Its fair to say that my personal interest in woven Mexican Huarache footwear extends to everything woven. As far as I know despite all the technological advances in history, woven Huaraches just like woven baskets cannot be made by machine and have to be made by hand. In someways this makes basketry and Huarache weaving one of the highest forms of craft.
For more information on the craft of Mexican Huarache footwear please visit Huarache Blog.
Although basketry is one of the earliest forms of craft in the world, its unclear how long woven Basket Packs have existed for, but many old designs are still used in many countries around the world.
Some old paintings and prints help trace Basket Packs to 1400-1500’s.
Images via Wood Trekker: A Brief History of the Modern Backpack (Comments Section)
The Adirondack Pack Basket as it is known today is traditionally made from woven Black Ash. The Native Americans design was adopted by early settlers in the Northeast USA.
Photo Via Ralph Kylloe Rustic Design
Photos Via Kaufmann Mercantile
Some good images detailing the construction of an Adirondack Pack Basket.
Photos Via Etsy
The Katu from the Vietnamese highlands.
Photo Via Hill Tribe Art
Photo Via Folkbags
The woven Laotian Kammu pack.
Photo Via Antique Arts Asia
Thai fishing backpack basket.
The Pasiking in the Philippines also doubles up as a rain cape. For more information on this incredible crafted backpack please read a previous post titled Pasiking – A Traditional Ifugao Hunter Backpack. For information on rain capes read “Woven Palm Rain Capes – Sustainable, Handcrafted, Millenary Rain Wear“.
Only a talented craftsperson with many years experience can make a pack like this. Unfortunately because of low demand who knows how long this unique weaving knowledge will survive?
The traditional Sherpa Baskets from Nepal.
Photo Via Richard Tulloch’s LIFE ON THE ROAD
Notice how the T-Stick called Tokma is also used to prop up the loaded pack on rest breaks.
Photos Via HIMALAYAN EXPERIENCE and Abby’s Amazing Asian Adventure Blog
The Bakul Tambok from Borneo.
Photo Via ANTIQUES.COM
Asian Pack Baskets similar to the Gerla from Italy, which has roman origins where it was called a “Cista Cibaria”.
Photos Via Lombardia Beni Culturali and L’UOMO CON LA VALIGIA
In the northern region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia the Gerla is called zèi (pronounced gei) and it comes with a tripod base structure called a màmul o musse on which to rest the zèi when loading. There was also the Gerla di Testa, or Head Gerla.
Photos via the excellent L’UOMO CON LA VALIGIA
In northern Europe the Neverkont from Norway is made from woven birch bark.
Photos Via Digital Museum
Similar in design the Tuohikontti Pack Basket and the Tuohivirsut woven footwear come from Finland.
Photo Via Skofimus‘ Flickr Photostream
Photo Via tuohimuori.kuvat.fi
In Japan Basket Packs also have a long tradition. This one below is made from bamboo.
Photo Via Taketora
Notice how the straps are woven like Zori Sandals.
In central Europe woven packs have been traditionally used for Fruit or Mushroom picking. The photo below is of a Mosel vineyard in Germany in the 1940’s. In Germany word used for Pack Basket is Tragekorb.
Woven backpacks can also be purchased online as this Fruit or Mushroom Picking Pack from the USA.
Photos Via Kaufmann Mercantile
And Hybrid Back Packs for mushroom picking like this one from Italy.
Photo Via Red Rock
The Loring Pack Basket which is made with synthetic materials so that it won’t rot, mildew, stain, retain odor, or crack.
74 FOOTWEAR DESIGN CONSULTING 
Hi, I’d love to see some more information regarding these lovely ‘woven backpacks’:
You should be able to find more by searching for ‘Bakul Tambok’ but this brings up lots of other designs.
Cheers
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Interesting how adding the word Bakul to Tambok brings up so many more designs. Wonderful information, now I just need a little time to sit back and absorb it all. Thanks again
LOVED THIS!!!!!! thank you thank you. so inspiring.
Thank you, thank you 🙂
If I find out the name of that particular design I’ll let you know (I like it as it reminds me of modern hauler type designs I have seen), but thank you for the article it was very informative. I followed the external frame article to here and that was equally as informative, the most comprehensive article I have seen about external frame backpacks. It was great to learn so much. Thanks 🙂
Reblogged this on Paleotool's Weblog and commented:
Another reblog. Markus has done an excellent review of pack baskets here.
Thank you for this interesting collection. These baskets have long fascinated me and I included many in my book ‘Baskets in Europe‘ which you may not have seen.