What are the items at the bottom of this ruck?

[Remington Rand]

http://www.blackhawk.com/images/catalog/65MT00_2.JPG (javascript:ShowPopUp('product_image.asp?P=65MT00&N=3','max','max',0,1))

Can anyone tell me what the plastic things are at the bottom of this pack? I recently got a LRRP pack and they were sewn on the bottom. I was thinking of taking them off, but just in case I should probably know what their intended use is. Are they for lashing poncho/sleeping pad/ sleeping bag to? Thanks in advance for your help. This was the only decent picture I could find (off of the blackhawk.com website). This isnt the pack I bought, but this picture is the only one I could find that clearly shows them. RR

[Hollis]

http://www.blackhawk.com/images/catalog/65MT00_2.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:ShowPopUp('product_image.asp?P=65MT00&N=3','max','max',0,1))

Can anyone tell me what the plastic things are at the bottom of this pack? I recently got a LRRP pack and they were sewn on the bottom. I was thinking of taking them off, but just in case I should probably know what their intended use is. Are they for lashing poncho/sleeping pad/ sleeping bag to? Thanks in advance for your help. This was the only decent picture I could find (off of the blackhawk.com website). This isnt the pack I bought, but this picture is the only one I could find that clearly shows them. RR


They are so you can afix straps there. You can then attach something like a foam bad to the base.

[Irish_11]

Ive used them backpacking to run webbing through to hold sleeping bags to the pack. Thats what ive seen them for

edit:Hollis beat me by a second, well done sir

[Lerch]

Are they strong? Like would you be able to hang a sleeping bag off them or do you want to stick to roll mats and lighter stuff like that?

[theholeinthedonut]

They should be strong enough to manage a sleeping back.
But considering the relatively small size of the pack I would not recommend to put on something as heavy as a sleeping back. The balance of your pack will get totally messed up and you will walk around like a drunk Possum.....running will be even worse.

[Jippo]

Are they strong? Like would you be able to hang a sleeping bag off them or do you want to stick to roll mats and lighter stuff like that?

I have similar looking ones on my 15yr old bergen. At least they have been sturdy enough. I have had usually tent on the bottom, and sleeping bag/mat on the top. Tent would have been back in the day some five kilograms in itself. Quite sturdy.

[Remington Rand]

They should be strong enough to manage a sleeping back.
But considering the relatively small size of the pack I would not recommend to put on something as heavy as a sleeping back. The balance of your pack will get totally messed up and you will walk around like a drunk Possum.....running will be even worse.

I hear you. Small pack- not the pack I would use for an overnight trip. Their square shape tells me there is some sort of special clip that goes onto them. Everything else on the pack is straightforward, but these are a mystery. I will probably cut them off, assuming I can do so without marring the cordura. RR

[Jippo]

I hear you. Small pack- not the pack I would use for an overnight trip. Their square shape tells me there is some sort of special clip that goes onto them. Everything else on the pack is straightforward, but these are a mystery. I will probably cut them off, assuming I can do so without marring the cordura. RR

DON'T cut them off. They are simply for adding your tent, sleeping bag, laundry, what ever there. You just buy two packing straps to tie down your equipment, then your good to go.

http://www.halti.fi/dynamic/2/productdetail/7/1/14/3110.html

You are not needing them now, but you might need them later.

[Vigil]

I recommend you leave them also. Unless you have an aesthetical problem with them, there's no reason to remove them.

However, if your pack is laid out similar to the one in the picture, I would say just remove them. They should be placed on the bottom of the pack, not on the front face. I can't see why you would want to hang something large on the face of the pack.

One thing I have seen them used for (other then the ones mentioned) is for strapping two of those carrier tubes for paper. The person use it for maps (he didn't like to fold the map), film and other accessories. He would flip the cover and tilt his body and film would roll out. You can consider maybe doing something like that.

[Hollis]

Vigil, foam pads... That is actually not a bad spot. Keeps the pad from swinging back and forth and hitting you butt. Generally never mount anything heavy on the back face of the pack. Weight should be next to your back near should bladed. Depending on activity weight can be moved up or down.

Also crampons can be mounted there, a good place for them. That loop just above the patches, center is for a Ice axe. I don't think the pack is designed to carry over 25 pounds max. The loops on the side bottom, looks like it is for a racking system for pro.