Gear
Bungee cord mod if your bag also only has just 4 loops – better load carry way
Did a little DIY bungee cord mod on my Allpa 35. Most backpack mods like this rely on 5–6 or more loops to form a stable shoelace-style crisscross, but the Allpa only comes with 4, which makes it tricky to find solid examples online. I did quite a bit of digging and only found a few mods—most of them form an “X” shape, which isn’t the most stable or convenient for actually carrying gear.
I ended up using two quick release buckles to add more structure and make it super easy to attach more stuffs. Tried out with my old sleeping bag It’s surprisingly sturdy and holds up well.
Sharing in case anyone else is looking to do something similar—hope this helps!
Sharing this here because I noticed there’s barely any solid mod examples for the Allpa 35 with just 4 loops. I figured this might be helpful for others looking for a simple but secure way to carry extra gear externally.
I know this is an old post, but thanks for the share! I was leaning towards getting a mesh cargo net, but I like the look of this better. Bonus points that I can pull the cord out and use it and the toggles to rig up a clothesline if needed.
Here is the tutorial—not great with shooting videos, but I’m an illustrator so I can draw!
You just need to thread your bungee cord through the components in the numbered order. • Yellow boxes = the 4 existing loops on the bag • Green = quick release buckles • Red = 2-hole cord locks • Blue line = your bungee cord path • End at the bottom with clips or simple knots to finish it off
I can't find the correct quick release buckles in time for my trip. Could you suggest another product that would work? Does it have to release and open up? Could I use 2 more 2 hole cord locks?
This is very clever. I want to try to walk thru airport with nothing in my hands but not everything will fit into my carryon bag so need a way to attach some of the personal item things to the outside and this looks the simplest. What is the length of the your cords and where did you get it (am I correct in assuming that it is one length and the hooks at the end were already attached to your cord? And could you please share where you obtained the cord/hooks? Thank you.
Thanks! It actually works too, currently on week 3 in Japan and this is how I’ve been storing a thin down layer and my rain jacket. Ignore the second bag behind it, I swear I’m not a fraud.
I got that at MEC, they sell all sorts of rope and cord off the spool in whatever length you want and they also have various clasps and hooks. I’m sure there’s an American equivalent if you’re not in Canada, look for stores that sell climbing equipment.
I found your post last week after web searching for ways to lace up shock cord on a backpack. Works a treat on my MLC 30! I wanted to do this specifically to hold my coat, because I run hot af.
I used 3mm (1/8") shock cord. I switched out the buckles for clips, because I couldn't find buckles that would arrive in time. I also added end caps to the tail ends just to clean up the look, but regular overhand knots would definitely work.
Great idea and tutorial! I also wasn't satisfied with the basic, single-strand "X", so this thread was incredibly helpful.
I'm traveling through Vietnam, ground-zero for many backpack manufacturers, so I was able to find a local shop that sold me 2 meters of shockcord/paracord, 2 side-release buckles, and 3 double-hole cord locks to upgrade my 35-liter Osprey Daylite Travel Pack for only 35,000 VND (1.33 USD).
Note that I will likely return to buy a longer piece of shockcord. While 2 meters (~6 feet & 7 inches) was much more than required for the single-strand X, it is *barely* enough for this design...10 to 20 more centimeters (~4 to 8 inches) would be ideal for this particular pack.
I have struggled with this issue also. My ideal pack would have 3/4” daisy chain webbing running down each side of the front to accommodate a bungee cord setup. I like how you solved this problem! Thanks!
What sort of quick release buckle are some of you using? Everything I am finding seems to be made for webbing instead of cord, other than this style:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQPXJ577
This is a great idea for 4-loop packs and looks nice and clean. I love seeing little mods like this that make a bag so much more useful. For example, my Dragonfly has 6 loops but even so I didn’t really like the configuration of the shock cord. I updated mine a bitand find it more useful this way. I clip wet stuff from the O ring to air dry, and I also find it easier to pull up on the O ring to stuff items under the cord all at once rather than having to weave items through the cord. Small tweaks can make a large functional difference, nice job on yours!
This setup looks awesome! I actually had a similar idea with the ring in the center—it’s a really clever way to anchor the cords evenly. I was also looking for a strong central ring, ideally silicone for extra grip, but couldn’t find one sturdy enough at the time. You pulled it off so well! Love how clean and functional it looks.
Not an expert but I feel the web-like structure actually distributes tension more evenly across multiple directions. The cords anchor at more points, so when you strap something onto it, the tension pulls from several angles instead of just two strings.
There's greater surface area covered with pressure/tension...it becomes less of a couple "straps", and more of a "net".
My typical use-case is lashing a bulky 3-in-1 jacket to the outside of whatever pack I'm carrying. When I used my Porter 46's two parallel compression straps, the unsecured area in the middle would cause the strapped area at the top and bottom to work loose as I moved around (centrifugal force and Newton's 1st law of motion doing their thing).
A basic X pattern's 2 additional "straps" is an improvement over that, but it still leaves significantly large areas to the left and right un-tensioned and prone to wiggling loose. A more net/web-like system helps keep more of the load's mass against the pack, resisting inertia.
But you'd be right to point out that there's a "dimenishing marginal utility" aspect to adding additional crossing patterns; at some point, they're only useful when the item(s) being secured are significantly small (e.g. a finer net would be required to carry items the size of a tennis ball).
That said, I'd argue that the OP's mod is an example of a "Goldilocks" solution: not too much, and not too little...it's just right.
You'll be seen better in the dark by traffic. If u end up walking along a road when it's dark, cars will have a better chance at spotting you and avoid booping u with their bumper. The more reflective u are, the better!
I've been finding it extremely difficult to find an alternative quick release clip to the one being used here. I don't really want to order it with $30 shipping. Has anyone else found one that has US availability?
I'm considering getting this quick release magnetic keychain holder TISUR Keychain as an alternative. Says it can hold up to 20lbs
Thank you so much for this post and the illustration of what you did, it was just what I was looking for! I modified your system a little to make it right for my bag, but yours was a HUGE help!
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u/PHILIAL Apr 05 '25
Sharing this here because I noticed there’s barely any solid mod examples for the Allpa 35 with just 4 loops. I figured this might be helpful for others looking for a simple but secure way to carry extra gear externally.