Macpac frame guide repair question

[Bill P]

Macpac rubber shoulder harness frame guides crumble after about ten years or so, while the rest of the bag is usually good for fifty years and more. Macpac sells cheap ‘ Quantum’ straps perhaps in acknowledgment of this deficiency.

I have a Macpac Torre with the newer Liberator harness which has crumbled frame guides. The cheap Quantum replacement straps have 25mm attachments while the newer Liberator has 20mm. I can’t wrangle the Quantum straps to fit the Liberator mountings.

I’ve had a look at repairing the Liberator straps myself with a bit of webbing and cordura but am quite daunted. I’m not clear how they even make these harnesses in the first place.

Has anyone been able to fix crumbled Macpac harness frame guides?

[andrewa]

No, but I’ve used Kathmandu replacement straps in my MYO rucksacks for years, and they fit a 20mm aluminium stay . Not sure whether it might work, but think laterally. I’ve made shoulder harness straps over the years, and it’s lots of work, so far easier to design around what you can buy.

A

[Bill P]

Thanks Andrew, I have been making a few custom bags recently for my friends, mostly using recovered Kathmandu C3 harnesses. I build the bags around the harness. Very impressed with the design and build quality of KTM C3s.

Current issue I have with a newish Macpac Torre with 20mm shoulder straps that I would like to get track worthy again. One rubber frame guide is fully shot. First pic is KTM C3 beside Macpac Liberator. 2nd pic is the exploded liberator frame guide. Some CCF and open cell foam has gone awol.

Bill,

Attachments

KTM C3 top. Macpac Liberator bottom

Crumbled Macpac Liberator frame guide