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Karrimor Boma 45+10
Tested
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Price: £140.00
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Weight: 2,550 grammes (men's
large)
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Features:
KS-N210-hypalon fabric, SuperCool back system with Fformat
internal frame mat, S-shaped harness, padded hip-belt and
harness, three-point haul system, wings with gear loops, YKK
Splash Guard zips, two lid pockets, one with key clip, wand
pockets with ski guides, EES - Emergency Equipment Stash
(pocket on the back), expanding flap, side entry, side
compression straps, rope strap under lid, twin ice axe
straps. Women's 30 + 10 version also available.
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As tough as old boots, or an inflatable dinghy
Heavy because of the mad fabric.
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The Concept It's hard to know where Karrimor was coming from
with the Boma. It's pronounced 'Bomber' by the way, and because our
test pack, which we've had since last August is a pre-produciton
unit, it actually says 'Bomber' on it, which is very cool. That name
was changed for production models, but it pretty much says it all.
The Boma is aimed at being the butchest, most heavy duty technical
climbing pack out there.
It does that by being made mainly of a fabric called Hypalon. It's
a tough, matt black rubbery material that, no kidding, is used to
make Zodiac inflatables and is massively strong and abrasion
resistant. It's ideal for dragging and hauling over abrasive rock, though
bear in mind that the back system, hip-belt and shoulder straps are
all conventional items borrowed from the Alpiniste range.
Here's an alternative theory. Hardly anyone really needs that
level of toughness in a pack, but the matt, black, post-apocalyptic
finish is the last word in macho chic and will appeal to outdoor
fashion victims everywhere. Theory partially confirmed by a
non-climbing mate who took one look at the Boma's butch backside and
promptly bought one for himself.
Features Well, there's the fabric, and the fabric. Otherwise
the Boma is very much a recognisable first cousin of Karrimor's
classic Alpiniste packs. It gets, for example, the simple SuperCool
reticulated-foam back system with removable, stiffened Fformat bivvy
pad, extendible lid, compression straps, wand pockets, hip-belt with
gear loops etc.
Two features we liked though were the big pocket running down the
back of the sac, intended for snow shovels and the like, but equally
adept at handling baguettes or waterproofs, and the side access pocket
that lets you delve into the entrails of the sac without having to
open the lid. One thing we'd change for winter use would be the
fiddly upper ice axe straps, chuck 'em and replace with easy to use
shock cord, as used by Karrimor on its other technical sacs.
In Action There's no getting away from it, the Boma weighs a
ton. The Alpine Lite, which is the same 45 plus 10 configuration tips
the scales at 1,600 grammes, that's almost a kilo lighter. You could
have a Alpiniste S 60 plus 15 for 200 grammes less and while the S 45+10
weighs the same as the 60+15, you have to be brutal and say that it
too is due for a diet.
Two and a half kilos is an awful lot for a 45-liter pack, even an
extendible one. So if that's the price you pay, what are the
benefits. Well, toughness for one, we've not made a dent in the
Boma's Hypalon armour in six months of use, then again we haven't
been hauling it up big walls, but we're prepared to believe that it's
incredibly tough. Next the fabric itself is waterproof, while the
seams aren't taped, short of us diving into a river, the contents have stayed resolutely dry. Which is nice, particularly in the UK.
Otherwise it carries and functions like an Alpiniste, which means
it's a narrow, techical sac with a simple but reasonably effective
back system. The internal stiffness comes from the removable,
malleable foam fformat with built-in metal frame, which is never
going to be as supportive as a more sophisticated arrangement when
loads get really heavy, but is bearable thanks to the padding and
hugs the back for excellent stability in climbing and scrambling
situations.
The top extension is handy, though as with all narrow technical
packs, you need to think about what to carry up high - sometimes it's
better to repack than screw up your balance. The gear loops are handy
too and we love the side access zip - yes, we always leave the wrong
thing at the bottom of the sac too - and the big back pocket.
We've left the worst till last though, truth is that the Boma
absolutely reeks of rubber. Honestly, if it were any bigger you could
fit a door to it and open up a fetish club. Sharing a tent with it
is, erm, less than pleasant, and climbing and walking partners wear a
permanently wrinkled nose in its presence. We thought the odour might
fade, but it remains as bad as the day it first arrived at OM Towers
and of course, on the hill it follows you around as if it were
attached to your back...
In a sense it doesn't really matter what we say, there's little
justification for the Boma in most people's lives, it's simply too
heavy and too butch. But - and it's a big but - if you don't mind the
weight and want a technical sac that performs like an Alpiniste, but
promises to last a lot longer when rubbed against rocks and will, in
normal use, keep its contents reassuringly dry, then this is the
cutest puppy in the litter.
It'll also appeal to gearfreakistas - new word, combination of
'fashionista' and gear freak - who will swoon at the matt black
butchness of it all, as well as the smell no doubt. And here's a
thought, fall off a cliff and the pack will almost certainly survive
the experience better than you.
In all honestly, we like it in the way you might like a Land Rover
in the middle of London or the idea of going fishing with a bazooka,
but unless you're really hardcore, there are few genuine
justifications for buying a Boma. There are several tough, durable,
technical packs on the market that weigh a whole lot less.
On the other hand, no one's having our's - just stand back and
sniff the rubber.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time:A
technical climbing pack made from the same fabric as zodiac
inflatable launches, so it's very tough, very water
resistant but unfortunately very heavy as well. Really
there's no justification for buying one and the smell of
rubber is nose-shrivellingly bad, but it looks great and
performs like an Alpiniste, so while there's no real
practical reason to own one, it's a bit of an objet
d'outdoors art.
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