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Arc'teryx Khamski Backpack - 2500-2870cu in

Arc'teryx Khamski Backpack - 2500-2870cu in description

The Arc'teryx Khamski Pack is a lightweight technical pack made for out-of-bounds skiing and day touring. A favorite of professional patrollers, the Khamski is complete with an external shovel pocket, quick-release ski attachments, and probe holder. The fixed top lid has a map pocket and compression straps to keep your load under control. WaterTight zips and superpack fabric battle the elements as you make your way up and down steep slopes. Arc'teryx uses aluminum frame stays and a HDPE framesheet for ultimate stability while traversing sketchy terrain and the Y-Frame suspension is derived from their long haul packs for a comfortable fit when fully loaded. Contrasting zipper pulls makes it easier to find your gear in an emergency. *Available for US shipment only.

Bottom Line: Quality Arc'teryx construction and innovative design mate to create a professional level pack.

This pack is typical for an ArcTeryx product super high quality. The fit and load carrying ability of the Khamski is nothing short of amazing. The Stretch Woven Thermo Molded back panel wicks moisture better than any other backpack I have ever used. However, this pack lacks a few features I really enjoy such as rear access and a diagonal ski carry.

First of all, the materials and workmanship of this pack are among the finest. Arc'teryx must be commanded for that. I find this pack very well designed, originally targeted for skiing, but very versatile and multi-use, can be used for light backpacking and climbing. Other reviewers mentioned that some features are missing. Indeed, this pack is rather minimalist (hence very light) but I find that there are enough pockets (main, kangaroo, outer pouch, top lid, map pocket). Diagonal ski carrying is really a big miss. My biggest complaint is regarding the shoulder straps and hipbelt. The fit and load carrying capability is indeed amazing. However the straps and hipbelt are not as heavily padded as other comparable sized packs (for example Arc'teryx M40 or RT45). And the volume of the Khamski is huge, more than the 43L of the specs actually. The hipbelt is almost only fabric! Yet it performs better than competition. I would give this pack five stars if the shoulder straps and hipbelt were more padded.