Hello, gang --

I am full on in gear acquisition/build mode.

Now, this might be crazy, but...

... I was thinking about getting one of these Marzpak things -- I love the concept -- but then, I was also thinking about building my own.

See, I have my own pretty sturdy backpack, with wraparound waistband and all (Karrimor -- top-of-the-line British stuff). And I thought that the design of the Marzpak looks simple enough that I could do it myself... for cheap...

With the added benefit that if I were ever to do some real one-person backpacking documentary stuff, then I would not need to carry an extra rig. But I could actually just carry my backpack, and a couple of tubes of PVC (that would also double as my monopod/boom :-)) and a bungee cord -- and away we go... :-) anyhow...

Has anyone else tried to build this thing?

Isn't it just a bungee cord threaded through some PVC tubing, that is strapped (really well) to a really solid backpack system?

Does anybody who actually own this -- or seen it in action -- think that a DIY version is possible? Or am I just out of my mind (again) :-)?

Thanks,
Albert

Allbert, I built my own marzpak style rig and it's as good as the one's you buy commercially. I used a $25.00 external framed backpack I got cheaply on ebay.

The hardest part was finding the arm that extended out over my head that the bungee cord is threaded through. While wandering our local Home Depot, I found one of those things you attach to a wall that holds a television with the swing out arm. I got it for about $8.00 since it was missing pieces and in the clearance bin. Since I only needed the heavy duty curved pipes (arm) it was a great deal. I threaded some thumb screws in one of the pipes and now it's adjustable.

Finally, I bought a rachet type device that holds the bungee cord and allows you to pull the cord through it to adjust the length (boaters world).

Good luck with your project.

Jim -- that is absolutely cool. :-)

Cool idea with the TV pipe...

For myself, I was thinking of just using PVC pipe all the way around -- and designing it so that it would look kind of like a giant upside down fishhook -- rather than an upside down letter "L" -- (I think the stress on the joints will be a bit more spread out) and then tying/clamping the the straight part of it tightly to the backpack frame.

Do you think that will work?

The ratchet is a great idea also -- I had not thought of that. Brilliant.

Thanks for the inspiration to proceed. :-)

Albert

<<<-- Originally posted by Jim Quinlan : Allbert, I built my own marzpak style rig and it's as good as the one's you buy commercially. I used a $25.00 external framed backpack I got cheaply on ebay. -->>>

I think we would love to see some pictures... :-)

Thanks,

Alex F

Here's a few rushed pictures. Sorry one of them is blurry.

http://www.magoomedia.com/media/marz1.jpg
http://www.magoomedia.com/media/marz2.jpg
http://www.magoomedia.com/media/marz3.jpg

The extra shock cord that's wrapped around the back should be trimmed but I never got around to it.