custom backpacks

I have a design for a backpack and I want to get it made! Who is a good company to try and get a custom pack made from? Are there any out there that make "Custom" packs based on your designs? I'm not looking to have my name put on it, I just want it made so I can get one!!

Make it yourself! Well, aside from being slightly sarcastic, if you read Ray Jardine's ultralight backpacking book, that is exactly what he recommends. Barb and I have sewn packs, duffles, and bike panniers (and bike bags to use for carrying the bike on the plane) on a heavy-duty home sewing machine (not an industrial machine, but heavier duty than the typical home machine). Packs are not like clothing where the fit has to be pretty exact. You can have a bit of slop in the sizing and it will work well enough. It's mostly straight-line seams, with some trickiness around the shoulder straps, belt, other straps, and the top (esp top pockets).

Another alternative is to go to a sail shop. These guys sew all sorts of weirdly shaped things (special covers, bags, and such) as well as sails (some of which require careful attention to shape). They are equipped to handle heavy-duty fabrics and special stuff like Goretex and eVent (they often sew mariner's clothing as well). Of course, it doesn't do much good to suggest this if you are in the middle of the Great Plains or West Texas.

There are a few shops that will sew custom packs. You can find their ads from time to time in magazines like Backpacker, Outside, and other outdoor oriented publications.

smamit@smamit.co.il

Give him a shout.

A custom pack (from scratch) is an expensive endeavor. It is fairly expensive ($300-500) even if all of the patterns and designs have been worked out and several have been built.