Pack Basket Maker's Review

k_estela

k_estela

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Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mick Jarvis of (See card below)

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Mick made me a miniature pack basket a year ago that holds all of my traditional bushcraft gear. I've used it regularly and it shows little to no wear. The packbasket may have lost popularity with canvas bags and high speed go light gear but there is still a place for traditional gear.

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Mick and I discussed construction and use of a pack basket and the practicality of one over a soft-sided bag. When sharp edges of gear would normally destroy a bag, the pack basket carries it all with ease. The semi-rigid but flexible reed Mick uses protects both the wearer and the gear from bumps and dings. Instead of Ash, Mick uses a reed from the middle east that is inexpensive, durable and an excellent alternative. This reed, difficult to distinguish from ash, helps keep his prices down but quality high.

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(Photo by Garrett Lucas of Woodsmonkey.com)

Mick held a packbasket workshop at WAR and numerous people asked questions and listened to all he had to show and tell. I can tell you, Mick is a 100% standup guy. He remembered me from over a year ago and in the entire weekend, despite numerous questions, he was more than helpful and honest about his products. The guy is one I would not hesitate to buy from in the future.
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Awesome Kev.:thumbup:

I have been itching to make me a basket quiver for my arrows. I like the looks of that pack basket. They are very cool.:cool:

I just need to figure out how to make it, and I will be well on my way. Any how-to books out there worth a look?
 
J Williams,

Talk to Mick, he sells a kit to make a pack basket. He could probably help you modify the design to make a quiver.
 
Cool. I will do that. Thanks for the thread, Ive been wondering bout this for a while!!
 
I want one. I think that it looks like a great way to carry gear. it has a certain vibe..keeps it simple. Gene
 
I was impressed with the construction of yours Kev. Every time I saw it I wanted one. Very nice llloking piece of gear. I will contact Nick in the future.
 
Neat setup, it'd be cool to haul your gear in something you made. What do you do when it rains? And hows it rate re: weight?
 
Very nice looking!

I don't really have much of a use for one, but I admit to secretly wanting a traditional pack basket ever since seeing someone using on in the Boundary Waters Canoe area a number of years ago. I use a big dry bag with shoulder straps when I go canoe camping, but there is something about old school gear like pack baskets, duluth packs and tumplines that just appeal to the closet traditionalist in me. :o
 
Your right, they still have a place. I bought a packbasket for trapping when I was a teenager, thirty years later its pretty tired but still a good piece of equipment.

Holds up well to sharp edged/heavy items as you mentioned. I could always throw my gear in a bucket and run out on the four wheeler, but that kinda defeats my purpose.;) It smells like a cold crisp morning at the creek, might post some picks later.

Thanks for the thread and the pics, I will check out Mr. Jarvis' products.:thumbup:

BTW, would be interested in what gear you have in yours, if your inclined.
 
As far as rain, a simple to rig canvas or leather top will keep contents dry. That or you can use treated stuff sacks. I'm not sure the weight of the pack but is pretty light. Mick uses his for ice fishing and carries a lot of tip ups. You'd be amazed how many pounds can be carried comfortably.
 
I have a couple of them.

Well, really the wife has one and I have one.

We have a small one and a large one.

I'll tell you the 2 things we got ours for:

First a number of our friends have really rough access to their houses and sometimes even with a 4wd truck it's impossible to get to their places unless you are on foot or on horse.

So every now and then one person or the other calls a party and everybody shows up and brings food, musical instruments, and various party favors.

Well I like to cook and hot food like loaves of bread or plates with home made cheese etc just won't carry well in a backpack so we take the pack baskets.

The second instance is gathering wild plants and stuff. put some stuff in a backpack and it gets all smooshed and sweats and stuff. Put it in the pack basket and they are unmolested.

There used to be a mother and daughter in Jane Lew WV that ran a daycare. While they were watching the kids they made splits and made and sold baskets and pack baskets. Ours aren't as intense as Kevins there, they are straight and not "bottle shaped" and the splits are wider. I'm not sure if they still make them. Last I saw them at a craft fair probably 15 years ago they had lost their harness maker.
 
i tried that email address with no luck? do you have one that might work, i would love to see his work. thanks
 
even though nessmuk is not the biggest fan, i think that they look pretty cool. but i am curious how they would or if they would irritate my spine.( i am a skinny guy, so there is no cusion between my spine and somthing i would carry on my back.)
 
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I know Mick is just setting up his website and his address and E-mail might be down for a few more days. Just give him a call and he'll gladly talk with any of you guys.
 
I LOVE PACK BASKETS! i used to have a Duluth basket. Man i should get one of these......SWEET!
 
those are cool kevin..:thumbup: i have wanted a pack basket for years... i think my wife is tired of hearing about it..

i might have to look into one from mick...:thumbup:
 
if i remember correctly the following books have chapters on building a pack basket. camp and trail methods by elmer kreps and crafts of the native americans by john schnieder.
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
even though nessmuk is not the biggest fan, i think that they look pretty cool. but i am curious how they would or if they would irritate my spine.( i am a skinny guy, so there is no cusion between my spine and somthing i would carry on my back.)
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The ones I have are fairly wide and flat across the back. They don't taper toward the top. So they fit against my back well.

IMO the main disadvantage to the models I have are the thin shoulder straps and no hip belt.

They are good for carrying light loads maybe 5 miles or so but get too heavy and the lack of belt and thin shoulder straps give me a knot in my back.
 
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