Modifying an older Western Flyer?

[flitcraft]

I have one of the slingstrap Western Flyers, which I dearly love for medium length trips--around a week or so--but I can't use the slingstrap at all. Instead I use the Absolute Strap, which may be the world's most perfect strap. Still, there are lots of times when I'm going to be carrying my fully loaded WF for a while, and I'd dearly love to have it as a backpack.

So, any possibility it could be retrofitted with backpack straps? I'd be happy to take it into the showroom and I'm happy to pay the full cost of whatever a retrofit would run. But I find myself more and more wishing I'd waited on the WF till it turned into a full-fledged backpack...

[Darcy]

The full cost of a retrofit would pretty much be that of a whole new bag. It's a pretty major part of the bag, and very difficult to change. I would offer that we do get emails/calls from people who would *prefer* a sling strap, so you might be able to sell the bag on eBay or craigslist (and post a link here offering it for sale.)

[flitcraft]

Hmmm...bummer. I was really hoping that it would be possible to do that. I know I could try to sell it, but it has a couple of purely cosmetic spots on it that might weird out a potential buyer.

Well, here's hoping that the new Tristar is available before mid June, when I ship out for a five week long trip.