New Karrimor Packs For 2002

It's not often you actually get to meet the guys behind the gear, but the other week we were treated to an audience with Karrimor's rucksack designer Larry 'O' Olmsted and the 2002 range of Karrimor packs. Please bear in mind that this stuff won't be in the shops until February or March next year.

From California to Accrington? For the sake of adjustable back systems? What was he thinking of?

And if you're thinking that Larry's name doesn't sound terribly British, then you'd be right. The man who's been breathing new life into the 'big K' pack range actually hails from California and reached the sunny moors of Accrington via a background in pack machining and an outdoor design course.

Swapping California for rainy Lancashire? Some mishtake shurely, but then he seems pretty happy in the northern murk. Working closely with Karrimor's veteran outdoor hardman, John North, Larry's been tweaking and designing away with some interesting results.

The notch in this shoulder strap is there to accommodate your clavicle

The interesting looking and capable Hydro hydration system-based sacs are his babies, and very nice they are too, but just as important are the small tweaks and improvements aimed at making next year's larger sacks both more comfortable and more stable.There's a whole list of improvements pretty much across the range, but the most notable are:

• clavicle notch cut into the main shoulder straps to accommodate the protruding collar bone - have a feel, it sticks out
• compression system linked directly into hip belt for stability
• non water-retaining foam that won't er, retain water, or compress completely
• redesigned hip-belts with stiffer foam and stiff plastic plate construction (linked into compression system.
• Lighter fabrics

Independence 60-100

Independence goes hard core for 2002 cop the butch daisy chains...

Karrimor's top of the range big expedition baby goes harder core for 2002 after complaints that it was too close to its Jaguar sibling. On top of the general mods listed above, clavicle notches and all, the big black patch on the back of the pack, is a highly abrasion resistant Hyperlon fabric for resistance to crampons, axes and bears.

There are new heavy duty daisy chains that stand out so they're easier to clip or hook with gloved hands. Then one side of the pack houses a hydration system complete with insulated drinking tube for use in cold conditions, though the main problem when the going gets really frigid, may be keeping the whole caboodle from turning into a giant ice pop. Remember them?

Other refinements include a lengthening of the side access zip for quicker entry to the 60-litre main compartment and there's still the classic SA back system and a 40-litre extension.

Jaguar 40

Jaguar 40 - aimed at weekenders who need support but not interstate capacity

An interesting one this, inspired by the car makers - maybe not - Karrimor has produced its smallest ever Jaguar as a sort of crossover between weekend day sacks and the heavier backpacking models.

It's aimed at weeekend backpackers who don't need a but capacity load carrier but still need a decent, comfortable load carrier. The centre-zip opening pocket on the back might look modest, but it will take Black Diamond's biggest snow shovel without hiccupping. Plus the lid can be extended to take in an extra 15 litres, upping the overall capacity to a respectable 55 litres.

All the standard refinements are carried though into the Cougar packs as well, which, as with the Jaguar and Independence range, locks the load supporting staves directly into the hip belt for more effective load transfer and stability. It's part of an overall strategy of spreading the load evenly across the back, says Larry, rather than just concentrating on hips and shoulders.

Solitude

Larry alone with Solitude what you don't see is the full zip-away SA back system

Most travel packs are boxy, ugly, heavy things that you can barely imagine carrying through an airport, let alone on a trek. The new Solitude is actually based much more closely on a tapered, rucksack-style shape, much like the MacPac travel sacks.

The full SA back-system is zip-away, but otherwise pretty much straight off a rucksack, and unlike last year's Globals, which weighed a ton (though they've been on a diet for 2002), the Solitude is respectively light. Looks like pack you could use for easy travel, but still drag out on the Inca Trail or Everest Base Camp trek.

Smaller Stuff

Fluid Hydration sacks in 18- and 28-litre sizes. Neat mesh belt pockets and more

The sort of interesting ideas that began with the Hydro range have continued with a new range of sacks under the 'Fluid' umbrella. They're similar to their predecessors, but also have what Larry calls 'wet/dry' pockets - ie: there's an external pocket for the wet stuff and a water-resistant one for your dry clothes.

The Fluids also cop a clavicle notch in the shoulder straps and insulated bladder compartment and mesh belt pockets for fast access to your choccies. Looking neat.

There are some other refinements as well. The Marathon and Victory sacks both lose a little weight and there's a new Marathon 25 race sack for shorter events where the 35-litre standard version is too big. It also gets a bigger side pocket to house a hydration bladder

Technical Sacks

Poor pic, nice sack - the new minimalist AlpineLite 30 - for strap haters

The classic line of Alpiniste and Hot technical sacks marches on, but again with improvements.

The Alpinistes get bigger front pockets, large ice tool tubes for ease of stashing and a refined back system that while it still uses the fformat and Wind Tunnel basics, now has a cutaway at the coccyx for greater comfort when load hauling.

The one new sack in the range is a minimalist AlpineLite 30, an ultra-clean, simple, small capacity winter day sack developed in response to the needs of instructors at Plas y Brenin.

Last but not least, the new Marathon 25 race sack

So there you have it, thanks to Larry and John North for their time and patience.

Karrimor web site