Converting backpack from frame-less to frame

[IceIceBaby]

Maybe it will sound weird but here we go

I own the WT Icesac and I also have the old Trango alpine pack which have a removable internal frame that fit inside the WT back/bivy pouch it seems to carry good and comfortable up to ~45lb when I tried this combo at home.

I was wondering is anyone tried something like this on an extend trip

[arlen]

If the frame isn't compressed all strange then it should work fine. The pack will conform to to frame (with a couple wrinkles if the fit isn't perfect), but mainly what a frame does is provide a support for the pack to hang off of. A hiking pole does the job better than a framless pack. As long as you can keep the top of the frame more or less directly above the bottom, you'll get some benefit from having the load shifted toward your hips. Which basically means: now you can take some brews along and feel just as comfortable as before

 

Arlen

[Bronco]

Give it a try, I would be pesimistic about it working very well though. It seems like a pack's frame is generally designed for a specific pack with the capacity, waist belt, color, etc and you may have problems not evident while carying a 6-pack of beer around the living room in it, (that's my standard test) or even on short hikes, but, what's the worst thing that can happen?

 

Your pack might be uncomfortable!