u/ruckusmountaingear

Built this for a recent trip to Japan to explore some ideas I had for future pack builds. Overall love the way it turned out. I need an extra inch in torso length for this to really fit me well so throwing this out there as a very lightly used option for someone who’s looking for a high volume pack built from Ultra. I also need to rebuild the removable hip belt so that would be able to be customized to your waste size and could include (or not) hip belt pockets.

Details:
- Challenge Ultra 400X main body
- Challenge UltraGrid pockets
- two internal aluminum frame stays
- HDPE + foam pad insert
- removable Y-strap and roll top side compression straps (so you have three different ways to close the pack depending on how much you’re carrying and how you want to configure)
- weighs roughly 3.5lbs with frame stays and sleeve
- built to be used for packrafting and/or other high volume carry needs

Holler if you’re interested or have comments / questions. Thanks for viewing!

- brad

Made for a good friend’s 3 year old. The little straps are probably my fave. A nice break from making 95L load haulers!

Ultra 200X
UltraGrid
Venom mesh

Two interior sleeves for diapers and Cheerios.

Top flap with Vislon zipper for passport and phone.

Tiny little shoulder straps for tiny little shoulders.

First attempt at a pattern I made based off of the HMG bag of a similar style. My Neighbors camera was a bit bigger than what would fit in the HMG so I gave it a shot.

Liner is a thin ripstop another neighbor of mine gifted me with some of his artwork on it.

Main fabric:
X-PAC VX21 (black)

1/4” EVA foam extends up to ~10” to cover the camera but allow the roll top to .. roll.

I will probably go with small carabiners instead of the G-hooks with gatekeepers as the G-hooks are a little too annoying to take on and off in an outdoor / active environment (ski touring, hiking, etc.).

Cheers 🤘

SOLD.

V2 packraft bag. Only real difference from V1 is that I moved the aluminum stays internal (still removable just slide into sleeves inside the pack instead of on the back panel). Had a recent trip in my V1 where I did some unintentional glissading and ripped a seam on my frame stay sleeve 😬🤦🏻‍♀️

Other changes on this version, made the shoulder straps permanently sewn into the mid/upper back panel seams. Previously had these as detachable to maybe use as thigh straps similar to Sockdolager but after using it and thinking through it more, I don’t see myself ever paddling with these vs my boats actually thigh straps nor would I really want to recommend anyone do that .. not worth the weight savings on a trip imo.

Ok, enough rambling, pack details…

95L packraft / hiking pack
3.33LBS.

Challenge Ultra 400X (black), 200X (green)

- Drain holes in side pockets
- Side pocket strap can come outside of pocket to really cinch it down for those bushwhacky hikes!
- Y-strap top strap helps keep your boat or whatever else you want to rig on the top tied down
- Internal frame sleeve EVA foam and HDPE (removable)
- Two aluminum 6061 stays (removable)
- 1/2” Evazote foam hip belt (removable)
- 3/8” Evazote shoulder straps

Cheers 🤘

Second iteration of this pack. Wishing this one was staying at home with me but I guess I’ll just have to make another.

30-40L with Rolltop <2lbs.
Ultra 200
Venom Grid from RBTR
Vislon zips
Ice axe carry
Diagonal and A-frame carry options
Removable Evazote foam insert
Removable hip belt
Removable Y-strap helmet carry / top strap (nice if you want to use as a day pack in the summer)

Let me know what you think! I got inspired to make these because I liked the Raide pack I got a couple of seasons ago but honestly felt like there was WAY too much going on. I simplified to exactly what’s needed in the backcountry and was very pleased with my V1 this past season.

Second iteration of this pack. Wishing this one was staying at home with me but I guess I’ll just have to make another.

30-40L with Rolltop <2lbs.
Ultra 200
Venom Grid from RBTR
Vislon zips
Ice axe carry
Diagonal and A-frame carry options
Removable Evazote foam insert
Removable hip belt
Removable Y-strap helmet carry / top strap (nice if you want to use as a day pack in the summer)

Let me know what you think! I got inspired to make these because I liked the Raide pack I got a couple of seasons ago but honestly felt like there was WAY too much going on. I simplified to exactly what’s needed in the backcountry and was very pleased with my V1 this past season.

First attempt at a super high volume bag (and 3rd pack total). So far, I’ve gotten this pack out on three separate overnight packraft / backpacking trips fully loaded and it’s held! A few minor tweaks I made to a V2 I just made for a buddy that I’ll post soon.

- 95L
- challenge ultra 400
- aluminum stays 2x
- hdpe frame sheet glued to EVA foam
- 1/2” Evazote foam hip belt
- 3/8” Evazote foam shoulder straps
- Fidlock hip belt buckle

~3.5 lbs. with frame sheet and stays

Cheers,