Sandals as bag bottom?

What do you guys think of this: instead of having a pack made with a reinforced bottom, rig it up so it would be easy to attach a set of sandals there instead with the soles facing down; that way the base of the pack doesn't need to be any heavier than the sides, and probably won't need replacement after a few years. I'm thinking of having a pack custom made and am thinking of ways to keep it light.

There's a thought. It might even work. Possibly. Let us know, ok? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'd be afraid the pack may get a mind of its own and walk away some night.

(Now where'd I put those dehydrated 'shrooms?)

Eric

Seems like a mixed blessing to me. If you take sandals every time you go, without exception, it might be a decent idea. However, if you only take sandals sometimes, would your design lock you into taking them every time - in effect making the pack heavier than it would be otherwise?

Also, it seems that the times you would most need the sandals to protect the bottom of the pack would be when it's on the ground. It's on the ground the most - and most likely to get pushed or pulled - in camp. And I'm assuming that in camp is when you'd be wearing the sandals, in which case they provide zero protection for the pack.

It's really an innovative idea, just be sure to think about how the pack gets used before committing to it. (By the way, I seem to remember that a lot of the ultralight packs, like Gossamer Gear, don't bother with a heavier weight fabric for the bottom; instead, they caution the user to treat it somewhat gentler than an airline baggage handler would. It's been a while since I've seen some of these packs, so don't take my word for it.)

As I nearly always carry a pair of sandals in my pack, they have proved useful in, yes
-having a flat pack bottom, or
-protecting my lower back from cumbersone objects in the pack, or
-placed on the sides or front, protecting the pack content when stacked on bus or train racks or various rough rides

But always inside the bag!

How do the sandals attach? Extra webbing/stitching/buckles/lashing points could easily offset the weight savings of the lighter fabric. I would crunch the numbers if I were you.

And keep in mind that the sandals will constantly be abrading that fabric. Maybe they'll be wet and gritty. If there's any part of my pack that I don't want to have fail, it's the bottom.

One reason I sometimes take sandals is in case I get a blister or something goes wrong with my shoes - then I just hike in my sandals. Also for around camp, gathering firewood and water, you may wish to use your pack and wear your sandals.

An option on this vein though would be to double up lightweight the fabric on the bottom of the pack but leave one edge unsewn on the second layer, forming a sort of sleeve or pocket. Sandals could slide in there adding some protection, not get the rest of your gear dirty, provide a stand to put your pack on, but be readily available. The pack would still be usable without them.

Just my 2 cents <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hmmmm, you might be on to something. What type sandals are we talking about? What type material? Even if you make a sandal 'pocket' out of mesh it would still protect the lighter pack fabric. Perhaps there could be a mesh pocket that could be removed and replaced if it were to become abraided and worn. When I say mesh I mean that tougher stuff that Brian Frankle uses now.

There are a lot of aspects brought up that I hadn't thought about, and I'm glad I posted. My idea was to have have buckles and straps installed on the bottom, but design them to mate with sandals that already have buckles on the ankle; then all that would need to be done to attach them is to open up the ankle straps, snap them in place, and use a cord or thin strap to anchor the toes. I think it would take less material to do that then to have a full set of straps.

Of course, it would become pointless if the sandles wore out and the manufacturer changed or stopped making them...

I have an older pack with sleeping pad straps on their base. I think I'll try using it with footwear lashed on and see how I like it.

You might save some wear and tear, but you'd save less than an ounce of weight. The bottom of a pack, depending on the design, is a pretty small piece of fabric.

I don't know what kind of fabrics you use, but switching from 210D Oxford nylon to Silnylon would save a whopping 5 g (< 0.2 oz) on a typical pack bottom. That's roughly the same as the weight of this 3/4-inch buckle.