The North Face Garment Bag

Posted on by Rob Drews

Travel in style with this early 80s TNF garment bag. This khaki and navy Cordura and Nylon bag is in good shape and ready to go.

Folded it measures 22″ wide by 20″ high and can be carried using a the soft leather hand strap or nylon shoulder strap. Front pocket containing the label zips at top and has front facing zip pocket as well. On the back side there is a small map pocket with Velcro access between the nylon webbing. Buckled compression straps on either side keep the bag together when folded.

Open the bag measures 40″ high. there are two pockets on the inside, the top measures about 22″ x 20″. The bottom is roughly the same size but is partitioned in down the middle. The inner Cordura layer zips 3/4 the way around to reveal the nylon inside measuring 22″x40″. There is a nylon belt across the center to secure garments. As well as two pockets at the top. There is a metal rod running through the middle of the bag at the fold for support.

All zippers are heavy-duty YKK and snaps are The North Face branded and in perfect working condition. There are some black marks on the front and bottom of the bag from use ( see photos) other wise is clean and free from holes. The insides are in near perfect condition.

1980s JanSport Leather Bottom Day Pack Backpack

Posted on by Rob Drews

Large day pack model has one main compartment, two side compartments with slide through channels between them and the main. This particular pack is an older version than what you may be used to seeing. The main differences are that it’s slightly squatter in shape, has lace through front compressions straps instead of plastic buckles. It also has a leather gussets on the back panel where the straps attach. This was a common practice on earlier day packs that was later foregone to save on production costs.

Lashing squares: 2 top, 2 bottom, 1 front. Large JS branded leather lashing panel as well. compression straps across main compartment front. Padded adjustable shoulder straps and nylon waist strap.

This pack is in good shape for its age. The Cordura upper is pretty clean. There is some slight discoloration around the main zipper at the top and side zippers, as well as on the back. All stitching is intact and complete. The leather bottom shows signs of wear but has no holes or deep gouges. Stitching around the bottom lashing squares is coming undone around the corners but they are still held securely. Inside is clean with fabric backing intact. All zippers and clasps work.

Main compartment measures (across back)
16″ high
13″ wide -at bottom
6″ deep

Danner 6490 Hiking Boots

Posted on by Rob Drews

This is a pair of Danner 6490 Hiking Boots. This boot is the predecessor to the Mountain Light boot and dates back to the 1970s.

This Boot features:

  • premium handcrafted leather uppers
  • soft leather lining
  • Danner’s tri-fold tongue design similar to that of the Mountain Light with a less final height on the tongue
  • Leather sole with nailed Vibram sole
  • 4 swivel D ring, 2 hook lace

Stamped inside:
Size 9 1/2 D Style 6490 Lot 2559 Danner

Kelty Soft Pack Day Pack Backpack – Sun Valley CA

Posted on by Rob Drews

Original Kelty Soft Pack day pack in rust orange. This top-loading pack features one main compartment closeable via a nylon cord through metal grommets with a large Progresco cord lock. The top flap features a second, rather large rectangular compartment that zips half the way around using C&C zippers. Top flap secures to the main compartment via two 1″ plastic clips.  6 leather lashing squares down the front and larger lashing panels per side add character and functionality.

Back panel measures:
16″ tall
10″ across at bottom
9″ across at top

Vintage EMS Easter Mountain Sports Ripstop Nylon Tarp

Posted on by Rob Drews

Ripstop Nylon Tarp by EMS. This  8.5 x 10 three-piece ripstop tarp has been has five 1″ wide nylon loops per side. Not sure if the loops are original to the tarp or a later addition for making a specific shelter.

The blue label was the original used by EMS in the late 60s when the company started, I’d estimate this tarp is from right around 1970. Also seen here are a smaller EMS stuff sack as well as the Alpine stuff sack.

The North Face Down Camp Slippers – Brown Label

Posted on by Rob Drews

Late 70s/early 80s camp slippers by The North Face. These slippers consist of a light weight ripstop nylon upper, outside and inside stuffed full of down. The green bottoms are a heavier nylon and contain a 1/2″ thick foam foot bed. A piece of elastic feed though the inside at the ankle helps keep the booties on when walking.

Size small – measures 10.5″ inches heel to toe on the bottom and 4″ wide at ball of foot.

Hein Gericke for Hondaline Cafe Style Jacket

Posted on by Rob Drews

This Late 70s/early 80s Hein Gericke for Hondaline racing style jacket looks like something worn by a member of Toecutter’s gang in the film Mad Max and is the perfect jacket to accompany any mid to late 70s CBs or other cafe bikes of that era.

Construction features two offset zippers for tighter or looser fits depending on layers. There are 3 external chest pockets, one left sleeve pocket and one inside pocket. Adjustable waist belt is fixed at back. Adjustable snap close shorty collar. YKK zippers throughout, all working

Ribbed detail around shoulders and down torso sides provides stretch for movement. Back is cut slightly lower with thicker padding around lower back section.

This jacket is fully lined with red nylon and has a thin insulating layer between it and the leather.

Measures: Tag size 38

7″ shoulder to shoulder
21″ top of collar to bottom (front)
27″ top of collar to bottom (back)
17.5 ” pit to pit (tight setting)
19″ pit to pit (looser setting)

Alpine Designs “A” Frame Backpacking Tent

Posted on by Rob Drews

Take your backpacking trip back in time a few years with this early 70s A frame tent by Alpine Designs of Boulder Colorado. The always innovative George Lamb and his team did a great job on this simple, classic tent incorporating some great features.

This single wall tent features zippered screen and full door entries at either end making it ideal for two occupants. The tent also has zippered floor access at one end. Construction is achieved via four half inch diameter collapsible aluminum poles ran through the tent pole casing and lining into a machined aluminum member at the top. A draw cord running though the tent peak at the ends runs through this member and is staked into the ground. The rain fly sits over the top and ties to the tent cords or stakes into the ground on it’s own in some places.
Approx Measurements:
Packed Weight: 7lbs
Packed Size 18″ x 11″ x 6″
Erected Measurements
93″ head to toe
59″ across
45″ high

Alpine Designs External Frame Backpack

Posted on by Rob Drews

Early external frame pack boards were made from wood or solid metal, then came the aluminum. The innovators  at Alpine Designs saw  a new  progression in this pack made of a PVC plastic frame. It’s definitely one of the most unique external frame packs I’ve encountered, and probably for good reason. The use of plastics instead of aluminum seems to save no weight at all (if not adding some). It’s also hard to imagine this plastic could withstand the stresses, shock and temperatures of an aluminum frame. Still this pack has survived rather well with no cracks and all plastic hardware intact.

Regardless of materials, this pack is very well constructed with plenty of details that make it Alpine Designs. Leather zip assist tabs, integrated pack handle on the frame, and innovative lace loops to secure the top hatch to name a few.  This pack also features very thinly padded shoulder and waist straps. It has no lashing squares but does have two pair of D rings on the underside.

Pack make-up includes:
1 top entry main compartment
1 front entry second main compartment
2 top entry side canister pockets
2 front entry secondary side canister pockets
1 small front entry compartment on the outside of the secondary main compartment.

1980’s The North Face Gore-Tex Anorak Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

This North Face Gore-Tex anorak style parka represents technical innovations for the company in the early/mid 80s. Traditional 60/40 cotton blend materials are bypassed in lieu of the emerging weatherproof fabric known as Gore-Tex. Advancements in materials have pushed design by allowing the parka to remain weather proofed with more seams backed with waterproofing (note the seams mid sleeve). The growth of the brand from the “Brown Label” garments is also evident in the use of branded hardware. The embossed buttons (used on later “Brown Label” pieces) label screened cord locks and emblemized zipper pulls attached to TALON loop zippers. This piece is also clearly designed for a woman as evident in the contoured waist.

1/2 zip with zip and snap closure. Innovative two-piece hood with peak and elastic draw closure ran through a nylon sock for optimal, form-fitting tightening. Nylon lined front zip kangaroo pocket with pass-through velcro closed hand pockets. Elastic cord cinch at bottom.

This piece is in very nice shape. Almost no signs of wear with no holes or stains. All stitching is in nice shape and the Gore-Tex fabric backing is in great shape. Color is pretty much dead-on Navy Blue. Refer to the picture of the back of the parka for truest representation of the color.

Measures:
neck seam to cuff: 27″
across at slimest: 17″
across at bottom: 19″
top of zip to hem:  25.5

This Parka is currently available on the BCV  eBay store