Sewing and attaching shoulder straps is one of the most challenging parts of making your own backpack. Most of the weight of an ultralight backpack is carried on the shoulder straps. So getting the shape, position and angle of the shoulder straps is important for a good, comfortable pack fit. In this five part video MYOG tutorial, you’ll discover how I make the straps for the Talaria backpack, from start to finish. You’ll also see how I make the optional Talaria load lifters.
PDF Files
Below are links to PDF files containing the strap sewing patterns, text instructions and a strap alignment guide template.
- Sewing pattern – follow the printing instructions on page 1 of the PDF file.
- Text instructions – detailed step-by-step instructions for attaching the shoulder straps to the backpack.
- Strap alignment guide template – this shows the proper angle and position of the shoulder straps.
Video Tutorials
Below are the links to each of the five YouTube videos in this tutorial:
Materials and Hardware
The fabrics, materials and equipment used to make the shoulder straps is listed below.
- Fabric: X-Pac X-21 RC, from questoutfitters.com (#1165). This is a 210D nylon with PET inner layer, X reinforcement grid, and DWR outer treatment.
- Mesh: 3mm spacer mesh, from questoutfitters.com (#1220-B).
- Foam: 1/4″ 2 lb density, closed cell, from owfinc.com (#FY206MM).
- Daisy chain webbing: 3/4″ black nylon, from CDWplus.com (#WBL34).
- Hull loop webbing: 1/2″ black nylon, from CDWplus.com (#WBL12).
- Strap ladder locks: 3/4″ Apex Weaveloc, from questoutfitters.com (#3141).
- Load Lifter ladder locks: 3/4″ Standard, from questoutfitters.com (#3009).
- Thread: Gutterman Mara 70, from Wawak.com (#GTDP000).
- Needles: Organ BDx1, 90/14, regular tip, from goldstartool.com.
- Sewing machine: Juki DDL-8700 with brushless servo motor and synchronizer, from goldstartool.com.