Max is NOW!

Giving my most recent findings in the pursuit of the perfect messenger bag (now the perfect backpack), I felt the need to enlist an active backpack for service.

Introducing FRANKY (short for Frankenstein), my first manifestation of backpackness.

(see slideshow below & please note my friggin sweet new Mark “The Gonz” Gonzales kicks.)

FRANKY is a mash-up of a large Parcel tote I’ve had for some time and a few modifications I added, including shoulder straps, thus dubbing him a “backpack”. After studying the needs I had, both for wear and for function, I realized that my best bet would be to try out design by adapting a rugged graduate from my bag collection. In FRANKY’s previous life, he lugged photography equipment, raw metals, tools, clothes, and went on many desert adventures. This made him the perfect fit for my experiment. Add a couple custom-made shoulderstraps, a sternum strap, some more add-ons, and we have my first backpack DIY creation.

For my next bag I will venture into a solid construction from raw fabric. But this will require a pattern. I have found some inspiration at http://lemolobags.wordpress.com, but obviously don’t want to rip off his design. I just thought it was good to study the techniques of a more advanced back maker. I will continue to study the design of others and the functionality in my own FRANKY.

Until then, I hope FRANKY holds his own.