Eagle Pack Frame...

Andy the Aussie

Andy the Aussie

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Jan 29, 2010
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I have had an Eagle Becker MOLLE Patrol Pack now for almost two years and like it plenty. When I got it I was also trying to locate one of the internal frames that Eagle made for the pack but I have just run out of steam. Earlier today I was reading a thread in the Becker Forum here on Bladeforms and it got me thinking…so I raced off to the shed and started creating… :D

I have always used a 2L Camelbak bladder in this (and my previous pack), the Platatac sleeve is just a single layer of lightweight cordura that protects the bladder, with this pack the problem is that the bladder and sleeve end up in a bundle at the bottom of the internal frame/bladder sleeve of the pack, I figured that I would work on a fix for this as well.



So I cut a sheet of .093 kydex to the size of the existing foam pad in the pack and then attached the Platatac sleeve to this with four eyelets and an addition rectangle of kydex making a sandwich of the sleeve.





Where it will slot…



I then cut a new foam pad for the back of the kydex, the foam (an outdoors “floor tile” from a pack I use to make a “door step” in front of my big tent) is about the same thickness as the original foam pad that came with the pack but significantly denser…..



Masked up ready for the spray contact cement …



And together under some weight as it all sets….



I will leave it overnight now (it is 1830hrs now ;) ) and then clean it up and see how it looks in the morning…. :D :D

Stay Tuned…


Oh..... some Busse content to keep it all forum correct.... :D :D



 
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OK…done :D and it seems to have turned out ok… !! :D :D

All bonded together and the edges cleaned up a little….



Bladder in place and all is still well…



Happy that it all still fits..!!!!!!!



Fully seated in the sleeve….



And done…. :D :D



It seems good on now, and the frame has some small flex to allow it to follow the curve of the back but with now lateral or longitudinal movement. Side to side it is snug in the sleeve but there is still space enough for the bladder to be full. Depending how it carries I may look at some ways to fix the frame to the back of the pack. Still it is about 2000% better than the original foam pad.
 
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That looks like a nice large Pack! Im looking for a pair of bags......might have to track one down.
 
Thanks all.... I need to get it out in the bush with a bit of a load in it to see what a difference the frame makes... I can only say it seems better on the back but till I have a few hours in attached to it who knows.

:)
 
Nice job Andy :thumbup:

I persevered for years with internal Camel Back bladder fittings in rucksacks. I found that they were difficult to withdraw when the sack was loaded without pulling the main inner load liner out. This had me more or less unloading the whole sack to refill the bladder. A time costly experience when under the clock and a PITA in wet weather.

I went the other way on a "fix" and got a separate DPM Camel Back satchel model which has 6 loops stitched in to the sides to take karabiners. These can be used to attach the bladder to the outside of the rucksack on the back. Loads of "contact" points on military sacks and civilian climbing sacks. Makes doing a refill a lot quicker and leaves the main load untouched.

Initially I liked the idea of the internal pocket - your alterations should mean you can slide the bladder in and out much easier - but an outside fitting is worth experimenting with IMO :thumbup:
 
Peter, I have tried several different ideations of this. My LARGE pack has an internal sleeve but as you said it is a PITA to get to. With it, I am more inclined to use a canteen in an external pocket with a drinking tube attached !!!

This pack (the one in the pics here) is my hunting/all around day/overnight pack I think an external bladder would be a little cumbersome on this for me (the external pouches annoy me but I need them to allow me to retain the inside space for meat when I am hunting, otherwise it would be almost slick on the outside as my Arktis was). Winter hunting here I get away with a couple of litres of water most days and only need to worry about top ups back at camp. I am also just modifying my water filter to allow me to pump water directly into the bladder via the drinking tube as one option. That said many places I top up don’t require filtering so I may look at something that allow me just to pump water in back at camp as well. No single easy solution I am afraid…..
 
OK..... so I spent a week wandering around with the pack and frame. I must say it is like a NEW pack to carry, truly it is... it sits well is stable even when well loaded. Peter's comments about the bladder being a PITA to remove and fill remain valid with this setup with the added issue now that the bladder is a very snug fit in the pack sleeve, it fits but a pain. I actually pop the hose off and clip on a Camel back stopper to take it out (so the hose can stay in place). I am experimenting with an attachment that will allow me to fill the bladder IN THE PACK via the tube. I can already do so using my water filter but this is more general.

If I were to do it all again (I wont in this one, but maybe in the OTHER Eagle Becker I have) I would use slightly thinner foam (same density) and perhaps make an arch out of the kydex and not a whole sheet, I am just being pedantic now though as I am pretty happy with this one.

Andy
 
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