Older Jansport External Backpack ID

Morning!

I just acquired a new/old Jansport external frame pack. Can't beat the classics! :D

I am going to be calling Jansport and, hopefully, ordering some newer shoulder/waist straps. Something are better new... especially with sternum straps. However, I don't know the specific model of this pack and all my searching has turned up empty. I want to call Jansport with, at the very least, some basic information other than... "Well, it's blue and old."

Is there a place on the pack where I can find the model that I am just missing?

Or, if someone is a gear whiz, is it possible to ID this puppy off a couple of pictures?

Thanks for any help!

Cleric

There has been a couple of other members asking about older Jansport packs in the past few months so you may want to look for thous threads they may help you in your quest.

Great! I'll do some more searching. Hadn't turned up anything that seemed right... yet! I'll keep digging! Thanks!

And, if anyone has a thread or idea, don't hesistate to let me know!

Have a look at this link maybe this will get you going in a useful direction in your search.

http://www.pbase.com/mad_monte1/image/54606430

I think it may be an old Jansport D3 pack

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/jansport/d3/

Here is another link that may help you

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5124

It really does look like a ringer for an old D3. And, from what I know about those packs, I would not be complaining about that. Had a friend in scouts who used to use his dad's (a while back).

It does look like the "wings" on the frame are missing. I wonder if they could be detached or if the lack-thereof designated a different model?

At any rate, enough other indicators make me really lean towards the D3 as well.

Thanks for the links and thank you for the welcome in the other thread!

You won't like Jansport's replacement straps.... they're uber thin. I got them for my D-3 (although I've had my pack for about 15 years) and I wish I still had my old ones.

Cleric

From what I found on the web there were a bunch of deviations on the D2 & D3 model's over the many years it was in production just like there was on the Kelty Tioga Series Packs.

That's a D3 alright.Pretty sure the year before metal wings,not missing.If this pack originally had them your waistbelt would have leather connectors on each side where it attaches to the frame.It's identical to my 1975 D3,minus the wings and the color.

The pack is not a D series pack. Assuming the pack was made of cordura, this pack is called the Bush Pack, came in two sizes a 1 and a 2. Similar to a D3, but the packbag is full length and the bottom compartment opens on the side and there are 3 side pockets rather than 4 and none of the metal hip things. The Bush packs were new in 1978. In 1979 Jansport made an Appalachian series which was nearly identical, but made of pack cloth and a very slightly different pack bag. I'd need more pictures to say for certain.

Have a couple of slammin' days at work coming up... but I will get better pictures up soon. Perhaps over Labor Day... I do appreciate the additional info. Off to scour the web for info on the "Bush Pack" model.

Let me know if you find much on the web for this pack. I don't think the pack had a long life span. Jansport sold a lot of the D series and a lot of the Cascade series. I liked the design of the Bush and Appalachian packs, if you added the D series hip belt you'd have a super rig. If I get a chance I'll scan the catalog pages I have.

From the Jansport website FAQ page:

"I love my pack, but need a replacement part? How do I get that?
Well, stockpiled in Everett, Washington is a bevy of parts ready to repair JanSport packs that have been to hell and back. Contact our Warranty Service Center (1.800.426.9227) for details on how to retro fit your pack."

http://www.jansport.com/js_faq.php?type=general

This outfit is well regarded. Has been known to retrofit old JS D series packs:

http://www.rainypass.com/index.htm

Here is a D5 that I found on Craigslist last year, it still has the sales tag intact:

I had a yellow D2 in the late '70's that I sold for some dumba** reason. I still kick myself over that transaction. They are hard to come by now. Good luck on your project.

What a great find. Jansport made an amazing number of different models over the years, many of which had short life spans. The D series and the Cascade series hung around virtually unchanged for a long time.

Wow. That's pretty much a golden find. :D

I'd love some scans of the old catalogs if someone has a moment or two to spare. It would be great to find a place to host those up. Vintage camping gear has always been a favorite of mine, so to find a few other who like it as well is a treat.

Alan: As far as info on the Bush (or Appalachian) bags, I've not turned up a pieces of info. It would seem that some kind of repository of info could fill a nitch... and would be a cool website as well.

Cleric said:

I'd love some scans of the old catalogs if someone has a moment or two to spare. It would be great to find a place to host those up.

A gear catalogue library is a pet project I want to get up on Trailspace. I've already spoken with the rep for two major brands, but we have to work out some logistics first. Jansport would be another excellent one to start with, of which I'll take note.

Alicia said:

Cleric said:

I'd love some scans of the old catalogs if someone has a moment or two to spare. It would be great to find a place to host those up.

A gear catalogue library is a pet project I want to get up on Trailspace. I've already spoken with the rep for two major brands, but we have to work out some logistics first. Jansport would be another excellent one to start with, of which I'll take note.

Man! You do have the bases covered around here. That would be an incredibly cool addition to a site like this... especially with a bunch of "vintage" gear-heads roaming about.

Here are the 1979 catalog pages.

I don't know how to rotate these from photobucket.

Cleric, have you seen this site?

http://www.oregonphotos.com/Backpacking-Revolution1.html

and this

http://www.pbase.com/mad_monte1/_retro_outdoor_gear&page=all

Alan: I had run across Mad Monte's albums before. And, Mike had referred to them up above for a D3 picture. However, the Backpacking Revolution page is new to me and will probably consume the rest of this evening and some of my work day tomorrow (no, wait, I didn't say that)

Thanks for uploading those catalog pages. Very cool. If I can ask one more small favor and if you could just give me the specs for the Bush packs, either typed up or scanned (doesn't matter at all), I'd really appreciate it! Mystery here is almost completely solved!

Rotated pics for everyone:

Next project... time to date the old Coleman stove (non-backpacking) that I picked up at a garage sale... brass fuel tank, thinking 50's or 60's. BUT, that's fuel (har, har) for another thread.

I have a yellow Jansport pack that looks just like the D5 pictures above; I haven't noticed a map pocket as some have described, though. I don't have any literature on this pack and would sure like to find some! There are some straps hanging from the hip belt that are currently not used; for most frames these would attach to the lower vertical bars. On mine the weight of the pack goes through the straps around the u-bars. That generally works ok, but the bars cause a little bruising. Trying to fine tune that. Any tips or literature will be appreciated!