EXTERNAL BACKPACK FRAME CONSTRUCTION

US Patent #7021508

100% Made in the USA

This external frame backpack is proudly made by Americans who strive for perfection. The backpack frame is made completely in the USA; all the components and materials are American made. Why do we insist on this? It is very simple. It is not just about the bottom line; it has more to do with how you get there and your professional goals and obligations. Sure this costs more, backpack frames can be made much cheaper by foreign manufacturers, but at what cost? We want to know this is the best backpack frame available and feel good about making it. The bottomline is not our main objective. If you agree with our principles you will understand the difference.

A Great Idea, Properly Executed

A great deal of thought went into the construction and design of this external backpack frame. A great idea only works if it is properly executed. With this in mind, the external frame's construction and materials are well thought out. The suspension is constructed of high quality foam and Cordura™ nylon . The hardware is all namebrand with no generic products. The thread is 92 and 138 weight, stronger than the industry standard of 69 weight. The entire backpack is double and triple stitched. The webbing is mil-spec nylon, not cheaper polyester. The bolts, nyloc nuts, and washers are made of stainless steel.

The backpack's frame is constructed of aluminum alloy. The frame components are completely welded together. There are 2 styles of frames to choose from. A frame with integral shelf or without the shelf. The cross members are flat stock alloy and are welded securely to the outer frame. The flat stock increases the strength of the frame and allows the attachment of the suspension system. The compound curves of the frame also make it stronger. The outer tubular frame includes an integral shelf. This shelf is a convenient place for the backpack or equipment to rest. The flat frame without the shelf allows it to be stored in a more compact area. The flat frame is ideal for when you will be traveling by vehicle or aircraft and need a lower profile frame.

The Reasons

How this is done is what makes this external backpack frame unique. Part of the efficiency of a backpack system relies on carrying the load as close to your center of gravity as possible. Prior external frame backpacks did not allow this. By placing the cross members in different planes, the frame is able to ride close to the body. This is important because your back is not flat and has many complex curves. The external frame allows more ventilation than an internal frame and adds to the efficiency of the backpack.

To efficiently carry heavy loads, the backpack must transfer weight to the hips. Shoulder only carriage backpacks are painful with heavy loads. By distributing the weight to the hips your efficiency and comfort are greatly increased. Vertical force around your pelvis is distributed by using a unique hipbelt pad and polymer wings. The polymer wings are bolted to the frame, not sewn or held on with hook and loop fasteners. These polymer wings wrap around your hips and distribute the load to your body. The backpack's waistbelt cinch straps attach to the polymer wings and pull directly on them, distributing the forces over a wider area. This distribution results in more comfort than other backpack frames. The padded portion of the waistbelt functions only as padding.

The waistbelt must work in conjunction with the shoulder straps. For a proper fit, the backpack frame must have some means of adjusting for different torso sizes. Instead of a complex system of straps or hook and loops closures, you will find a simple slotted system of attachment. Slots at varying heights allow the backpack's shoulder straps to be positioned correctly for most torso sizes. The straps are held in place by metal double loops that can not pass through the slots.