Karrimor Alpiniste 35+10 Review

Surely if you want "heritage" then something designed by Mike Parsons today has a lot more than something with "Karrimor" written on it today?

That's not to comment on the pack, just that if you want "heritage" I'm not really sure you get it with a badge.

Pete.

As OM point out, the lumbar padding positioning is not clever.

That aside, I wouldn't have anything to do with that evil fat b*stard Mike Ashley on principal.

In terms of heritage (if inc. made in UK) and rucksacks, we're left with Aiguille and not a lot else unfortunately.

Aiguille is in Stavewly BTW. Near the Hawkshead Brewery. Sedbergh - Kendal - Lancaster seems to be a little hotspot for either manufacturers UK/design offices or their distributers offices. I don't know if anyone else has noticed that.

I still miss the old E-Lancs site with their factory shop selling over-specced seconds and end of lines at ridiculously low prices. A gold guarantee, top of the range sack for less than their bottom of the range, cheapo sack! With the only "fault" being one extra row of bartacking on one webbing strap. I could cycle there in an hour too.

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

JOHN 

yes I still am in the design game, am testing a new product early October in Chamonix and if its all systems go, ( into production that is ) then I will have plenty to explain. ......and its NOT a rucsac. 

Mike     

I've just bought the new F-Form back Hot Rock 40 in "bluebird" aka turquoise...!

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/karrimor-hot-rock-40-backpack-792112?colcode=79211218 

Good technical backpack, broad shoulder straps, weighs in just under 1kg on my scales.  Tried Osprey Mutant, Lowe Alpine Crag Attack 42 and Peak Attack, Berghaus Arrete.  Wanted something sub 1kg and 40 litres.  Only the Berghaus and the KArrimor had wide enough straps to not dig into my neck.  The Karrimor Hot Rock seemed better designed - neater less flappy strapping - less likely to thwack you in the eye in the wind, or to snag on the rock.

NB The previous non F-Form model is still available, slightly lighter, with a different back system. 

Are we there yet??

while not entirely illiterate, it seems that my typing ability is somewhat compromised by an apparent inability on my part to push the keys in the correct order, and the inbuilt auto correct facilities determination to confound me at every opportunity ..