A different sort of pack: The Molly Mac Pack

H

hikeeba

Joined
Jul 20, 2006
Messages
1,073
I recently signed up on Hammock Forums. In my short time there, I have seen several references to the Molly Mac Pack. It seems to be the 'Maxpedition' of Hammock Forums. I never heard of it, and thought it was worthwhile to share it here. It appears as though it was created by a Hammock forums member.

http://www.mollymacpack.com/index.html

A few pics, from the Molly Mac Pack website:
MMP01.jpg

MMP2.jpg

MMP3.jpg


Basically, it is a panel with MOLLE webbing attached to both sides, with a harness system attached to one side. The idea is rather than jumble all your items in a pack bag, you strap them to the panel. It is sort of cool in that you can configure it however you want, with or without MOLLE-type pouches.

My initial thoughts:
PROS:
-Completely configurable
-Harness easy to adjust and can accomodate different sized people easily
-Easy to organize gear, and since everything is exposed, it is easy to find stuff
-Can accomodate atypicallaod items maybe a little better than a reular backpack. An example would be to make camp, remove your gear from the pack, go to collected downed wood for the campfire, and then use the pack to transport collected downed wood back to camp.

CONS:
-Need to be sure gear is in waterproof vessels/bags incase of wet weather
-Need to be sure gear is secured so you don't lose anything.

I think it is a great idea. I think it makes a lot of sense, especially of you don't hump a ton of gear on your outings. one could still add a traditional pack bag to the Molly Mac Pack for more of a backpack-type setup. Now that I think about it, one could sew several dufferent size ruck bags, and attach them to the pack to suit whatever the outing called for.

I see many, many possibilites for this product; tons and tons of potential. But since I recently acquired my 'ultimate, most perfect pack' for the 4th time, I don't think I'll be jumping on the Molly Mac Pack wagon for a while.
 
Last edited:
Hadn't seen this product/specific execution before, thanks for sharing!

Reminds me of recent threads about internal and external frame packs. This product has a lot in common with Luxury-Lite's offering. And, while not as light as either of these... growing up I employed the same concept with a WWII era plywood packboard, strapping on a tarp bundle or stuff sacks as needed. In one of those recent threads someone listed a con as having your sleeping bag on the outside and possibly getting wet... another responded with the obvious answer of waterproof stuff sacks or using a garbage bag. This setup keeps your food/bear bag separate too.

Like you, I'll stick with my Kifaru, Duluth Pack, and packboard for now... but there is a lot of potential there.
 
yup alot of people swear by them but the only naked frames I see are all external... thy do work, until it rains, in which case I hope your compression sacks are waterproof.
 
I like it. Pretty neat idea since most of us use smaller stuff sacks in our packing.
 
PayetteRucker said:
yup alot of people swear by them but the only naked frames I see are all external... thy do work, until it rains, in which case I hope your compression sacks are waterproof.
Click to expand...

You could always use a garbage bag or a regular pack cover like Duck's Back. I have one for my regular hiking bag.
 
I see huge potential for this setup. Especially with my affinity for the PALS pouches. Personally i would ditch all those straps on it, as i do not use stuffsacks, but i like the base platform.
 
Bushman, they basically took the benefits of the versatility of an external frame and ran with it. I've seen guys use this setup before with naked ALICE frames and mystery ranch NICE frames. I love my Eberle pack though, that too is super customizeable, even modular.
 
I think it is a pretty unique and innovative design. I'm not sure I'm convinced of it for my needs, but I can see it for the kind of person who needs multiple packs and or specialized configurations.
 
That is essentially a bumped up version of the old packboard. Pretty sweet if you aske me.

Packboard%20Ostrom.jpg
 
NOLS developed the same concept with an external frame pack back in the .... 70's? Used stuff sacks for packing and lashed 'em to the external frame. I always thought it was a great idea for easier organization/access, but have never tried it.
 
130 bucks for the base unit and then you need stuff sacks for everything is not cheap.

However, it does look pretty damned cool.

TF
 
PayetteRucker said:
I love my Eberle pack though, that too is super customizeable, even modular.
Click to expand...

Interesting you mention that, I just looked at an Eberalstock the other day, picked up a pouch from them that was molle capabile, going to use it as a firstaid kit.
 
It's pretty cool but I worry about my back rubbing on all of that crap.It needs a mesh panel of some sort between you and it.
 
Fonly said:
Interesting you mention that, I just looked at an Eberalstock the other day, picked up a pouch from them that was molle capabile, going to use it as a firstaid kit.
Click to expand...

I use a mountainsmith pack as my sheeple friendly backcountry hiking/camping pack, because it is the perfect size and EXTREMELY comfortable. But coming from a military/survival background of course I have my bug out bag. It's built on an Eberlestock Operator, and I have packed that thing with 110 pounds of rifle, ammo, survival tools, food, water, clothes, sleeping bag, medical kit, etc and it rides like it weighs 50. I highly suggest them. Made right here in Boise Idaho.
 
MacEntyre is a good guy also.

I approached him about making a pack to attache to my camp trails external freighter frame and he had several good ideas and was willing to work with me.

Unfortunately I do not have the money to buy one right now, but maybe in the future.

check out his site and contact him with any questions.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=676022
 
Hey, I learned that you were discussing the Molly Mac Pack, so I thought I would log on after a long absence.

If you are interested, check out the discussions on HammockForums.net, or just ask me whatever you like right here.

Regarding the pack rubbing your back... none of the folks using the pack has mentioned it. It stands off just enough, due to the way the belt and shoulder straps are attached. If you have a load of stuff sacks, they induce a slight curve away from your back. The carbon fiber stays encourage the curve, and prevent excessive curve. However, if you want to use a thin pad, it's trivial to add.

I'm honored and pleased to have a thread here. Thank you!

- MacEntyre
 
Here is a fellow using a Molly Mac Pack as a day pack this past weekend, at Hot Springs, NC.



- MacEntyre
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top