DIY Air Force backpack

[livextreme9]

Here is a little DIY project I'm working on. It's an Air Force recruiting backpack I got a few years ago. All I've done so far is added a PVC frame inside, cut a pool noodle for bottom support (inside front bottom zipper) and added a conforming plastic back plate for my camelbak deployment pack. Here is what it looks like now although I removed the cross bar next to the red arrow:

Upcoming plans - making a new drink holder, creating a putter pocket, moving the front end of the side buckle up and plasti-dipping the bottom or adding feet.

I will add more pics as I go. Hopefully I can make it even better. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[MarkDSM]

Cool. Super awesome for the cash.

But, I do not know how much more love and time I would invest in it. Not sure how long term overall durable it would be carrying 5-6 pounds of discs, the PVC, and bladder weight in the main compartment and adding on more side weight. Seems like a push on the bag design limits. Those zippers might degrade in a year of good use. ....or is she beefier than it looks?

Small soft side coolers / lunch bags can be broken down for making nice custom to you koozies could be sewn onto side for nearly nothing.

 

[PMantle]

Why did you use those trap sections? Wider base? And, how did you attach them?

 

[wildwing]

The bag is screaming for an Innova air force patch.

 

[livextreme9]

Cool. Super awesome for the cash.

But, I do not know how much more love and time I would invest in it. Not sure how long term overall durable it would be carrying 5-6 pounds of discs, the PVC, and bladder weight in the main compartment and adding on more side weight. Seems like a push on the bag design limits. Those zippers might degrade in a year of good use. ....or is she beefier than it looks?

Small soft side coolers / lunch bags can be broken down for making nice custom to you koozies could be sewn onto side for nearly nothing.

It seems beefy for being a regular backpack. Hopefully it lasts longer than anticipated. I do have another backpack than I may possibly be able to drop this PVC frame in if this bag doesn't hold up.

Thanks for the koozie idea. I do have some extra lunch boxes lying around. :thmbup:

 

[livextreme9]

Why did you use those trap sections? Wider base? And, how did you attach them?

Can you explain what traps your talking about?

 

[PMantle]

Can you explain what traps your talking about?

The curved sections of PVC to the rear of the frame.

 

[livextreme9]

I used the traps the way I did to make the discs sit a little higher without having to make the pvc frame taller. They are held in by 3/4 of an inch length pvc. I made sure to have both 45 degree angles meet flush so they were exactly the same height. I also have an articulated plastic back panel (from my camelbak BFM backpack) behind the pvc frame and those angles keep the pressure off my back. It helps out a lot having that panel.

 

[sacnshaft]

I think I lost that tag last weekend at bagtag.

 

[livextreme9]

I had a good round. You can always try and get it back!