Back Sack (3.5e Equipment)
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This is a piece of adventuring gear that is particularly useful for warriors or anyone that needs both hands sometimes (like anybody climbing a wall or hanging upside down) or likes to carry a shield in the "back slung" position.
This piece of mundane gear is essentially a large leather and well made satchel that is designed to ride on either hip (left or right - preferably below or behind the handle of any weapon on the hip or belt line) or with the loop behind ones neck and the belt continuing over the shoulders with the leather straps on either side which places the satchel near the base of the spine.
When constructed, it is first made of a large and longer then normal good quality leather belt that is at least 2 or 2 1/2 inches wide (but can be wider depending on preference) that is stitched together to make a loop with the ends overlapping, then triple stitched together. The stitched area on the "belt" is the bottom of the satchel. Then two (or three, if you wish a divider in the satchel) pieces of leather (same quality as before) are used to create the walls of the satchel by stitching them to the belt with a shorter piece of leather in the front of the satchel and a longer one in the back of the satchel so that when it is finished it makes a cover that flips over the satchel and secures near the bottom of the front piece of leather near the bottom of the belt which makes a good rain cover for the back sack.
It is also common to put several pouches (belt pouch sized) on the outside of the front shorter piece of leather or sides of the belt and depending on the size of the creature the back sack is made for (3 pouches for small, 4 for medium or 5 for large sized creatures) but is not necessary. Other options that can be added during construction are leather ties or buckles on the top of the rain flap (for securing a folded cloak or other gear) or on the bottom of the satchel (to secure a bedroll) with knife sheathes included in either the rain flap (inside or outside) of the satchel or included on the belt. This item MUST be specifically made for the wearer or there are problems with placement of the satchel unless the person using another persons back sack is the same size as the person it was made for. To be honest the customization options for this item are near endless and entirely at the option of the person it is made for but can make the costs to create the item more also.
The net result of this construction when finished is a large satchel with several pouches that has half the carrying capacity of a regular back pack but costs 1 1/2 (or 2 times with options) what a back pack would (since it takes the combined efforts of a leather worker and tailor or seamstress) to make and has decided advantages over the back pack. First, this is a perfect item for anyone who likes to keep their hands free and does not impair movement when being worn with weapons, shields or armor. Second, while hanging upside down the satchel flips from the lower spine area to the high back or head/neck area which means the satchel is always upright thereby negating the chances of anything being lost out of it. Third, if done correctly, things inside the satchel are always accessible to the person wearing the back sack. Fourth, anyone who wishes too may sit down or stand up while wearing the back sack and doesn't need to take it off to do either, so it is always with you.
Cost: 3 gp; Weight: 1 lb; Carrying capactiy: 50 lb.
Authors note: I originally got this idea from my wife's purse and continued on with the idea using my skills gained as a apprentice leather worker to a master craftsman when I was a child. This idea works in real life!! Submitted by WarSprite.
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