Hi, I'm Brice, president of Vaucluse Backpack Ventilation Gear, and we're walking through my latest update for our customers. If you've been thinking about ordering our backpack frame, this will be a very good update for you because I'm going to dive into the specifics of where we are with production. We’ve been able to do a pretty good upgrade while working out some modifications to the frame as we move along in this wonderful world of manufacturing.
So let's dive in.
Overview of Backpack Production Update
There were two issues we faced when manufacturing the ventilation frame. The first was with the spacers, which you can pop off (I will zoom in to Camera Two). It's designed so that when you clip them, they stay on (let me go to Camera Two and show you). The ‘fix’ to the frame is so that, whether you want to assemble or disassemble it, you can just put it in your backpack. You can remove and put it elsewhere because it will disassemble that quickly.
It's now very easy to disassemble, and when you snap it in and wear it on the trail, nothing comes undone.
We had an issue with the hole right here, ensuring that when it's snapped in, it stays in. We've fixed that. Now, as you can see, it stays in place. So that was our design modification.
Number one, we had to do a design modification. Number two, we had to do something very similar to the airflow spacers and loops which go around the backpack strap (let me show you).
I have a 32-liter backpack with the frame attached (I'll zoom in a little). The back of the frame is designed to go around the strap and connect. That way it doesn't fall off. The issue we addressed (let me go to Camera Two) was that when you clipped the loop straps, they would pop off!
Manufacturing (and actually putting things together) has taught me how millimeters really make a difference. So now, the loops don't come undone. If they’re snapped in, they’re snapped in. That's fantastic. Problem solved.
Now where are we with production? With two issues solved, we're moving forward.
Next, we're working to confirm materials. I want to make sure that I clearly explain this: We want to guarantee, first, the softness and, secondly, the comfort that we want. When you get into manufacturing, this has a lot to do with the coefficiency of friction in the material we're using. That way, it stays in place and maintains its compression level (meaning how flexible it is).
So… this is a test sample that the manufacturer has given me. It's somewhat flexible, but we want it to be more flexible so that, when you're hiking, this thing really adapts. If you want to roll it up, we're designing it to do that.
You can roll it up, you can take it apart, you can sit on it, you can use it as a pillow, you can really do a lot of different things with it. That’s why we want to ensure that the softness and comfort are exactly how we want it. And we're not expecting that to take long. But because we were doing everything else with the design – making sure the frame sticks together as we want, loops attached and not moving – we can also look at the material and confirm that all is good.
Additional Updates - Backpack Ventilation Frame
At the beginning of the video, I did mention an additional benefit we were able to achieve with the modifications to our frame design, and that was making this frame even lighter. On Camera Two, I have a scale that I've zeroed, and now I will put our frame on it. Our frame now weighs just 3.2 ounces (equal to 0.2 pounds). It also means it's down to 1/5th of a pound (or 90.7 grams).
For ultra-light backpackers or anybody with a backpack that’s trying to keep it as light as possible, you can fill it with everything that you want to take with you while using a great ultra-light frame on your backpack that won’t add heavy, extra weight.
I'm hoping that with all the materials that we're testing (just to make sure everything works the way we want), we might shed a little more weight. I don't know. But in the next production update video, I'm definitely going to have more insight into the exact weight.
We're getting to a good place where we're happy with our progress. We know how flexible our frame can be (let me show you). This frame is very flexible and conforms to the back. We want to preserve the flexibility of our “Generation 1.0” frame when it weighed about 12 ounces, but this improved frame now weighs just three ounces. That’s almost four times lighter!
We want all of the benefits without the weight. That's what we're trying to do, and that's what I will be presenting in my next production update video.
Thank you so much, as our customer, for your attention and patience. Here’s to sweating less, and see you on the trails!
If you have any comments, reach out to me either our website by clicking this link.
