Middle Earth Ranger Forum

As I have been posting this on Facebook I thought I may share it here as well as it's quite a nice thing

I recently saw this reproduction of a Roman mantica from the comacchio shipwreck and was impressed by it’s simplicity, practicality and cost. It’s a simple hide with attached laces that is able to keep two tunics, a wax tablet (with container), three smaller bags and a spare pair of socks all nice and dry (the author insisted more would have easily fit)

Such a pack could easily be strapped to a frame pack, walking pole, horse or shoulder strap. It could also be used to keep goods dry in canoes.

Heh, I love that we run in the same circles in the wider reenactment sphere. I saw that post just the other day myself and immediately thought of using it for my Ranger kit. I would want to play around with it and how best to configure it with my bedroll and maybe one of Elleth's food snapsacks. But the idea is very sound and I will probably make one at some point.

Hunh.

I like it!

... reminds me in concept of both Japanese furoshiki and the US WWI / WWII "haversack" that was basically just panels and straps.

There's a wonderful graceful simplicity to the idea.

Thats not that far away from an 'Envelope' knapsack, those are a squared off piece of leather (or cheap canvas if you're British!) with straps and a couple of big pockets to help keep it all organised (and make them look all military and uniform).

Like the style a lot

I hadn't seen that before, interesting and thx for sharing

That's a great way of packing it up.