Description

Overview

• 50 Liter / 3000 Cu In Rolltop (can extend to 3600)
• 14oz starting weight (changes with frame fit and options added)
• Approximately 11″w x 8″d and 25-30″ tall
• Made from Challenge Sailcloth UltraWeave 200x
• Made by hand in USA one at a time
• This is currently a bag only option made to fit hunting frames from other manufacturers. I do have an internal frame version that is still in testing that I hope to have out later this year.

Base Model

The model 50 gets its name from its roughly 50 liter (3050 cu. in.) main bag. Roll top packs are hard to give an exact volume for because of their changing volume, and it can be loaded up to around 3600 inches if needed. Somewhere around 50 liters however is the full point to the top of whatever frame you put this on.

Weights are just as hard on a custom pack depending a multitude of factors, including optional add-ons and whether or not the compression straps are included in the frame weight or the bag weight. The range for this pack typically falls between 14oz and 20oz when considering the compression straps as part of the frame along with their half of the buckle. I say this to be as transparent as possible because there is a lot of variance here in a custom build, and because manufacturers have their ways of hiding weight on either side to make one or the other look better on paper. What I can say is that I am building the lightest pack of this size that I possibly can, while still ensuring that its up the task of handling any hunting situation you can throw at it.

The seam construction on this pack is done with the highest strength in mind. Everything is sewn at least three times with premium thread of proper size. Seams are folded and top stitched where possible, and webbing connection points are bar-tacked at the base and then straight tacked in the finishing edge of the seam. The bottom of the pack is also double layered.

The main body is constructed of Challenge Sailcloth Ultra 200X. This laminate has a face fabric made from woven UHMWPE and polyester. It is half the weight of 500D Cordua with roughly double the abrasion resistance and tear strength. The fabric itself is water proof and non-absorbent, but I do not seam tape these so they are regarded as water resistant.

The rolltop features a heavy duty double snap closure to hold it place while being rolled, and a roughly 17″ front opening via velcro. This solves the problem of being able to efficiently load the pack from the top when paired with a 24-26″ hunting frame. The rolltop is held closed by a 3/4″ Ykk extreme temperature rated buckle located on both sides of the top . Additionally a removable “Y” strap secures the top of the bag to the front mesh pocket to prevent sag, and is great for storing items on the top of the bag for quick access.

The front mesh pocket is built from Challenge Sailcloth UltraStretch, and is great for storing bulky items like jackets or wet tarps and clothing. When the pack is full the top triangular piece of fabric that it is sewn to limits the opening by design. It effectively turns the pocket into a slip pocket opening with an expansive amount of volume below to hold bulky gear. It works sort of like a yellow jacket trap to keep gear inside and prevent anything from falling out when throwing the pack on the ground or in the back of a truck. It also provides a non-stretch attachment for the top compression strap for securing gear or heads to the top of a full pack.

All packs also come with a 6″H x 11″W internal pocket on the back of the pack where the top of the frame sits. This stash pocket is good for keys, knives, or other small and mostly flat items.

It comes standard with two compression straps per side, as well as 2 bottom compression straps. A third strap per side and two front compression straps can be added optionally. Stone glacier models come with 1″ webbing and hardware due to the webbing being sewn to the frame, kifaru models have the option of either 3/4″ or 1″ compression straps that attach via a girth hitch. The breaking strength of 3/4″ nylon webbing still far exceeds anything else on the pack, and the 3/4″ buckles I use have a break strength over 200lbs, which is comparable to most 1″ buckles at half the weight. I can retro fit your SG frame to 3/4″ webbing, but it would involve you shipping the frame to me and an additional $50 charge.

Custom Options

Accent Color

This is the color that the fabric strip at the top of the mesh pocket and any bottle pockets selected will be made in. It can be selected in Challenge Ultragrid which is a 210d nylon with a double UHMWPE ripstop or 500d cordura. The custom color option is still for these two fabrics just in colors I don’t currently stock. The $20 charge for a custom color is to cover the ordering of a small quantity and shipping it to get it to me. If you select the custom color option I will reach out to you after you place your order to get your color choice.

 

Side Pockets

There are two options for side pockets, a slip pocket to hold the feet of a tripod or trekking poles, and a bottle pocket which is 3-dimensional and made for carrying gear and water bottles. I originally intended the bottle pockets to be standard with the option to delete them, but the way this pack builder is configured I cannot subtract pricing. So instead I have lowered the base price of the bag accordingly with the option to add bottle pockets to one or both sides.

The slip pockets are 3″ tall, offer a clean side with no additional volume, and are made from Ultra 200X that is double layered. If you select the “None” option you will get these on both sides of the pack. They weigh almost nothing and provide some additional stiffness and durability to the bottom edges.

The bottle pockets can be made from Challenge Ultragrid or 500D cordura and will come in whatever is selected as your accent color for the pack. They are trimmed at the top with mil-spec heavy duty elastic to help them hold loose gear, and to keep them flat when empty. They’re approximately 12″ tall by 8″ wide by 3″ deep but are flexible to accommodate various sizes of gear. These add roughly 1.5- 2 ounces a piece depending on material.

 

Side Zipper

A full length side zipper can be installed on either side and will be a Ykk #10 zipper with a single zipper pull. It can be installed with either side pocket option selected. The zippers in some of the photos taken are with the non water repellent zippers because I had an excess stock of it for prototyping bags and it is significantly cheaper, but all orders going forward will be made with water resistant zippers. This adds around 2 ounces.

 

Compression Strap Options

Noted above in the base pack section, this is for selecting the add on of two front compression strap and an optional third side compression strap. Kifaru frame models can also be selected to be made with 3/4″ webbing to farther reduce weight. Each additional compression strap with buckle adds 1oz. Weight reduction for 3/4″ webbing and hardware is around .5oz, or half the weight.

 

Roll-top Compression

This is for the addition of a vertical 3/4″ compression strap on each side to secure the roll top instead of securing the sides together above the bag. These are sewn into the side seam and are not removable, but can be stashed down into a side bottle pocket if not in use. This will add just under 2oz to the total weight but will tighten the pack bag up vertically a bit under tall loads. This adds just over an ounce.

 

Rifle Hanger

This is more of an add-on than a pack modification, but it involves sewing a connection point into the seam of the bag. This is for traditional stocked rifles and consists of a 2″ wide cradle made from a double 500d laminate (same stuff laser cut molle is made from) that wraps under and around the butt of your stock, with a 1″ webbing piece sewn to it for height adjustment. This cradle is adjustable via velcro to get the perfect fit around the circumference of your stock.

This is then paired with a 1″ buckle to adjust the height at which you carry your gun, decreasing the height of the muzzle overhead. The buckle is removable from the pack for when not in use, and connection for it will be sewn on both sides for right or left side carry. The buckle and the tight fit or the cradle when adjusted mean that the rifle can be removed quickly/easily and fired without the system being removed from the gun. Simply take your pack off and unbuckle your gun and you’re in the action. The rifle hanger with buckle weighs 1.5 ounces.

The one pictured here is in m81 woodland from a custom build, but I am offering them only in black now for sale.