Vintage JanSport External Frame Pack

[dlee56]

Found this at the local thrift store today and had to snag it. Can't imagine hauling an elk out with this bad boy!
From what I've researched it's a late 70's JanSport Cascade, doesn't have much for defining tags or numbers. Anyone know anything about vintage jansport external frame packs?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I bet you could email lew bradley and he could tell you all about it.

 

[Cheaha]

Those were the state of the art back in the day. Yours appears to be in great shape. I would have bought that in a heartbeat. What did you pay for it?

 

[dlee56]

Those were the state of the art back in the day. Yours appears to be in great shape. I would have bought that in a heartbeat. What did you pay for it?

It is in great shape, all the straps and bolts are clean with no fray, just some dirt on the bittom of the bag and some scatches in the frame. My thrift store here was having a 75% off summer sale so I got it pretty cheap, felt like a steal after seeing them go for $150 on ebay.
I bought it to re-sell it but I'm starting to reconsider.

 

[Cheaha]

That's definitely a steal if it's in good shape!

 

[Cheaha]

I'm curious about the extended (tall) frame. Is it adjustable?

 

[dlee56]

I wouldn't say it's adjustable, you can adjust the hip belt height with straps and remove the top arch bar but other than that it looks like it's just coupled aluminum tubing.

 

[Cheaha]

I think that may be a D5.

 

[dlee56]

I think that may be a D5.

I thought it was a D series too but it doesn't have the leather panel on the bottom pocket. Only ones I've found that are pretty similar are the Cascade or the McKinley

 

[BobbyMac]

I've got 3 of these older style packs(not all Jansport) that I keep on hand. I take the bags off and just strap quarters to the frame for meat packing. They are great to outfit friends/family with when they come to help pack out meat. They actually handle a quarter pretty well.

Not to hijack...but does anyone know what the best option is to upgrade the suspensions on these older style packs...like maybe slumberjack or....?

 

[Cheaha]

... best option is to upgrade the suspensions on these older style packs...like maybe slumberjack or....?

I know Kelty still makes external frame packs, perhaps they sell something that would work?

 

[Mykolaivka887]

Found this at the local thrift store today and had to snag it. Can't imagine hauling an elk out with this bad boy!
From what I've researched it's a late 70's JanSport Cascade, doesn't have much for defining tags or numbers. Anyone know anything about vintage jansport external frame packs?

If you want to sell it, I'll buy it.

That's the exact same pack that I graduated to, after about 12 years or so of using Trapper Nelson and vintage WWII wooden GI packframes.

I remember the first day I crawled into that Jansport packframe under about a 70 lbs load, heading into the Chugach Range for 14 days. The feel was heavenly, compared to what we'd all been using back in those days.

I'll buy that Jansport packframe and bag from you, if you want to sell it.

 

[Archery Bank]

IIRC the selling point with the pack is that the frame flexed to move with your body.

 

[BBob]

Those were seen regularly on the trail in the 70’s. Kelty Tioga’s were more common though. I had a couple of Tioga’s, one from the mid 70’s and a later one from the early 80’s. I moved on to Gregory and Lowe internals. Jansport went to a rigid support hip belt in the 80’s along with plastic Fastex buckles. I still have my freighter from then. Hauled a lot of animals with it.

 

[gburk]

Pretty cool.
I’ve got an old (internal frame) jansport in my collection and they’ll still fix any issue for free if you send it to uvalde Tx where they do repairs.
not that yours needs it though!

 

[dlee56]

I'm open to selling this pack if anyone is interested shoot me a message. I messaged Myko but he's been off the radar for a few weeks.

 

[IBen]

I've got 3 of these older style packs(not all Jansport) that I keep on hand. I take the bags off and just strap quarters to the frame for meat packing. They are great to outfit friends/family with when they come to help pack out meat. They actually handle a quarter pretty well.

Not to hijack...but does anyone know what the best option is to upgrade the suspensions on these older style packs...like maybe slumberjack or....?

You can buy barneys sports chalets suspension or new straps from kelty/alps outdoor