I'm considering buying a karrimor Independence 60-100 rucsac - or the military equivalent Sabre 85-130 but as I'm 6'5" and have a back length from nape to top of hips of 60cm - I'm unsure if the SA Supercool system will fit me. I cannot try these on before buy because only sold by mail order. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.
Chris

Posting twice probably wasn't the best idea CJC as it will wind some people up...but I see from your member ID that you're new, so welcome :o)

Anyway, not being a tall man I can't answer your question directly but as everyone - even with the same height - is a different shape the best thing is to send for it and return it if it's not right for you. Only YOU can say if a specific item fits YOU.

HTH

CJC,

I'm also 6'5" (although I have relatively short legs or a long back). I can't say I've ever tried the ones you've suggested although my first sack was a Karrimor (from way back yonder).

Firstly I'd suggest you don't buy a sack without trying it- but I guess you already know that.

I had to shop around a lot to find a sack that fitted me. From the looks of it I'm guessing you want a really big one- I did consider the ones you mentioned but couldn't find any and that for me ruled them out.

However ones I'd try would be Osprey Crescent (really comfortable but maybe too many features- but its the one I went for- large harness size of course), MacPac Glissade (probably would have got it but couldn't get harness size four and three was too small). Lowe alpine harnesses were also large enough but the sack was more basic than I wanted (I seem to recall). I'd love to hav got one of the Arc'teryx Boras but there weren't many in the country at the time and I'd have had to have sold a kidney.

That's some of my experience from having gone through the same process- hope its useful although it doesn't answer your question- but I'd think long and hard about buying blind for a big rucksack

Maxwell, Hi. Thanks for the response, and two questions:
1. So which pack did you end up buying
2. What is an Arc'teryx Boras and can you rember which model? Never heard of this brand?
Regards,
Chris

1)The Osprey Crescent (the model that's out now is slightly smaller than the one I got but its great). They aren't cheap but the Bora by Arc'teryx is stratospherically expensive but very nice (FYI Arc'teryx is a canadian brand which produce they're stuff all in canada which makes them very expensive- but their designs and product quality is without equal).

It all depends what you want to spend and what works for one person may not work for another- remember a big sack will normally entaila big load- so if hte fit is not right you are heading for a serious amount of pain.

I'm guessing you've found a deal on the Karimors- but a bargain isn't a bargain if it doesn't fit and you are gambling without trying. I'm assuming this is why you are so keen on them.

Personally I don't like sacks that are designed to extend like the ones you mention but maybe you do.

The secret of course is to find the right harness size for our height and I found it wasn't easy- involved e-mails to New Zealand and Graham Thompson at trail for opinions and stock checks. I'd advise getting down the shops and trying them all on. And you might also want to ask yourself if you need the large carrying capacity when a smaller one might do (but you may well need it).