Arc’Teryx Khamsin 38 Backpack

Product Information

Name: Arc’Teryx Khamsin 38
Maker: Arc’Teryx
http://www.arcteryx.com
Year of manufacture: 1999-2000
Product Type: Compact, top-loading, lightweight rucksack-style backpack with frame-type suspension
Options: None available
MSRP ($US): $155
Ships with: Informational hangtag
Size tested: Tall (short and medium also available)
Documented features: Adjustable ice axe loops, fixed top pocket lid, four external compression straps, front chock cord, ski attachment loops, top lid daisy chain, Y-frame suspension, wand pocket
Stated volume of 2003-04 model (presumably a combination of the main compartment and top pocket): normal load--2,680 ci (44 L) extended load--3,050 ci (50 L)
Measured volume of 2000 model (main compartment): normal load--2,080 ci (34.2 L) extended load--2,310 ci (38 L); (top pocket): 230 ci (3.8 L); calculated maximum: 2,540 (42 L)
Stated weight of 2003-04 model: 2 lb 13 oz (1.3 kg)
Measured weight of 2000 model: 2 lb 8 oz (1.11 kg)

Tester Information

Tester: Rick Dreher
Email: redbike64(att)hotmail(dott)com
Male
Height: 6 ft (1.83 meters)
Weight: 175 lb (79 kg, 12.5 stones)
Torso length (using Gregory fitting jig): 19.5 in (49 cm)
Age: 50
Location: Northern California, USA
Years backpacking experience: 37
Backpacking skill level: Mid to advanced
Style of backpacking: Lightweight

Introduction

The Khamsin 38 (K38) is a climbers’ rucksack that I’ve adopted for use as a compact overnight backpack and big-capacity daypack. The Khamsin series are Canadian maker Arc’Teryx’s lightest, most streamlined backpacks. Khamsin packs range in capacity from 30 to 62 liters (1,800-3,800 ci), meaning there’s a Khamsin sized for all but expedition-like backpacking or climbing trips. Although the Khamsins are primarily attuned to the needs of climbers and backcountry skiers, backpackers seeking compact, robust, comfortable packs that offer full suspensions can find a lot to like within the series.

Product Packaging

The K38 shipped with an informational hangtag detailing pack statistics, uses and features, and giving sizing guidelines. There is little presented in the way of user guidelines

Design, Materials and Construction

The K38 is a single-compartment top-loading backpack with a short extension collar and a permanently attached top pocket-lid. The main compartment closes with drawstrings and a webbing load control strap. The compartment itself is unadorned, with no inner pocket, hydration sleeve or hydration hose port. The top pocket has a single zip opening and a key-keeper clip inside. There’s a webbing daisy chain sewn across the top pocket. The back of the main compartment has a zigzag bungee across it. There is a removable pair of hook-and-loop ice axe straps on the back and adjustable-length axe loops at the bottom. On each side are two load control straps and a ski carry strap. There’s a single “wand” pocket at the bottom of one side (the wearer’s right). This shallow pocket has an elastic top closure.

The removable Y-frame suspension is a shaped high-density polyethylene framesheet with two short fiberglass (?) stiffening rods and a single, removable stay made of relatively soft 6061 aluminum. Instead of using the typical rectangle of plastic, Arc’Teryx has cut down the framesheet to where it resembles the letter “Y”. I think it more resembles a black plastic pizza peel, but I don’t suppose that would sound right in a backpack brochure. The pack can be used without the 7.4 oz (210 g) frame assembly or just without the 1.4 oz (40 g) aluminum stay. The framesheet fits in a fabric pocket with a combination hook-and-loop strap and top flap closure to hold it in place.

The pack is fashioned from no fewer than six different fabrics. The main compartment comprises Spectra-grid rip-stop nylon, lighter-weight rip-stop nylon, heavier coated nylon packcloth and Hypalon strap anchors. Shoulder straps, the backpanel, the lumbar pad and the “Squashpod” hip pads are formed from Evazote 50 (closed cell) foam. The upper back is padded with open-cell foam covered with wicking mesh fabric. The hip belt is a combination of nylon mesh, foam and webbing, the intent being to put the padding only where needed to minimize bulk and weight and maximize ventilation when compared to a fully padded belt. The shoulder straps are padded but cut quite narrow compared to typical packs, again, minimizing weight and bulk.

Arc’teryx is to be commended for their craftsmanship there in beautiful B.C., Canada. A piece of sewn gear is either done right or not, and the K38 is certainly done right—with no missed or irregular stitches, lose threads, exposed edges and the like. This pack seems to have an extra luster of quality and care, as evidenced by the heavy thread, strategic bar tacking, hell-for-stout strap anchors and a host of intangibles that bespeak an exceptional piece of gear.

Tracking the Changes

The test model is (I believe) a 1999-2000 model. The newest 2003-04 model uses different main compartment fabrics, has an interchangeable waist belt, and has a hydration hose holder. I do not know whether pack sizing has actually changed, but the stated volume and weight are both greater than my measured values. Generally speaking, an interchangeable waist belt system will be more complex and heavier than a fixed, sewn-in one. It’s not possible to conclude whether this accounts for the weight gain or even if the newest weights are accurate.

Fitting

Arc’teryx sizes their packs short, medium and tall. This approach can be a boon to folks having long torsos but not a linebacker’s physique. My tall K38 fits me well, although the waist belt is longer than I need. Now that Arc’teryx has made this model’s belt interchangeable, I’ve got little doubt I could get a perfect fit there as well. I’ve trimmed a significant length off of the webbing belt ends on mine, and the side wings are longer than necessary. Side control straps pull the bag’s bottom corners outward and forward, towards the hip belt.

The aluminum stay gives the backpanel its form-filling S-shape, and can be bent for a better fit. This is a lot harder than it sounds, even with a single-stay pack like the K38. I find it’s most effective to bend the panel assembly out of the pack, but the shape doesn’t necessarily match up once the panel is back in its pocket in the pack. Practice eventually makes perfect—more or less.

The K38 bag is of the tall-and-slender school of climbing-type packs. I find this general pack style provides the best weight handling as well as freedom of movement. They’re a little pickier to pack than a short-and-fat backpack, though, and should you need to fetch something from near the bottom you’ll have to dump the contents to do so, or dig in the dark.

The shoulder straps fit me well, as evidenced by my not needing to cinch the sternum strap to keep them on my shoulders. The pack isn’t especially tall, not extending far above shoulder height, so the load lifter straps meet the top of the packbag at a modest angle and don’t do a great deal of pulling a load inward as they do with a correctly fitting taller pack. Still, they do help to limit the pack’s free movement (load sway).

A 38/42-Liter (2,300-2,550 ci) Load

I’ll tell you what I carry in the K38, but first want to relate how I managed it. Relying on a pack as small as the K38 for unsupported overnight trips required me to rethink my gear and supplies. I suffered from packer’s laziness. Maybe you’ve been afflicted too? Owning typical large packs with robust suspensions lulls us into dumping more, and still more equipment and supplies in until hey--it’s full. If you don’t get a hernia hoisting it on in your living room you’re ready to hit the trail! If, on the other hand, we’re interested in dropping a chunk of that load, selecting a smaller pack is an interesting way to force ourselves to make do with less. (Think of it as Procrustes’ bed for backpackers.) A direct benefit is that the pack itself will weigh less than that container ship of a pack. My K38 weighs four or five pounds (two kilos) less than the largest, heaviest pack I’ve owned. That’s a lot of shed weight right there.

Actual capacity becomes an obsession as pack sizes shrink. How do I know my K38 really is 38+4 liters (2,300+250 ci)? I measured it by lining the poor thing with a garbage bag and filled it with water--first just the main compartment without the extension, then filling the extension collar to the point where I could just cinch it shut. I estimated top pocket volume by stuffing it with a full one-gallon zip-lock baggie. There aren’t many packs in the ol’ gear closet that I’d trust to hold 84 pounds (38 kg) of water but Arc’teryx made the K38 stout enough to shrug off this abuse. I confess I didn’t try to wear the thing in that state.

I bought the K38 simply as a large-capacity daypack and small suitcase for travel, but I liked it enough that I decided to also try it for overnight trips. Before this was going to happen I first had to dramatically shrink my load, beginning with shelter and sleeping bag. A tarp, a tarp-tent and a hammock will all work in the K38. Next, a compact sleeping bag—a bulky bag would devour most of the K38’s space by itself. I’ve settled on carrying a Western Mountaineering Ultralight, and note that there are many bags and quilts available that would take significantly less space than even this choice.

Sleeping pad. My sleeping pad has to go on back, held in place by the bungee cord. This is no problem with my Therm-a-Rest pad but my foam hammock pad really stretches the bungee for all it’s worth. That pad is light but bulky, and I have to watch out for branches and rock when carrying it back there because I’ve punctured it on brush more than once.

Clothing. Compact clothing comes next; thick fleece jackets and bulky camp shoes have to stay behind. I take compact raingear, a down or synthetic fiberfill (compressible) sweater or vest, convertible trail pants/shorts, a thin wind jackets and a midweight zip-t-shirt. I sometimes take water mocs and usually spare socks, a couple of bandanas, gloves, a fleece beanie and a small camp towel.

Kitchen. For the kitchen I limit myself to single-pot cooking using a compact canister stove. The MSR Titan kettle is a good choice; my Primus Alpine Ti stove and some kitchen sundries fit inside. The Snow Peak 110g canisters are the smallest available and hold ample fuel for two- or three-night solo trips. Alcohol stove fans will feel right at home.

Food and toys. Bulky food items generally won’t fit, so the menu needs to be carefully scrutinized to keep them out (ta-ta French bread). I’ve fit three day’s worth of food into the K38; I think with further gear tweaking I might conceivably carry as much as five. A bear canister, however, doesn’t fit. Collapsible water containers for trail and camp take up minimal space, and chemical water treatment can avoid the bulk of a filter, although a small filter will work too. A compact 35mm P&S or small digital can come along, as can compact binoculars or a small radio. I strap my GPS to the left shoulder strap, so it’s not taking up any pack space.

Water for the trail can go into the main compartment or the top pocket, or it can be strapped to the top daisy chain. A small bicycle bottle fits in the wand pocket but I usually keep trail snacks and sundry items there, such as sunscreen. I can reach the pocket with the pack on, a big plus. I leave my wand home in the care of my daughter.

Generally speaking, I pack sleeping bag first; shelter and clothing next; food, kitchen and sundries next and, if I’m keeping it inside, water in the extension collar area. Snacks, first aid kit, bug juice and small essential gear go in the top pocket. The camera goes in its own pouch at the base of a shoulder strap. If I don’t need my trekking poles for some reason, they go in the ice axe holders.

On the Trail

Based on fit and load control, the K38 is a hit. The load is held close to the body and very much in control. A typical starting load for a two-night trip is around 25 pounds (11.4 kg) with food and water. While I’ve never experienced the fabled “disappearing load” I can say that the K38, packed correctly, will handle a modest to moderate load with great comfort and control. The pack’s narrow profile means it doesn’t interfere with my arms (I use trekking poles) and lets me squeeze through narrow passages. If I try to get through walking sideways, I have to mind the sleeping pad strapped to the back.

The narrow shoulder straps and hybrid hip belt are comfortable, as is the padded back panel and lumber pad. Like every internal frame pack I’ve owned, my back gets sweaty, but the mesh upper back-panel fabric and selective use of open-cell foam help by wicking away moisture.

Over the course of a long trail day, there’s a fly in the fit ointment, which is that the K38 sometime feels as though it’s digging into my lower back. This seems related to how the stay is bent; removing the framesheet and adjusting the bend will usually reduce the problem (I don’t find that I can do this effectively when it’s still in the pack). I suspect I’m at the lower end of the size range for the tall pack.

Adding by Subtracting

The K38 offers a few weight-reduction possibilities. I trimmed off quite a bit of the waist belt webbing, and the ice axe straps can be removed and remounted as needed. Other straps, such as the top pocket closure straps and waist belt control straps, could be trimmed too, but I generally don’t bother for the sake of a few grams. Most tempting is the framesheet assembly, which weighs 7.4 oz (210 g). If I’m day-tripping and only carrying clothing, water and a few gear items, there’s no particular need for the frame. As weight goes up much past 10 or 12 pounds (4.5-5.5 kg) the lack of the frame becomes noticeable. The framesheet without the stay is generally more comfortable than with, until I approach my target maximum load of 25 pounds (11.4 kg). The stay weight itself is negligible, taking it out seems to allow the pack to move more in concert with my back.

To sum up, for light loads up to, say, 11 lb (5 kg), try removing the framesheet entirely. For moderate loads up to perhaps 20 lb (9 kg) try removing the stay only. Heavier loads seem to require all the bits to be in place.

Wear and Tear

The K38 seems robust; there have been no failures and little cosmetic wear that I can spot. There’s no evidence that the strap and back pad foam has permanently compressed, folded or decomposed. The lone zipper works fine, the elastic on the wand pocket and the bungee cord are still springy, the buckles and the toggle closures all work.

Suggested Revisions

Human nature requires that I try to improve upon this great little pack. Arc’Teryx has revised the fabrics and waist belt since I bought mine, and I can’t comment on either change. They added a drinking water hose clip but evidently not a hose port, which I will certainly recommend they do. An inside hydration sleeve is always appreciated as well. I’d swap the single wand pocket for a pair of larger mesh pockets on either side (as large as the compression strap scheme allows for). Finally, I’d bump up the stay from 6000- to 7000-series aluminum to make it lighter and more responsive (springy) and I’d make the top pocket removable.

Brief Backpacking Bio

I learned camping and hiking in Boy Scouts, tramping the Washington Cascade foothills (lugging canvas pup tents, Trapper Nelson and BSA aluminum-canvas backpacks, kapok sleeping bags and always an axe). From these beginnings I eventually learned backpacking as a singular pursuit and found a home away from home in the Cascades and Olympics. Today, living in northern California most of my hiking is in the Sierra Nevada, the trips ranging from overnight to week-long excursions. I’ve been fairly successful shedding pounds and ounces from my pack the last three or four years. I’ve been doing this for several reasons: traveling easier and farther, freeing myself from as many trappings as I’m comfortable discarding, and extending the duration of my backpacking career. My total pack weight for three-day summer excursions, including food and water, is now roughly 25 pounds (12.5 kg), and a recent eight-day trip starting weight was a bit over 30 (14 kg).

RTD 04.13.04