Backpacks are certainly a convenient way of schlepping your stuff around, but they do have at least one shortcoming – you have to take them off to get at what's in them. British engineer David Wolffe set out to address that, with his wolffepack. It features a tethered detachable cargo section, that can be swung around in front of the wearer as needed.
Using Wolffe's proprietary expetoSYSTEM orbital trapeze technology, the user starts by pulling a magnetically-secured handle on the front of one of their shoulder straps. This causes the cargo pack to come off of the back section of the wolffepack, and drop down below it. It's still attached to the rest of the backpack by high-strength Dyneema polyethylene fiber cords, however, so it doesn't just drop to the ground.
The user then reaches back, grabs the pack, and pulls it around in front of themselves. When they're done with it, they swing it back behind, then pull the same handle to raise and secure it into place once again.
Additionally, using a couple of attached clips, the pack can be temporarily fastened to the front of the shoulder straps – so it's worn on the chest. This could come in handy when the user is sitting down, doesn't want the pack banging into people in crowded settings, or wants to keep it away from thieving fingers.
The pack itself is made from ballistic nylon, features multiple padded and microfiber-lined pockets/compartments, and is being made in two models – the 22-liter Metro, and the more streamlined 18-liter Escape.
Wolffe is currently raising production funds, on Kickstarter. A pledge of £85 (about US$136) will get you your choice of a Metro or Escape, when and if they're ready to go. You can see the packs being demo'd in the pitch video below.
Sources: wolffepack, Kickstarter
