Jungle pack: traditional vs modern
“Backpacking: an extended form of hiking in which people carry double the amount of gear they need for half the distance they planned to go in twice the time it should take”
Recently I commissioned Ben from Garrison Packs to make a lumbar pack designed for the jungle and to own my particular specifications. Ben is producing packs to the same quality as the top backpack brands (some of which go for, frankly, ridiculously high prices) at a more affordable price and, best of all, he will customise packs to your own design – so, even though I already owned two lumbar packs, I couldn’t resist the chance to design one for myself.
For me lumbar packs are well suited to the jungle because:
The lowered centre of gravity makes you more balanced on your feet.- They snag less on overhead branches as you duck under them.
- Your upper body is unencumbered making it easier to twist and turn and to use a parang.
- Your back is left exposed so you don’t overheat as much.
Rather than doing a straightforward review of the pack I thought it would be more helpful to look at the key differences between the traditional (Orang Asal) jungle backpack and the modern equivalent and try and draw out some general themes that might be of use when trying to select your own gear.
I’ve subscribed to a lot of wood craft and bush craft channels over the years but actively watch out for new posts from very few; yours is one of them. And that says a lot since I live in Minnesota US and have very little chance of using jungle skills here. But packs and knife theory and building techniques translate VERY well. Thanks!
Hi Ken,
Many thanks for the comment and support and great to hear that the videos have some relevance even over there in Minnesota. Sorry, by the way, for my slow reply but I’ve just returned from a trip up North (by Kayak this time!)
Anyway, thanks again,
Cheers!
Paul
Hello Paul,
I just can’t find a rucksack that suits me, so I finally decided that my next will be a custom one. I’m designing it for for weeks now.
For quite some time I want to try a lumbar pack, but there’s no one in my area using one that i could try…
Did you try nylon x dyneema in 210d? it’s a fairly lightweight fabric, but it remains pretty tough.I’m testing a 210d pack for three weeks now (in the city) it withstand abrasion with concrete pretty well, and carries heavy/pointy things without visible damage on the fabric.
One point I like with custom is that I give money to a passionnate person, and give them the opportunity to pursue their passion; which is not the case when we go on amazon…
Could youpost some pictures of your Gopro attachments please? I had one (a hero2, did great) and I plan getting another one when I get the funds 🙂
I’m DIYing those last days: pouches, hammock, mosquito net, jungle liner, machete, and some kind of UL blade and sheath, I’ll show you my work some day!
It’s always good to hear the Jungle Soundtracks of your videos!
Thanks Paul!
Hi Wawa,
Many thanks for the comment and I agree with you about customising packs – the only problems is to know where to start as sometimes it’s only when you try it out that you realise what needs to be changed. One option is to go into a camping shop and try as many rucksacks as you can and pick those elements of design that you like. With the lumbar packs, for example, it quickly becomes apparent that the key issue is keeping the pack close to your back as if it falls away it becomes very uncomfortable. Also, some sort of harness system makes a huge difference.
Glad you asked about the Gopro as I’m planning to do a video on getting the most out of that camera soon – I bought it some years ago and found that, although on paper it seems like the perfect option, in fact it took a bit of work and adapting to get it to do what I wanted it to do.
Anyway, looking forward to hearing more about you kit set up when it’s finished.
Cheers!
Paul
It is refreshing to see recommendations for practical ‘outdoors’ gear that doesn’t cost a fortune. It is easy to become obsessed with buying the best and most expensive kit.
I found the article on PSK’s, really useful.
Hope to more content from you. Great work!
Hi Ian,
Many thanks for the comment and I agree that it’s not always the most expensive kit that is the best…as always, a lot is down to personal preference but it’s easy to be a bit mislead by the marketing of some commercial brands out there and end up believing you need something that you really don’t!
Very glad you liked the PSK series too.
Cheers!
Paul