A functional new addition to our Ray-Way Backpack Kit, we are introducing a zippered pocket with optional storm flap, for your small items that need to be handy yet secure.

In early 2007, while I was trekking and climbing solo in the Andes, I seemed to always be searching in the main body of my pack for smaller items like sunscreen, dark glasses, and small snacks. I wished I had some kind of secure zippered pocket, accessible from the outside of the pack to hold these often-used items.

When I returned home from the Andes and began preparing for my Himalaya trek, Jenny and I designed a small, secure but unobtrusive zippered pocket on the front of my Ray-Way backpack, just above the front mesh pocket. In short order, Jenny sewed the zippered pocket onto my pack.

During my one-month trek to Everest Base Camp, I was extremely pleased with how well this pocket worked. I could get to my things right away, without having to dig into the pack for them. I knew right where my dark glasses were, or sunscreen, and could access them quickly. And I knew that with the zipper, these items were secure.

I realized right away that this would make a great addition to our Ray-Way Backpack Kit.

This kit can be sewn into an existing, finished Ray-Way Backpack, much like the Closure Kit, or it can be purchased along with a Backpack Kit and installed during the pack construction. Weight of the finished pocket: four-tenths of an ounce. The optional storm flap adds just under one-tenth of an ounce.

The Zipper Pocket Kit contains zipper, the pocket fabric, the storm flap fabric, and of course our excellent instructions with illustrations. We recommend a zipper foot attachment for your sewing machine for sewing this add-on. The project is fairly simple, and in the process you will learn how to do a professional job of installing a zipper. This skill will be handy for sewing some of our future kits, like the insulated jacket.

The Ray-Way Backpack Pocket Kit is listed on our Order Form underneath the Backpack Kit. And we have our reduced our minimum on the Order Form to enable customers to buy only the Pocket Kit.

Like the Backpack itself, the pocket is not waterproof. The zipper is on the outside of the pack, exposed to the elements. The pocket, made of silicone-nylon, is protected inside the pack, but like the pack, the seams are not waterproof. So if you will be hiking in a wet environment you might want to sew on the optional storm flap. This will help shield the zipper and shed rain or snow. The storm flap will not make the pocket waterproof, but it will make it much more weather resistant.

We have used white silicone-nylon for the pocket fabric, so that the contents of the pocket are somewhat visible from the inside of the pack. For example, looking into the pack, you can see your keys are secure inside the pocket. For the optional storm flap we have used gray silicone-nylon.

We think you'll enjoy making this add-on to your Ray-Way Backpack. And we feel that learning how to install a pocket zipper is an excellent addition to your sewing skills. Most of all, we think you'll love this handy pocket!