foxyrick
British Pork
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 2,254
Since I can't get out at the moment*, I'm taking the opportunity to set my kit up ready for when I can. I've wanted to do this mod for a while.
I really like my Maxpedition Sabrecat. If I can get away without needing the space a rucksack gives, then I prefer to keep my back unencumbered and open to the air for cooling. Besides, I've always liked waist-mounted kit. The Sabrecat is great; it holds a good amount of gear, has space for extras like a bottle holder, and is a good fit on the waist.
Unfortunately, as is common with waist packs especially with my figure, when heavily loaded it quickly starts to try to slide down, hang awkwardly, and pull my pants down. For that reason I like the idea of adding shoulder straps. It still keeps the back relatively free but holds up the waist pack. It's a compromise that I think will work very well for me. It certainly feels 'right' when worn around the house which I've been doing for about a week now.
I managed to find somewhere that still has Spec-Ops Superstraps in stock, in foliage green to match my MaxP kit. I'm a bit obsessed about matching kit.
The Superstraps are well padded and are a good width; like proper rucksack straps rather than just a webbing strap and with the benefit of a sternum strap which I like. They are intended as an upgrade for their own packs of course, but work very well as add-ons to my Sabrecat with a couple of 'tweaks'. Shame they have been discontinued, I think.
I also obtained a selection of foliage green plastic hardware and 1" webbing to do the mods.
The Sabrecat also has a MaxP 10x4 bottle holder, tightly secured with two malice clips, on the left side. On the right side is an ATS medium upright GP pouch, in ranger green. Although not a match for the foliage green, it's not too far away and I can cope with it. The pouch is for my binocular, plus a bit of space for other kit. It's the perfect size and a nice pouch. There's still room next to the water bottle for a Maxpedition M1 pouch, when I get one.
The only catch now is that the GP pouch has taken away the space my knife used to fit. I'm planning on making a slim kydex sheath for my Hell Razor that will fit between the GP pouch and the waist belt, in the middle space between the two outer attachment points used to secure the pouch. Should work nicely I think.
Anyway, on to some pictures of the kit and explanations of what I did. I've suspended the rig on a tripod as it's a bit tricky to photograph while I'm wearing it. When I can get out and about again I'll get some photos of it being worn. It fits much better than it looks because it hands a bit odd on the tripod.
You can click on most of the pictures for a larger view.
First, a few front views and a back view
Note in these pictures that the back of the shoulder straps are attached to the carrying strap, not the more obvious D-rings on the Sabrecat. This feels better on the back I think although I'll experiment more on this. Also, the straps are crossed at the back which gives a better angle over the shoulders than having them straight up.
The ATS Medium GP Pouch
A nice size for my binocular and some extra space for whatever. The only thing Maxpedition have that would fit my bino's nicely is the FIGHT pouch, and that's very expensive, heavier, bulkier for the space it gives and less capacious. I still might try one though if I ever find one cheap enough. My bino's will actually fit in the 7x5x4 vertical MaxP pouch, but getting them in and out through the slit-zip top is awkward and annoying. THE ATS pouch is well made and should be quite hard wearing, it's just not quite the right colour.
Attachment of the back straps to the Sabrecat's carrying handle.
To fit the buckles on here, I had to use 'field repair' buckles. These have a small slot in the centre of one end, to allow it to be fitted onto a webbing strap without having access to the end of the webbing. Views from front, back and top.
Front strap attachment to waist belt
I used a piece of webbing and a D-ring here, threaded though the webbing on the waist belt. The threading is arranged so that both pieces of webbing on the waist belt take a share of the load from the shoulder strap. The tri-glide buckle on it is placed to put load onto the upper of the two, as well as to secure the webbing loop.
Web Dominators on the straps
These are handy little things! Web Dominators slide onto a webbing strap, you roll the loose end of the strap up and use the shock cord to secure it to the clip. Front, side and back views.
In summary: I'm pleased with the results so far but there is still some tidying up and fine tuning to do. I just got bored and wanted to take some pictures. I'll stitch the hooks onto the front straps instead of using the tri-glides, shorten the front straps a little (no need for so much loose end), trim the shock cords etc.
I might stitch the back of the straps together, where they cross. This would stabilise the back a little at the expense of less flexibility for wearing thick clothing - this needs some actual field time though before I take the plunge. I would rather find a way to lock them together but still allow adjustment of the 'lock' position. Hmm...
Comments and suggestions welcome!
*still waiting for my ruptured Achilles tendon and surgery to heal sufficiently.
I really like my Maxpedition Sabrecat. If I can get away without needing the space a rucksack gives, then I prefer to keep my back unencumbered and open to the air for cooling. Besides, I've always liked waist-mounted kit. The Sabrecat is great; it holds a good amount of gear, has space for extras like a bottle holder, and is a good fit on the waist.
Unfortunately, as is common with waist packs especially with my figure, when heavily loaded it quickly starts to try to slide down, hang awkwardly, and pull my pants down. For that reason I like the idea of adding shoulder straps. It still keeps the back relatively free but holds up the waist pack. It's a compromise that I think will work very well for me. It certainly feels 'right' when worn around the house which I've been doing for about a week now.
I managed to find somewhere that still has Spec-Ops Superstraps in stock, in foliage green to match my MaxP kit. I'm a bit obsessed about matching kit.
The Superstraps are well padded and are a good width; like proper rucksack straps rather than just a webbing strap and with the benefit of a sternum strap which I like. They are intended as an upgrade for their own packs of course, but work very well as add-ons to my Sabrecat with a couple of 'tweaks'. Shame they have been discontinued, I think.
I also obtained a selection of foliage green plastic hardware and 1" webbing to do the mods.
The Sabrecat also has a MaxP 10x4 bottle holder, tightly secured with two malice clips, on the left side. On the right side is an ATS medium upright GP pouch, in ranger green. Although not a match for the foliage green, it's not too far away and I can cope with it. The pouch is for my binocular, plus a bit of space for other kit. It's the perfect size and a nice pouch. There's still room next to the water bottle for a Maxpedition M1 pouch, when I get one.
The only catch now is that the GP pouch has taken away the space my knife used to fit. I'm planning on making a slim kydex sheath for my Hell Razor that will fit between the GP pouch and the waist belt, in the middle space between the two outer attachment points used to secure the pouch. Should work nicely I think.
Anyway, on to some pictures of the kit and explanations of what I did. I've suspended the rig on a tripod as it's a bit tricky to photograph while I'm wearing it. When I can get out and about again I'll get some photos of it being worn. It fits much better than it looks because it hands a bit odd on the tripod.
You can click on most of the pictures for a larger view.
First, a few front views and a back view
Note in these pictures that the back of the shoulder straps are attached to the carrying strap, not the more obvious D-rings on the Sabrecat. This feels better on the back I think although I'll experiment more on this. Also, the straps are crossed at the back which gives a better angle over the shoulders than having them straight up.
The ATS Medium GP Pouch
A nice size for my binocular and some extra space for whatever. The only thing Maxpedition have that would fit my bino's nicely is the FIGHT pouch, and that's very expensive, heavier, bulkier for the space it gives and less capacious. I still might try one though if I ever find one cheap enough. My bino's will actually fit in the 7x5x4 vertical MaxP pouch, but getting them in and out through the slit-zip top is awkward and annoying. THE ATS pouch is well made and should be quite hard wearing, it's just not quite the right colour.
Attachment of the back straps to the Sabrecat's carrying handle.
To fit the buckles on here, I had to use 'field repair' buckles. These have a small slot in the centre of one end, to allow it to be fitted onto a webbing strap without having access to the end of the webbing. Views from front, back and top.
Front strap attachment to waist belt
I used a piece of webbing and a D-ring here, threaded though the webbing on the waist belt. The threading is arranged so that both pieces of webbing on the waist belt take a share of the load from the shoulder strap. The tri-glide buckle on it is placed to put load onto the upper of the two, as well as to secure the webbing loop.
Web Dominators on the straps
These are handy little things! Web Dominators slide onto a webbing strap, you roll the loose end of the strap up and use the shock cord to secure it to the clip. Front, side and back views.
In summary: I'm pleased with the results so far but there is still some tidying up and fine tuning to do. I just got bored and wanted to take some pictures. I'll stitch the hooks onto the front straps instead of using the tri-glides, shorten the front straps a little (no need for so much loose end), trim the shock cords etc.
I might stitch the back of the straps together, where they cross. This would stabilise the back a little at the expense of less flexibility for wearing thick clothing - this needs some actual field time though before I take the plunge. I would rather find a way to lock them together but still allow adjustment of the 'lock' position. Hmm...
Comments and suggestions welcome!
*still waiting for my ruptured Achilles tendon and surgery to heal sufficiently.
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I've tried a single strap mod, but it wasn't comfortable, and I usually use a Camelbak, anyway. A CB/SC hybrid rig might be a fun project.
