Rivendell Mountain Works

[Ridgerunner]

Thats some definite pack porn. Thanks for sharing Justmeagain. We will accept porn pics of that nature anytime. I will go thru my archieve of Backpacker Magazines and see in I have the issue you mentioned. Have a great trip and take plenty of pictures !

[zelph]

Makes me want to try one on, lots of good reading porn

Thanks, have fun on your next adventure out. Look forward to the photos and trip report. Wish I was there!!!!!

[heckdog]

WOW!!!! I need a cigarette....that pack sure looks good. Can't wait until the brown box truck brings mine.

[hoz]

Though I've hanging around this forum a couple months I just found this thread. I own an original Rivendell Jensen. Mine is silver blue with dark blue back. It doesn't have the "barbell" attachment points but the large rectangular patches like the green Jensen above. I also have the detachable pockets.

I bought mine in the mid 70's from the place in Idaho. I had been mountaineering in the Tetons with a friend who owned one. After watching him tote that beauty like a glove and me struggling under my REI Cruiser packframe I decided I had to have one.

The Jensen Rivendell was one of the first packs (if not THE first) to be frameless and yet fit like a glove. I remember getting lots of looks on the trail as people had seen nothing like it.

Through the 70's and 80's mine has been back to the Tetons and the Wind River Range many times for annual climbing excursions. After I took up long distance canoing though it was put on the shelf.

I'm thinking about breaking it back out for next summers trip to the Winds. It's been 20 years since I've been there and it's time for another look around.

[heckdog]

I forgot to post my impressions of the pack......holy S#!T it is sweet. It made with the craftsmanship I dream about at night. I am quite sure it was made by elves. It does truly fit like a glove. The next time I take it out I am going to try some handstands. The material is bullet proof - the kind of pack that looks better the more you use it. All that goodness and under 3 lbs. I think the Zen and the theory of UL backpacking is dead on. I think the most of the UL gear, frankly, is cheap crap with way better marketing than durability. Rivendell is making an UL pack that is trail tested, the old one's go for way more than the new one's on EBAY and is a pack I can pass on to my children (Suck on that Silnylon). My advice - get on the waiting list for the finest handcrafted pack that a Joe Plumber can afford.

[hoz]

Back in the day I couldn't afford a down sleeping bag and my EMS holofill wouldn't wouldn't fit in the bottom compartment. An addition I made was to add a panel to the bottom of the pack and attach a couple straps to compress it. Works great, but now that I have a nice down bag I think maybe I'll put some clothes in there along with it.

The only thing I don't like about the Rivendell is you have to strap the sleeping pad to the outside. Not too bad on the back, but not as compact looking as putting it inside.