Duty serafil 30 yarn. I’m not a professional pack manufacturer, but I’ve used my own packs extensively and have a high level of confidence in their construction.
If a failure occurs as a result of my workmanship, I’ll make it right, up to and including a full refund.

Details:

- 110l Volume
- 1,2kg weight
- carrys up to 25kg/ 50lbs
- detachable hipbelt & shoulder straps
- detachable compression straps
- durable & light load carrying system

Prize: 270€ (shipping in EU) - payment via Paypal

If you got any questions, let me know. I am based in Germany.

Hello guys,

I found this great old dresser at the local free market for 70€. Can you Tell me anything about that? The metal parts don’t seem to be original, but there are some really old looking writings on the back of the furniture as well as an old sticker that is sadly peeled off in many parts.

Could you tell me anything about the history furniture?

Hello Reddit,

I found your community looking for career advices for becoming a product designer. It‘s a dream of myself to work in the outdoor industry as a product designer for a long time, and I want to make the career shift in the next years. Here I am looking for help and an advice. I don‘t have a degree in product design/ industrial design and never really worked in that area, so I am happy about every insight and advice I can get.

About me: I currently work part time as a teacher for art and sports (studied both) and outdoor guide on my holidays (packrafting, Kayak, hiking). Being outdoor is a big passion for me and I really love to get in touch with new products and share my knowledge with other people about that. I would call myself a pretty advanced outdoor enthusiast with a wide range of experience in this field. Every year I sleep around 30-50 nights in a tent in various countries all around Europe and make presentations in local equipment shops about my work as a guide, presenting stories from my trips. I have some experience in photography as well, so this goes hand in hand.

I like to design, craft and develop products since many years. In my years studying art, design was one of my favourite subjects and I loved to create new ideas. While studying I started building fishing rods (fishing was a big thing for me then), created a little brand, sold some rods, but did quit later when I lost my interest in fishing. I learned something about different materials and design. 3 years ago I bought a sewing machine and started making my own outdoor equipment and fell deep in a rabbit hole of making backpacks all winter long, just to test them the next summer season. Everything I made was sketched and designed by myself, I don‘t use online patterns on my projects. But since today nearly all my work is done analog in my sketchbook and with pen and paper. I will dig deep in 3D Design and CAD programs this winter to develop some skills, but honestly I am not sure which skills are worth to invest. I thought about working with Fusion 360 and Seamly2D. I got pretty good feedback on my products and design from people who tested them, but don‘t really know what to do with all that in the next step. I would really appreciate to get some advice, tips, experience and insights for becoming a product designer and stepping into the outdoor industry.

I know that this field is hard work and full of competition, but it‘s worth a try for me. I just don‘t know how.

As a reference I show you some pictures of my work: A 100l volume packrafting backpack I did build last winter.