DIY Primitive Bushcraft Backpack

Similar to what might have been seen in the 18th century, this is a step by step tutorial on how I built a primitive bushcraft backpack. I used a hair-on deer hide for the main bag and hand carved and hand stitched the entire project.
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#Survival #Bushcraft #survivalkit #camping #backpack #backpacking #survivalcamping #beprepared #18thcenturybackpack #primitivebackpack #deerhidebackpack #DIY #Otzi #Otzibackpack

[@WayPointSurvival]

This was a fun project and after receiving requests about it, I decided to film an in-depth tutorial on how I built this backpack. Thank you for watching and please leave a comment in the section below!

[@marcelolavoyer2627]

I spent forty years leading and training people, all ages, for trekking, rock climbing, bushcrafting, speleo, kayaking, surviving and all outdoor sports. Now I own a camping for scouts. You are blowing my mind!...

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching and for the kind words! I really appreciate it!

[@shanesworkshop922]

Store bought gear is convenient and your choices are endless but there’s something really special about creating your own gear. You don’t have to be an expert craftsman you just have to be willing to try. Amazing pack and thank you James for showing us how it’s done!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Absolutely! Thank you for watching!

[@ShadeSlayer1911]

That's what I'm realizing now too. I doubt I'll ever stop using bought gear, but I am finding a lot of joy and fulfillment making some of my own gear.

[@badger31738]

I was telling my husband that I love ur videos because everything you use is hand made or authentic. It gives people a way to have things that others take for granted and buy. It also gives it history. I really wish that I had the knowledge that you have. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so very much, I truly do appreciate the kind words!

[@nomadichunter2818]

Ok man! I made it! I didnt have deer hide so i weaved a basket to fit it! I like it, thanks a bunch for the inspiration! Gonna post a video someday, i will link to this channel so people can make one!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Very cool! Thank you so much!

[@peterschmidt6754]

Wow nice! Great authentic primitive bushcraft! Inspiring- thanks for a great video!

[@stephenreeves511]

I’ve been sub for a while but due to the illness I’ve watched a lot of back episodes. And as a living history persona this on intrigued me as a personal project. Great tutorial! I really appreciate your content and your thoroughness! Keep it up!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much for watching and I'm glad that you found it interesting!

[@johnburgin7478]

Very nice . Wasn’t familiar with that drill . Thanks for sharing this.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@sherrybillings6311]

I have to say I like this video the best. I'll have to try this backpack . ☮️💜

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@DougPalumbo]

Excellent! Beautiful craftsmanship! Even if one doesn’t want to make one of these, the skills shown would be useful in any number of other bushcraft projects.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you very much! Yes, a lot of these skills that can be applied in multiple ways.

[@richshaffer9872]

Great video! You have such a wide range of topics relating to survival. You are one of my top favorite channels.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Wow, thank you!

[@RockyGully]

This is a project I'm keen to take on! Thankyou for an excellent tutorial,your pack is a beauty!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@shilohjim]

Very nice looking pack. I can see me making one out of more modern materials such as a canvas bag, bank line and paracord. It wouldn't look as nice as yours and it wouldn't have the primitive look if that was what a person was going for but the modern materials are more readily available to me. Thanks for the video and I might get my hands on a deer hide one of these days. One more thing, in my part of the country persimmon sprouts are considered a nuisance so that's what I'd use.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Sounds like a great plan! Thank you so much for watching the video and for your kind comments!

[@debbiej.2168]

Great video! Loved the homemade drill, too.

[@indoorsandout3022]

Really appriciate this, going to go out and make one for myself. I don't have maple, but I have river birch. I should be able to bend that pretty good.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Sounds like it would work well. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@noonenowhere6920]

Cool project. I award you (handicraft merit badge)

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@lurveleggoutdoors9930]

Wow! I'm impressed! Looks really good!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much!

[@terryqueen3233]

B e a utiful and I will be making one for a friend of mine thanks for the instructions. Have a great day and stay safe and keep your powder dry!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks, you too!

[@christophercox5566]

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! Thanks for sharing this! An absolute help as I design my pack.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent, so glad I was able to be a help! Thank you so much for watching the video and for commenting!

[@spudrubble]

I know I am late but wanted to just say that was truly cool. I can see so many different ways it could be made and altered to ones choice and honestly even done with old pvc pipe for the frame. Could use your oil cloth to roll your gear up in a bundle and attach that to the frame too.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much!

[@5isalivegaming72]

Juat an fyi, ive never seen any of the guides do it but ive found it pretty handy. De-bark the sapling and do as much shaping as you can, BEFORE you cut it down. At a minimum taking the bark off is a million times easier. Depending on the project and how much cutting you have to do, and how big your sapling is, Ive shaped out an entire bow(rudimentary would be an understatement) before actually cutting the tree down.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good idea!

[@EdwinDueck]

I like that pack, looks like it would be very comfortable to use. Thanks for the video.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@malakbushcraft8299]

Este proyecto me super encantó. Gracias por compartir. Saludos desde Durango, Dgo. México 🇲🇽

[@WayPointSurvival]

Gracias!

[@marcusfridh8489]

i did a simiular packframe, based on the 5300 year old packframe of Oetzi the iceman out of fresh sallowwood in the spring. when the sap was running.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent, thanks for watching!

[@ROE1300]

👍 Excellent project. Thank you for this great instructional video.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Awesome pack !! Artificial sinue usually has a wax coating. What I do is take a lighter and melt the wax a little bit where you wrapped and tied around the frame which will prevent it from coming undone and adds a little strength.

[@WayPointSurvival]

That's a good idea, thank you for the suggestion and for watching the video!

[@MrDkgio]

Tip for “fire hardening” cut a shallow groove in a larger pace of wood, the rub the tip backwards and forwards in the groove creating heat

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good tip!

[@greywolfwalking6359]

Good job, I built a similar one, when our troop went to Powhatan n Otari summer camps...Even made a skinning knife... Good times n good project that you shared ! Thanks !

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@earlelzy9975]

I'm inspired. Nicely done.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Awesome, thank you!

[@anthonyjacobs6790]

Really enjoyed watching you make this primative/vintage build. Thank you.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much!

[@lalystar4230]

I'm kinda thinking, from a bow crafting point of view, The bending process you're going through, really looks a lot like working the bow and then tillering. So you could perhaps use similar principles here to get rid of the cracking. First lightly flex the wood, like you were doing, but not to the point of cracking. Then take the centre point and then shave off some of the wood to about a foot on either side of it. And bend it again, making sure that the shaved side becomes the inside of the bend. Sure it might take a bit longer to do and finish, and sure you're not putting a lot of stress on that bend anyway and you're going to wrap it, so perhaps my process is a bit of overkill, but hey. i was just thinking haha

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good idea. I was just trying to hurry the process for the video but that would probably work very well as you said. Thanks for watching!

[@audreybender739]

Very impressive! A man of many talents.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@mabeljc4224]

Awesome project!😉👍!! Beautiful work! Got me inspired to make my own!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent, thanks for watching!

[@michaelkaer]

That is a lot of work yet a beautifully crafted pack is the end result. Thants for the instruction.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words!

[@supernotfunnyman]

can't beat that enthusiasm! thanks for the video!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@supernotfunnyman]

@@WayPointSurvival by the way, we use the same kansbol knife. i love it, but the non webbing attachment, the soft leather, was a right pain to use. i ended up attaching a hard belt clip to it, and now really love it. but damn, mora make some fantastic knives

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed they do!

[@milesrobertson6882]

Both the skills and the weather make me jealous. Thanks and have a great day.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching and for your kind comments!

[@TerryC69]

Hi James! I really enjoyed watching this project come together. Great crafting, sir!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@viktornaboka8128]

Thanks - really great idea and performance

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@earlshaner4441]

Hi from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for sharing your thoughts and adventures and everyone else and I am watching this video again and I shared this with my friend

[@WayPointSurvival]

Great! Glad you are enjoying the content on the channel!

[@earlshaner4441]

Everything you are doing here is helping me study for the classes that I have to teach my best friend to help him get ready for his big test- all day and all night. I already took the test and passed with flying colors about 7 years ago

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent!

[@angelafowler508]

Thanks for all the helpful info.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@joseenaman2226]

Beautiful

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much, glad you like it!

[@torvicheval1709]

Very cool! Thanks for the great video!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching.

[@waldlandmensch7403]

Thank you for this awesome documentation. It looks like a great pack.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching, it does work very well.

[@farquharwilson2523]

Fantastic tutorial and a lovely looking pack. Thanks for sharing.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much!

[@josephdonais3436]

Great vid! I would create something to set a filled bag, (t-shirts or kit), on at the bottom of the frame to carry the weight. Then I would wrap the packed bag to the frame. You ask for too much with the hide bearing the entire load.

[@josephdonais3436]

Its ok as is if all you carry in it is T-shirts. Your buck skin straps are entirely inadequate. Use the buck skin braid it or better yet, x6 or even 12 braid leather boot laces. Run them through your saddle leather straps. I appreciate the vid, saves me some headache.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching. l have backpacked with it fully loaded in the winter time with no tearing issues.

[@karmaclanton5544]

Very nice!!! I like the pack and the tutorial!!! Thanks for sharing

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome and thank you for watching!

[@Hoonozit]

Cool. Thanks for the video.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@luisvera7993]

Very nice video I learned much from this video Thank you for sharing

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HistoryOnTheLoose]

Great skillset. Barring the mortice and tenon application, one could easily produce an ersatz pack and frame in any given situation given your guidance - and notching and lashing would easily stand-in for the mortice and tenon if needed. This is a very stout and sturdy build and should last many years. ....I can't quuuuiiite make it out, but, looking at the flesh side did you braintan that hide? Great content.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you! It very well could be brain tan, it does look like it. I didn't tan it, I purchased it from a fellow for $20 at a flea market. Quite a deal, and I wish I could find more of them for that price!

[@luisvera7993]

It must be fun making the pack. Love your video. Thanks

[@WayPointSurvival]

It was. Thanks for watching!

[@djonpow]

Otzi would be proud.......subbed

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much and welcome aboard!

[@Bill_tyler]

This is GREAT

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@sharpfactory3705]

Amazing

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@rlbranch65]

James, this was outstanding!!! I absolutely loved this. Next time we're together, I would love to see this in person. Best Regards.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much. I'd be glad to show it to you.

[@portroyal8126]

that's so cool

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@runningriverbushcraft]

Totally Awesome Build.!! Really enjoyed your Video..🎥🇺🇸👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much my friend!

[@wtfwhereami]

Looks like Otzi's pack. Nice job.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you.

[@asilvestrandome]

Beautiful work, I wanted to make one like Otzis, and fouding your video has give me a lot of ideas. Thanx you have a new suscriber, regards fro Spain.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching and welcome aboard!

[@BrosephRussell]

That is super awesome 👌

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@simpletheorygear]

Excellent

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, my friend!

[@charlesknight3204]

James ... Excellent design and bushcraft construction!!!!! Better video!!! Very easy to watch and learn!!! Thanks!!! Me and mine wish you and yours all things great and good!!! Take care, be safe , all my best and God bless!!! Chuck KNIGHT from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠🐩🖖✝️🙏☃️🤪

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much for watching the video and for the blessings! May God bless you and yours as well!

[@moncano2772]

Great👍

[@user-rl3yo4qd1r]

謝謝你！ 太棒了！

[@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica]

looked like a fun build brother.

[@WayPointSurvival]

It was. Thank you!

[@andrewgorden1041]

Another great video Mr. Bender. I love the simplicity of the instructions-great job! Would you consider doing a “load out” video of that pack with what you used for your traditional 3 day 2 night trip?

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much for watching! Yes, I have been considering putting out a video of the kit that I carried that trip.

[@Bushmanschool]

Great demonstration brother thanks for sharing.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much!

[@stevenkreitlow8349]

Another excellent video, James. It’s something that I would like to try. I’ll have to see what I can do about finding sources for the materials needed. I would imagine you can find deer skin and leather on the internet. I already have the twine, but have to give some thought to the wooden parts. The basic design of your pack is very similar to the Camp Trails pack I used many years ago. Of course, my frame was aluminum and the pack was nylon. Good job.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much, glad you liked it!

[@tomritter493]

Great tutorial brother nice frame

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@thomasmoller6723]

Very interesting projekt, well done.👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, glad you like it!

[@wilsonarbito7911]

Very good job…… thanks

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@cliffordbaldwin9157]

God you make great stuff ! And God bless you and your family ! ! !

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@michaelzimmerman8959]

Awesome backpack dude!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@williamspaid8829]

That is a bad ass pack man, happy trails.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@jamessotherden5909]

Very nice project. Is there a way to make it more weather proof? How did the mountain men keep things dry in long term wet weather?

[@WayPointSurvival]

You could oil it with Neatsfoot oil or wrap up your gear in oilskin. Truth be told, the mountain men got very cold and wet at times. They did have rubber rain slickers or the aforementioned oilskin cloths at available at the time. but they generally just hunkered down in bad weather and didn't travel unless they had to. Then, they got wet. An average of one mountain man a week died during that era from various causes.

[@irameslisboa6418]

Hi James great video

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@honorableoutfitters]

Love your content brother, I have been wanting to make one of these for about a year now myself. Instead of lashing the bracing boards, did you consider using friction pins from a hard wood? There is more than one way to skin a cat and yours will work well I think.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you! Using friction pins from a hardwood would work well I believe. I wanted to make mine so that I could relash it if necessary.

[@datura7282]

Отлично!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@rubythroat2258]

Beautiful pack!! Do you wet/dampen your leather straps before tying so that it dries tight?

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you. No, I just tied them on tightly and being soft leather, it knots and holds quite well.

[@earlelzy7243]

I love this video and pack. Do you have a video on making the sheath for your Tomahawk?

[@WayPointSurvival]

No. I made it in a hurry before the trip we took and I didn't take thought to film it. Thank you for asking. Maybe I'll do a video on that at some point, I appreciate the idea!

[@axerxes3981]

James.... another excellent video. Good detail and commentary. Nicely done!! How many hours, start to finish did you put into it?? Just curious. Nice job. Well cone!! Ax

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you! About 10-12 hours or so. Thank you for watching!

[@thaddeusmikolajczyk4518]

Nice project you are very talented. Where do you purchase your artificial sinew?

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you. I may have purchased it at Tandy Leather. I've had it for a long time and so I don't really remember. I'm sure it's available online.

[@SuperGsrider]

now we know why they call you bender lolol wow great work !!!! that's a nice pack

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, brother!

[@Flashahol]

Great build! Now I want to make one... The only thing stopping me at the moment is the 30 other projects and lack of deer hide.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Right? However, you can buy them fairly inexpensively from time to time if you keep your eyes open. The deer hide that I used for that particular pack I purchased at a flea market for $20!

[@Flashahol]

@@WayPointSurvival That's a great point! I'll keep an eye out. Every time I see a video like this I get an extra 2 to 5 more ideas :-)

[@AggelosKyriou]

Awesome result. Good looking too! Is there any particular reason that all cross-braces are lashed and not fitted with e.g. a mortice and tenon joint? Would the joinery be too flimsy?

[@WayPointSurvival]

The middle and top braces are put together with a mortise and tenon joint. The bottom is placed in a square notch for added strength so that it wouldn't snap and then all are subsequently lashed together. I thought that I clearly showed this in the video, but maybe it didn't come across too clearly. Thank you so much for watching and for your question!

[@AggelosKyriou]

​@@WayPointSurvival From what I see around 12:30 you test fit the mortises and then you proceed with the bottom square notch. Once you test fitted them you re-fitted them permanently with wedges? I see no dowels or tusks. I'd really like to make one of these so I'm interested in that particular detail. Thank you for your prompt reply

[@WayPointSurvival]

I used no dowels or wedges, they are just held tight by the lashings. Was that what you meant?

[@AggelosKyriou]

@@WayPointSurvival Yes! Thank you for the clarification.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@vvvci]

excellent bush-craft tutorial! I'm going to try to make a mod, using curving planks - using steam, boiling water, or lashing 2 branches together at top of pack - projecting forward from bottom on both sides (left & right) of pack, to suspend an oversize, padded belt from... hopefully transferring much of weight of pack & contents from shoulder straps (shoulders & back) to hips...

[@WayPointSurvival]

Sounds great! Thanks for watching!

[@Incandescentiron]

Question. I'm unfamiliar with animal hides. Is the hair on deer hide waterproof?

[@WayPointSurvival]

Not anymore than any other leather. It will eventually get wet and soak through.

[@zachbabcock6168]

Pole heaven lol I don't know if you should call it that

[@WayPointSurvival]

Well, I never though about it in that way.... but thank you for watching!

[@zachbabcock6168]

@@WayPointSurvival figured it was worth a chuckle ...copy that ...always enjoy the videos

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@briannayoung5412]

@WayPoint Survival If you are willing to sell the pack, how much would it cost?

[@WayPointSurvival]

I don't plan on selling it, but I wouldn't part with it for less than $800 or so.

[@robertliepe6766]

💯👍🍺😎🇺🇸

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@terryglenweaver]

This is February and there's a very cold deer running around wanting his coat back.

[@WayPointSurvival]

He's probably cold because he's in the freezer...lol!

[@badhat3051]

So? What you made is a replica of a Neolithic age pack that was found with Otizi (the iceman). You could soak your pack frame wood in hot water to make it more pliable and avoid the splitting you spoke of, that would also make it easier to straighten your stave before bending it to shape. those are al things that Otizi might have done while building his pack frame over 5000 years ago

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching the video! I was pressed for time on this one and so I did it the quickest way. You are right in that there are various ways to achieve a good bend etc. Thank you also for adding this to the comments.

[@badhat3051]

@@WayPointSurvival yeah well? My daughter both think that I must have been there to help Otizi build that frame...

[@Rick-ph7uk]

If you were in a survival situation this method would be total Overkill it is still interesting though

[@WayPointSurvival]

That all depends. Sometimes in survival things can get quite boring. So, having a nice project like this to keep you occupied, especially during the winter months would be very helpful.

[@Rick-ph7uk]

@@WayPointSurvival correct it all depends on the situation take care cool video

[@andrewkite300]

Ponyaga 🇷🇺

[@1bluecat100]

Some poor sap is trying to handrail this pack frame knowing full well this guy once he made the video of him using the mouth hand drill , went and got a real drill for the rest of the holes.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed. I was just showing how it could be done in a primitive fashion. I'm not going to sit there and drill all the holes with a mouth drill.

[@andnowi]

I won't look weird on the bus?

[@WayPointSurvival]

Depends on what bus you're referring to, lol!

[@rucksackadventures4878]

Great video buddy love it keep up the good work inspiring people looks nice that pack I’ve liked & subscribed also please check us out when you get chance stay safe much appreciated Rucksack Adventures 🇬🇧

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much for watching, for the sub and welcome aboard!

[@rucksackadventures4878]

@@WayPointSurvival looking forward to more videos

[@everettgaskins5040]

Like it but you talk to much

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@dalevodden1359]

I'm surprised that you did not use pine glue on the tennen joists to hold them in place

[@WayPointSurvival]

Sure. A person could definitely do that.