I'm the proud owner of an External Frame pack.

“Yep... the former ultralight fanatic who sewed his own Silnylon underwear and cut his Titanium Spork in half to save 0.01oz is now a proud owner of a brand spanking new off brand external frame pack. I bet I could fit 200lbs of gear on that thing...”

“Why?”

“Is it for your golf clubs?”

“You can clip stuff to the frame. Could come in handy. (not!)”

“There's nothing wrong with an external frame pack. I still use mine from time to time when I want to carry luxuries with me. Plus I can buy or make an attachment system for carrying my canoe.”

“here here...i'm glad to finally see this tread...i'm also the proud owner of an external...in fact, i've got two of them...i picked up an old (and i mean old, maybe early 80's) external at a garage sale for the amazingly low price of $1...i can't wait to try it out...it's in great condition and i think it might actually be light than my kelty yukon”

“....and he was sneering at me having an external a few days ago! ;-)”

“I bet I could carry Pixie on the back of this thing. She can hold my stuff on her lap and sit on the frame...

I may even be able to carry Stove on it too... he'd have to sit on Pixie's lap too...

Why? I dunno... it was brand new and $10? :D”

“Someone just visited Academy sports. My Big A pack you saw at Cheaha came from there. I use it basecamping and trips with my son.”

“I actually prefer them...your back can breath so much better in hot weather in them :)”

“Very true SC. My main complaint with the externals is they restrict your upper body too much. It's not a big deal on flatter trails, but trails where you have to do a lot of rock scrambling, they can become dangerous to have on.”

“That and they are noisy...thats the thing that convinced me to switch over. Externals make a lot of noise....Squeek Squeek....my trail buddies wanted to strangle me :P”

“lol. I forgot about that. I had the same thing happen to me. I just kept walking and told my buddy to deal with it.”

“I have a kelty ext. frame pack from 1980-sometimes I used to put my vw in it for when I got tired on the trail.”

“I miss my old Kelty external-frame. The only thing I'd add to it would be a sternum strap. The noise never bothered me.”

“They should be giving away externals ;-)
It corks me up when I see people on craigslist trying to sell them for $10-50 bucks-and they are 5-15 years old!
Ok, maybe they do have some good points..but looking good is NOT one of them ;-)”

“Ok, maybe they do have some good points..but looking good is NOT one of them ;-)”
sarbar1
6:52:39 PM
2/01/06
ignore this user

[sarcasm] Didn't know hiking was a fashion show. [/sarcasm] ;-)”

“I still have my Kelty Tioga from whe I was twelve.”

“I also Have two external frame packs and I save them just in case a newby wants to go with me sometime. Iffin they can carry it and still want to go back with me again then they are truely into backpacking!”

“love my kelty yukon, i usually don't bring much with me, so the lost internal space isn't an issue.”

“I have a 25 year old coleman external frame that I love. It's plastic composite frame so it's quiet & very flexible. Holds a ton of gear with infinite attachment straps for bag, tent & pad. I did replace the shoulder straps & hip belt with some super padded custom made gear.”

“5300 CI...ya can carry a battleship in it....Great pack, I carried it backcountry in Denali....
last edited: 2/02/06 7:10:25 AM”

“i don't understand why externals are cheaper than internals...you'd think a big aluminum frame would cost more than a smaller plastic one...maybe it's just a supply and demand thing”

“".....Plus I can buy or make an attachment system for carrying my canoe.”
lumberzac
3:56:59 PM
2/01/06

How do you get under low branches with such a tall load??”

“Thrifty..it is supply and demand. Go into gear shops and see how few externals are still being made. Almost none. Even kid packs (thank god!) are finally going away from clunky externals.
Does REI even carry them anymore? Not in store out here they don't.
Give a few more years and externals will be sold at hunting orineted outdoor shops and that is about all.


And in reply to Lumberzac...of course it is all about fashion. I am a girl! I like my gear to match and look good!”

“How do you get under low branches with such a tall load??”
Marko
8:27:51 AM
2/02/06
ignore this user

Very carefully. The frame actually sites part way up inside the canoe, so the canoe doesn't sit that much higher than the top of the pack. Another hard part is maneuvering through tight turns through trees, because you will have anywhere from 5 to 7 feet in front and behind you. Another solution is a canoe cart, but this requires a wider and smoother trail.”

“Something tells me sarbar would have me arrested by the fashion police if I hiked with her. I don't think any of my gear matches. ;-)”

“It's the getting tangled up in tree branches and rattling of cotter pins I don't miss.

I think I still have a baggy of extra pins and rings if anyone wants them. Email me....
last edited: 2/02/06 10:11:21 AM”

“I have used My kelty tioga for 20 + years and love it”

“Been real happy with my Dana Designs Longbed for about 7 years now. Now with new knees in my future it's probably time to seriously consider going lightweight though...”

“I don't match either. If I do on any given day, it's purely by accident.”

“That sounds like me pixie. Although I have to say I look dead sexy when I where my long underwear and shorts at the same time.”

““Something tells me sarbar would have me arrested by the fashion police if I hiked with her. I don't think any of my gear matches. ;-)”
lumberzac
9:29:20 AM
2/02/06

Can I get a reward for information leading to the capture of this fashion criminal??”

“I still have my Jansport Scout ( I think that was the name) from 1972. Even has the original metal U shaped supports on the hip belt (allowed me to stand the pack up in camp). I may take it out one weekend just to say I have used it.”

“I had four Camp Trails and Boy Scout(Camp Trails) Cruiser frame packs from 1970-1980.

I gave them all away.”

“

1975 Alpenlite Pack & Optimus99 Stove
Both still in useable shape!”

“I always match... I look gooood on the trail...

You never know when you have to carry a strange pretty gal off the trail for spraining her foot. Always be prepared IMHO.”

“Dapper DDX I'm sure!”

“Oh I have "donated" a bunch of gear. Last year I donated, 3 backpacks, 3 general good sleeping bags, 2 sleeping pads to my Scout Troop. That managed to outfit 5 scouts. (Don't get picky with the mathematics)”

“Are we talking a "fishes and loaves" thing here?”

“stovie, is that baby canvas??!!”

“Nope, thrify, coated nylon.
About four pounds total. One of the first lighter weight backpacks.”

“My eyes..my eyes.....what's sad is that was once high tech gear :-D”

“I still have my dad's old Camp Trails Skyline (circa 1967). Every now and then I still carry it on a weekend. I know every squeak in the frame. Is it a great pack? No, but it reminds me of the one time my dad and I went backpacking before he died. Some things are worth more than comfort, convenience, style and weight.”

“I understand that. My dad used to throw on his pack and hike around the neighborhood. At the time I was like ah Jeeze dad. Now I feel him near whenever I go Backpacking”

“Something tells me sarbar would have me arrested by the fashion police if I hiked with her. I don't think any of my gear matches. ;-)”
lumberzac
8:29:20 AM
2/02/06

gear matches?

wtf??

you mean like colors and stuff?

your kidding right?
last edited: 2/02/06 11:23:57 PM”

“Hey stove, that looks an awful lot like the first pack I ever used - at Philmont in New Mexico and i carried it 50+ miles!”

“So DDX, where's the pic of you in your dapper external?”

“oopsy
last edited: 2/02/06 11:35:25 PM”

“Darn tootin' Roam.....Why can't I be fabulous and lightweight in my gear? ;-)
*Ahem*
Pink Prolite 3 ladies pad
Pink Prolite ladies butt pad
Pink Prolite pillow
REI tent matches colors in pillow
all tops are baby blue
backpacks are baby blue and purple that matches above colors.
Dishes used are baby blue
even my boots are blue.

If I could, I'd have all my gear in pink and baby blue. I am serious. I love the colors-theya re very mentally lifting.

At one time all my gear was forest greeen...from my backpack, pad and sleeping bag on down.”