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Molle Panel for MR Pop Up 28

GCTerpfan

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SH Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2017
Messages
5,947
Location
Garrett County, MD
I have been using an MR Pop Up 28 for three seasons now. I love the pack and love having the ability to pack out a deer without going back to camp or the truck. The pack has performed flawlessly for the last three years but, I really don't need the 28L bag for most of the season. Last year I considered buying an Eberlestock carrier frame to use during early season but, realized a better solution would be to have a molle panel made for my Pop Up frame.

At the recommendation of @JCLINE84, I reached out to @4090Sharps who JCline described as "a wizard for this kind of stuff". Not only did @4090Sharps agree to do it he seemed excited for the opportunity. What made it even easier is although he no longer had a Pop up 28 he took enough pictures of the one he used to own to be able make a version of the pack for himself.

There were a few challenges we had to solve for my idea to work, The biggest being the Pop up frame, along with the load shelf is only 7" wide. When packing a deer out with the Pop up if you try to use the load shelf and place your game bags between the frame and the bag you only have a 7" wide load shelf and two straps holding things together. Partially filled game bags want to squeeze out between the straps and the shelf. @4090Sharps came up with the genius idea of incorporating a rip-stop nylon bag with a mesh bottom that zips into the back side of the molle panel and attaches with a ladder lock. This allows you to pull the bag out, drop your game bags or quarters directly into it and then when you get home remove the bag to wash it.

I can't say enough about the job @4090Sharps did with this. His sewing is excellent and even though he made the panel without having the frame in front of him it couldn't have fit any better. I would recommend that anybody with a Pop Up reach out to him but, he told me he wasn't taking on anymore projects this year. So Sorry fellas. However, I thought I would share anyway in case it gave someone an idea or inspired someone with sewing skills to make their own version.
 

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Thank you for having me work on this for you @GCTerpfan! I was and am still ecstatic it was well received. I appreciate your flexibility working through some of the design constraints imposed by the Pop Up. Also huge thanks to @JCLINE84 for always hearing out my ideas.

Something I hadn’t considered until now, does the cargo frame when tightened down fully hold the upper portion of the frame rigid enough that it can be used as a handle?
 
If someone built a microsuede or fleece pack that attaches to the popup frame(it’s four pieces of webbing and 6 buckles sewn in right spot, they could make a killing. I would buy two.

I actually like that the popup is a narrow frame. It holds up surprisingly well under heavy load. I packed 120lbs of boned out elk and gear 2000’ vertical feet up and down with some nasty scrambling last year on my buddy’s cow. It lets my back breathe and I can twist and turn around brush and branches. Perfect whitetail packing pack. My bag is quieter after a dozen or so critter rides, rain,mud, rocks, pack training, laundry, etc. but it could be better.


@4090Sharps I’ll be your Guinea pig on this if you like. Shaped just like popup bag, but a drawstring under the lid pouch instead of zipper. And make it where the four straps that attach it to the frame can connect to each other and act as shoulder straps if you want to go without frame or swap it to chest for a pack out. (I like to ditch frame sometimes a few hundred yards from my set)

Happy to fund going from zero to one brother!
 
I’m with you on the narrowness of the Pop Up frame—I love it. But I hate how narrow the load shelf is. Dealing with small southern deer quarters it can get really annoying.

I wish I had access to the laminated suede fabric that Mystery Ranch is using on the new Tree House. I haven’t seen anything else I would trust in that sort of heavy use application. If MR would just marry up their Tree House in its current iteration with a decent frame like the Pop Up. They’re so close! FWIW, I have attached a Tree House to a MR Guide Lite frame and besides some excess weight, it was pretty cool.

@kyler1945 if you find some suitable fabric, I would at least be willing to kick some ideas back and forth with you.
 
This is probably one of my favorite “mods” I’ve seen on any piece of saddle gear. I’m stinking jelly and really pumped for you! You guys did awesome on this. Reallllllly makes me think! Definitely will put in a good hour or two tomorrow staring at my mystery ranch frame packs.
 
Something I hadn’t considered until now, does the cargo frame when tightened down fully hold the upper portion of the frame rigid enough that it can be used as a handle

Yep, you have to connect the two straps on the bottom with the ladder locks but when you pull them tight you can pick up the pack with the top of the frame.

Thanks again for doing this!
 
Awesome project, I love my Popup28 but don’t end up using it and grabbing my Fanny pack on the closer sets. It gets annoying swapping packs. Might be a winter project for me
 
Thank you for having me work on this for you @GCTerpfan! I was and am still ecstatic it was well received. I appreciate your flexibility working through some of the design constraints imposed by the Pop Up. Also huge thanks to @JCLINE84 for always hearing out my ideas.

Something I hadn’t considered until now, does the cargo frame when tightened down fully hold the upper portion of the frame rigid enough that it can be used as a handle?
You’re the best gear manufacturer that doesn’t sell gear. Saddles come easy to me. I can build them in my mind and then translate them to the sewing table. But packs, frames, saddle bags, and all the other really cool stuff are a mystery to me. I’m amazed at the things you can build man. And your stitches make mine look amateur.
 
Well done. The Eberlestock mainframe caught my eye for the same reason and I also have a pop up (38).
Brilliant!
 
Now we just need to get one of our accomplished custom gear makers to start making them, because this is sweet!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I’ve been considering for awhile about adding MR’s Back Strap to my Pop Up 28 for the same reasons. Did you look into this option as well? Now you’ve got me looking into something more custom for next year.


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Without some new buckles, the Back Strap will only fit the 2020+ Pop Up frames (Gen 2). This was built on the Gen 1 frame.
 
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