Noisy pack- any ideas how to quiet?

[jhg]

Since my new mantra is "use what ya got" I am using my Lowe Alpine pack for hunting. Its a great pack and has lots of simple features but naturally it is very noisy with any contact with branches.

Any simple solutions that would quiet it down? And don't tell me to go buy a 150.00 badlands/other pack, okay. They are nice but this is the year of living frugally, right?

Thanks

Joshua

[lpcjon2]

Can you put saddle soap or sno seal to help soften it up.

[lpcjon2]

Oh and maybe wash it in Borax a few times Thats a great softener.

[jhg]

Its made out of cordura. Will borax even dent that stuff?

[lpcjon2]

It should,Let it soak in it for a while, Try that and if it doesn't work use sno seal or ask Dave Bulla(a member under the directory) for some of his butter he has.

[hawaiiarcher]

I would use a backpack cover(rain fly) made with a softer material or make one.

[jhg]

Thanks for the ideas. I'll try a cover and maybe the borax too.

Will the borax hurt the waterproof membrane on the inside?

Joshua

[lpcjon2]

Shouldn't

[hawaiiarcher]

How about using your camo hunting tee shirt and putting the shoulder strap through the sleeves. The body section should sover the pack and you could always use the camo tee shirt as a game bag:).

[Ragnarok Forge]

A cover of quiet fabric should work.  Trying to soften the Cordura Cotton fabric may not work very well.  Washing the pack to often can break down the waterproofing on any pack.

[Grey Taylor]

As has been mentioned, don't apply anything to the pack. It won't affect the Cordura and will help break down the coating.
Make or find a soft cover. You can get polarfleece at the fabric store. Find someone who can sew it for you and make a simple cover.

Guy

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

Become a minimalist and get rid of everything in the pack and don't carry it.  

[Dave Bulla]

Polarfleece at walmart in the fabric section.

Cut panels the size of each side of the pack plus about six inches on all sides.  For instance, if the back panel is 12 X 20 inches, cut the piece for that side 24 X 32.  Do the same for all the other sides.

Now, take some good scissors and "fringe" the edges in about 5 1/2" on each side.  About 1/2" wide fringes work best.  When you have all the side panels cut and fringed, start with one edge and begin tying the fringes together.  That is, the front panel fringes will be tied to the side panel fringes.  Tie 'em tight with a good overhand knot.  You are basically making a pack cover without sewing anything at all.  The end result will be a fleece cover that will have nice fringes at the seams all the way around.  I made a fletch cover this way for my quiver and it worked real nice.

p.s.  In a pinch, you can cut off a fringe and use it for a scent wick when hunting.  Been there, done that.

[Zbearclaw]

Sounds like buying a used pack would be cheaper than puttin lipstick on a pig.

Camofire, and many other classifieds are filled with guys selling gear at dirt cheap prices.

Good luck, but I'd bet it is cheaper to find a used badlands or blackcreek than trying to make this thing quiet.  No offense meant to those that gave the good ideas...

[Pepper]

Jeez Dave you are full of great ideas, I think I will give the fletch cover a try.