Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation
My father had a custom-fitted backpack made back around 1980, which he gave to me, and it's the best backpack I've ever used.It goes against practically everything in the book about modern backpack design.There's about zero customisability, you can adjust the length of the shoulder straps and hip strap and that's about it, but I'm a very similar build to my old man so it fits me almost perfectly.It's an external aluminium framed pack, with a lot of hard canvas and leather. The shoulder straps are relatively narrow, and made of canvas, they look incredibly uncomfortable, but after I broke them in they were incredible, they moulded to fit me.The external frame allows for really good back ventilation. The thing I dislike the most about modern backpacks is that I basically end up with a giant sponge on my back. The frame also serves a protective purpose, along with being made out of thick canvas, everything inside the pack stays safe, you could throw it of a cliff.Of course, it's heavy, bulky, and if it doesn't fit you it's hell to wear. But for a 40 year old backpack it does incredibly well.I think that the biggest difference between old outdoor equipment and new equipment is that the new stuff is all generic, one size fits all, and designed to be comfortable from the moment you walk out of the store. You can buy a new pack and boots, and go on a 5 day hike the next day without having to break in any of your equipment. Perfect for our fast food, turnkey culture. Older, and modern bespoke equipment made in the old way, will last you an entire lifetime, but it takes time to break it in and maintain it.I've always found it interesting that at the point in history where humans were spending the most time in the wilderness, we had the least technically complicated equipment. When the Europeans were exploring and colonising the Americas they did so with nothing but timber, leather, canvas, and a bit of steel. Now we spend a couple of weekends a year in the bush, bringing a plethora of space-age technology just to try and survive: carbon fibre, nylon, and titanium gas cookers that boil water in 30 seconds.I feel like people often become more reliant on technology, not less, when they go into the outdoors.