Making the Adirondack Backpack

The Adirondack backpack is an elegant part of history that was used in the back woods of the northeast forest, and is a desirable addition to all outdoors-man today. Hand made from the materials that were readily available and with the skills of the local woodsman. I will instruct how it is made.
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[@ucandoit8362]

Great work. Making things with one's hands is much more rewarding than mindless amusement, and yield's things of far greater beauty than the box store can provide.

[@donaldporta]

Absolutely!

[@garysapper8716]

Appreciate the detail, step by step. Also appreciate that every material used is gathered, no pins or metal for fastening. Great tutorial - time for me to collect materials and get started....

[@donaldporta]

Thanks for watching!

[@ponydawn]

Best how to video I've seen. Thank you for such thorough instruction. Love the feet and the ability to use belts for the harness.

[@donaldporta]

Awesome, thank you!

[@markprescott2011]

You have some serious skills Don!!!

[@donaldporta]

Thanks Mark,

[@timothylongmore7325]

Hey Don , I finished my pack today. Turned out pretty good for my first one. I used Un-split stakes and weavers. My ash isn't very thick and I wanted a heavy duty model. I use it for chaga hauling and that stuff pretty tough. I dropped one on my foot the other day preparing an order. Thought i broke my foot , lol. Thanks for the video. I also used spruce root for the bindings , double thick ash splint for rims and white cedar for base sticks. Just gotta do the straps. Your system seemed fast easy and looked great so that's probably how i 'll go on that.

[@RuggedOutdoorz]

From a Royal Navy Vet to a US Navy Vet thank you I must have a go at this, I dont know how it will turn out but will let you know

[@donaldporta]

good luck my friend. I worked on one of your ships while in Portsmouth. I repaired one of it's radars.

[@RuggedOutdoorz]

@@donaldporta Which ship was that and when

[@brianrajala7671]

Great job, well explained.

[@donaldporta]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@timmynormand8082]

awesome Craftsman ship so cool too. thank you Donald

[@geraldinerobertson3481]

Thanks for sharing this with us

[@timothylongmore7325]

I like the spruce root handle and binders. I have some gnarly slippery elm root i'm going to use on mine. Great video.

[@michaelshallett6665]

Hi Don..thank you for the excellent instructional video.. I've never made a pack but am confident after watching I can do it.. Thank you from Maine

[@donaldporta]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikefarrar3363]

How did your pack turn out?

[@edwardschneider2716]

I really appreciate you taking the time showing your skill. I certainly learned a lot.

[@donaldporta]

Glad to hear it

[@josephshoemate9933]

So dang cool

[@Nonayabizness360]

What a beautiful basket! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge if only I had the talent to make one of these. We up cycle furniture people think is junk and turn it into something more modern and useable again. Just subbed your channel to watch more of your videos.

[@donaldporta]

Thank you so much!

[@lawolfe2707]

Absolutely amazing! You are so knowledgeable.

[@donaldporta]

Thank you! 😊

[@peggyd3643]

Excellent instruction. Thank you so much. This is just what I would like to make and you have answered all my questions.

[@jeffluker1895]

This is outstanding! I'm really looking forward to making my own using your video. I bet your room smells amazing with all that ash and spruce.

[@donaldporta]

Go for it!

[@louiegeorgemichael]

I have made one of these too! a woman tough me in Montreal!

[@tybaltmoon2082]

Wow! I am truly impressed.

[@oliviahart531]

Love this design

[@donaldporta]

Thank you! 😊

[@oliviahart531]

@@donaldporta you're welcome ... one day I'll try it... wondered about thickness for using other wood types..is there a way to test that ? 🤔

[@backwardog1]

Beautiful work. Just awesome stuff. Like all your kayak builds also.

[@ValCronin]

Incredible.

[@DonVonGun]

Very nice :)

[@glennwilck5459]

Great video awesome pack that will last the test of time!

[@donaldporta]

I think so too!

[@MattKars]

great video! thanks for sharing!

[@lorenaraiola-mortensen716]

Don do you have them for sell? I go with my family to few of the mountain men rendezvous events here in U.S every year and I being wanted to buy one or make one . You are amazingly talented, wow it look incredible. Thanks for taking the time to explained step by step how t make it.

[@theoldethymebarn7876]

Beautiful! Is white ash ok to use?

[@donaldporta]

Yes it is!

[@Shogomockid]

Just watched your video and was impressed with your presentation. I do have a couple of questions for you if you don’t mind.
I’ve been looking for black ash because that’s what a lot of the people in Eastern US and Canada use, my question is any ash can be pounded? How thick should the risers be and are the risers made from the larger growth ring. I live in NB Canada, have lots of ash trees but I don’t think, in fact for sure I really don’t know what a black ash looks like standing. Again, lots of ash trees,mostly white ash and green ash, I think.
Thanks again sir.

[@donaldporta]

any ash will work, just black ash separates easier use thicker for the risers

[@sassyalbatross2933]

I'm looking to add some color while I'm making mine, would a paint or a stain be better?

[@donaldporta]

I would use a stain, paint may come off with time. send me a picture when you finish--- I would love to see your finished pack!

[@sassyalbatross2933]

@@donaldporta I will definitely share when its done! Thanks 💜