#edcbackpack

Today I had my supplies together and I was lucky enough to do some work on the backpack.

Background: Q&A with @recoiloperated and Pt. 0, Planning

The goal:

First, I cut some slots in my clips, so that I could get them installed on the pre-existing webbing on the waist band and on the front plate bag.

The plastic female clips are for the carrier bag. I bought the bag off ebay without the clips that Spiritus usually includes with them. This way I can attach a placard if I want.

The parachute clips were also an ebay find and are way overkill for what they're gonna do, but mechanically, they're exactly what I need. These will retain the handgrip loops that come down off the front plate bag. You'll pull the loops down and clip them into the hooks and elastic webbing will provide tension. Elastic is the plan, but I'm prepared to use standard webbing and triglides to secure it if the elastic is too loose to run with.

I installed the placard clips, and then the parachute hooks.

This is the waist band. I slid the webbing into the slot on the hook and then I sewed it in to keep it from sliding out of position. When the backpack is worn, the hook is about at the 4 o'clock position on my waist. I used a small strip of velcro one wrap to keep the hook against the band. The webbing on the waist band has a strip of velcro hook underneath it, so it secures nicely.

Next, I took some webbing and sewed in D-rings on either side of the plate bag at the bottom.

I had originally planned on a full box stitch, but went with a simpler boxed Z, because of the tight space. This is where the webbing will loop to. When the bag is undeployed, I'll probably pull the excess webbing through these rings, so that the hand holds will stick right out of the top of the backpack.

Next steps will be to cut the pocket in the top of the backpack, and measure out the strap attachment points. I'm planning on using the webbing from the shoulder sling that came with the backpack for the straps. Sewing in this part is gonna be the hardest part of the build, just because it'll be awkward.

The straps will be hook and loop for the front bag. I want this system to be modular, so that I can switch the front bag back and forth between the backpack and an eventual traditional plate carrier setup.

Need a belt snap clip that is perpendicular to the belt, non-swivel, with a carabiner style snap.

These two things combined:

In relation to this ask, I've been planning out a 'get home/get safe' bag for everyday carry, hiking, or just keeping it handy in the car/jeep. The bag will feature deployable armor, and otherwise appear like a normal backpack.

There are a few companies that make bags like this, but they are generally in the $400 range. I have a great bag from the old days that could serve as a platform, so I'm gonna modify it instead. Even with the purchase of the extra bits and hardware, it should cost a quarter or a third as much as the others.

I got a Spiritus Systems front bag from an ebay sale and I'm working out attachments now.

What I'm thinking so far is to use the chest rig loops as an attachment point for the straps to pull the bag up and over my head, and then down to the waist strap to secure it. These will probably be simple 1 inch webbing. The debate I have right now is how to secure it. The webbing on the backpack's waist strap is looped, so I can start off by simply doing some velcro one wrap to test how velcro holds under movement, but I've got no confidence in that working. I'd like to have some kind of hardware attachment method, like HK clips/carabiners or something, but it needs to work quick and I shouldn't have to eyeball it when I'm doing it.

The ends of the secure straps at the bottom of the carrier will probably be web loop carry handles that I steal off another canvas bag, and I'll run steel wire through them to get them to hold an open shape. They'll stick up out of the top of the backpack for me to grab at. I'll probably attach D-rings to the bottom corners of the carrier, so that the loops won't fall into the pocket when not deployed.

Up top I'm gonna create a nylon pocket for the front bag to rest in.

(middle finger unintentional, haha) That'll go in just above the shoulder strap pocket pictured here. The opening edges will get heat sealed, and stitched like I was doing a threaded grommet, so that the pocket will stay open and hopefully be durable enough to handle the friction of the bag going back and forth as I use it repeatedly. The area will be pretty tight thickness-wise, but should have enough room if I go with the plates that were suggested to me.

Inside the front bag pocket, I'll box stitch in shoulder straps for the carrier, which will end in a few inches of hook. They'll be positioned so that the slack from the straps will allow the bag to rest at the bottom of the pocket. I'm gonna mock these up before I do anything permanent, because the system will have to clear over my head and still come to rest in the right place over my chest. Not sure if that works naturally, or if I'm gonna have to introduce some elastication.

I've all but decided on the Hesco plates, but that'll have to be a later buy.

Need to wait a few days, but I've got sling swivel hardware and Go No-Go guages in the cart at Brownell's for the rifle build.

I've got a bid in for a Spiritus Systems front plate bag. I'll find out later today if I got it. It's multicam black, but that'll be fine for a few bucks off. Once I get it in, I'll start taking measurements to start cutting and sewing on the bugout bag.

If anyone missed it, I've got a great old backpack that I'm gonna adapt as an EDC armor plate bag. It'll go wherever I go. recoiloperated has been a huge help working out a plan for it.

I'm not one for things like bumper stickers and the like, but I caved bought a velcro patch off etsy. I couldn't pass it up.