size matters

[tomtom]

Actually, the Khamsin 62 is kinda hard to find. As a self proclamed cheap bastard, I went searching around for a good deal last month. MEC in Vancouver did not carry it nor did I find it in any of the shops within a block. REI only had it in a small.

I ended up buying it from a Seattle shop who had sent me a 15% off coupon in the mail. I haven't really used it yet so I can't give a review.

[mattp]

For lighter loads, I like my Arcteryx Khamshin. But when I"m going to carry a stove and tent, rock rack, and a couple days' food, I much prefer the McHale. The extra pount or two of pack weight more than makes up for itself when I'm putting even a moderate load in it.

[ 03-14-2002: Message edited by: mattp ]

[lizard_brain]

mattp - which Khamshin? I'm lookin' at the 30 and the 32. Over two pounds lighter than my Dana Big Horn. I like the Big Horn, but it's too big (a notch bigger than the Bomb Pack), and kinda heavy.

[ 03-14-2002: Message edited by: lizard brain ]

[Elvis]

I just bought the Khamsin 30 and love it. Only difference I could see with the 32 was the 32 had beefier waist belt. I wanted less so it didn't interfere with my harness.

[lizard_brain]

I see...I saw that thin belt on the 30, and it kind of worried me. But someone else pointed out that if you're carrying a light load, you won't need a hefty hipbelt anyway. I'm still a BIT leery of it, though.

[ 03-14-2002: Message edited by: lizard brain ]

[mattp]

Lizard -I don't remember the size number, but I could check when I go home. As to the belt, I agree that if you are carrying a light load it is not as important as it might be for a heavy load, and the thinner belt may be more acceptable. However, I generally hike the pack up so that the belt is completely above my hips rather than wrapping around the hips as so many salespeople seem to suggest, and even with the full on McHale waist belt I find the interference with my harness to be acceptable.

The issue may relate as much to the type of harness you wear as it does the type of waist strap on your pack. For mountaineering, I generally use a lighter harness that has no gear loops on it, but for rock climbing I wear a harness with gear loops that hang below rather than tilting out above the waist strap. And although these remain accessible, I tend to use them less because, particularly for those gear loops in back, I frequently find it clumsy to fumble around below the pack when reaching for gear. I do at times fumble with or have to unclip the pack-belt buckles when clipping/unclipping an anchor at my waist, so sometimes I will use the loop of the climbing rope that is my tie-in point as a belay loop, or when rappelling I will sometimes add an extra locking ‘biner at my waist and rappel off the second ‘biner in a chain. - Matt