The first external frame rucksack
News and Adventure from Glacier National Park
In 1887, Henry C. Merriam patented the first external frame rucksack. During the Civil War, Merriam was assigned command of the U.S. Colored Troops in Louisiana, and led them during the Siege of Port Hudson, as well as a strategically important attack on Confederate positions during the Battle of Fort Blakely in Alabama. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for making his “most gallant assault” during the battle, which was the last major conflict of the war. Though he was a colonel in the U.S. Army when he received the patent, Merriam retired as a major general in 1901. His innovative pack was made with drab duck canvas, which was attached to a light steel frame. In addition to two shoulder straps, the pack featured several leather straps that allowed an infantryman to attach his bedroll and canteen to the frame, instead of having them rest on his chest and hips. The most important feature, however, were the two hardwood rods that extended from the sides of the pack to leather pockets on a half-belt, which rested across the lower back and hips. This system allowed the pack to elevate off the back and shoulders, and thus transfer the weight of the load onto the hips. Though he tried in vain to sell his invention to the U.S. Army, he was only able to sell a few thousand packs to the New York National Guard, and the French and Austrian armies. To his lifelong dismay, the pack never caught on as expected. Here’s a U.S. Infantry soldier demonstrating the Meriam Pack:
You can read about the evolution of backpacks – from “Otzi the Iceman’s” wooden frame rucksack to Greg Lowe’s internal frame pack – in Ramble On: A History of Hiking.
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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.
Source: http://hikinginglacier.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-first-external-frame-rucksack.html
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