| A backpack with wheels and the other | | | | |
| backpacking gear ideas it inspired. | | | | Pillow/Waterbag |
| | | | |
| I wouldn't have thought a backpack with | | | | When I need to carry more water I use the |
| wheels would actually work for backpacking, | | | | plastic bladders from boxed wine. They are |
| but when I saw the web site for the | | | | light, strong, and I inflate the bag with air |
| "Wheelpacker"(TM), I was impressed. You wear | | | | to use as a pillow too. To market a |
| a frame that attaches you to a wheeled pack. | | | | dual-purpose water container/pillow, it just |
| It can even go over logs and rocks. It | | | | needs a soft removable covering of some sort. |
| started me thinking about what other | | | | |
| backpacking innovations are just waiting to | | | | Jacket Backpack |
| be marketed. Here are a few of the things I | | | | |
| came up with. Steal these ideas, please. | | | | Why not a frame-less backpack with a jacket |
| | | | that is a part of the pack? It can be folded |
| Inflatable Frame Backpack | | | | out of the way, and the pack would have |
| | | | normal shoulder straps. When wearing the |
| With frame-less backpacks we often put folded | | | | jacket, though, it would stabilize the pack, |
| sleeping pads in the pack for cushioning | | | | keep you warmer, and make it easy to push |
| against our backs and some support for the | | | | through heavy brush, because it wouldn't |
| load. Why not just have the part of the pack | | | | catch on things as easily. It is something |
| that rests against the user's back inflate. | | | | like wearing a large jacket over a backpack, |
| With the same technology used for lightweight | | | | but with the weight-savings and stability |
| self-inflating sleeping bag pads, it would | | | | that come from combining them. It could be |
| only add about six ounces. The backpack could | | | | called a "Jacket Pack-it." |
| then double as a foot-bag/pad for sleeping. | | | | |
| | | | Backpacking Game |
| Taking this idea further, I imagine a | | | | |
| self-inflating backpack that folds out into a | | | | Print a chess/checkers board on a jacket or |
| sleeping pad. The backpack "frame" would be | | | | backpack, and you have a carry-along game |
| the pad, in a "U" shape for some rigidity in | | | | that weighs nothing extra. Great for spending |
| the pack. Self-inflating sleeping bag pads | | | | hours in the tent waiting out the rain. If |
| are as light as 14 ounces now, and frame less | | | | you don't carry the pieces, stones or pine |
| packs 12 ounces, so the combination could | | | | cones could work as checkers. |
| probably be made to weigh just 20 ounces. | | | | |
| | | | Backpacking gear ideas and innovations keep |
| Wax Paper Food Bags | | | | popping into my head as I write this. Most |
| | | | are based on the idea of "dual purpose" |
| Put backpacking food in wax-paper packaging | | | | items. They may work, some may not, but it is |
| instead of plastic. The packages then double | | | | an entertaining dose of inspiration from a |
| as emergency fire-starters, since wax paper | | | | backpack with wheels. |
| will usually burn even when wet. | | | | |