Khamsin 30

Nice, light, no frills bag. I have used this over the 2003 summer season and was pleased with the bag. I particularly like the shoulder straps, they are quite comfortable. I don't think this bag would be good for more than a day hike though since the hip belt is little more than a decoration. Also this bag has no water resistance at all so you have to either treat it, or accept that in reasonable rain the contents of the bag will get wet. I bought mine at rei on clearance and wouldn't reccomend paying list for sure. For my longer dayhikes/overnight/inclimate weather outings I use the dana bomb bag which is really quite nice.

I love this pack! Unfortunately Arc'teryx discontinued it along with their entire Khamsin line in 2003. It's a shame because none of their new packs approach the lightweight functionality of the Khamsins.

I've used this pack for over 50 day trips (hiking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, alpine climbing) in all seasons over the past year, and for two overnight mountaineering trips. The single aluminum stay allows you to get a custom fit and the hip belt works well for transferring the load to your lumbar and hips. I've comfortably carried 35-40 lbs with this pack. It's no less water resistant than any other pack since it's made of DWR-treated, PU-coated fabric. Water will come through the seams -- for this you should use a pack liner (I do) or pack cover.

Shockcord on the front is perfect for carrying crampons without a heavy crampon bag (or for snowshoes) and the ice axe holders allow you to remove an axe or tool without removing the pack. Two compression straps on the sides and one below the lid hold a rope, helmet, boots, sleeping pad, pickets, wands, or trekking poles. The single compartment with spindrift collar works perfectly with a trash compactor bag liner (waterproof, more durable than a trash bag, and white to see the contents of your pack). Sometimes I will remove its framesheet/stay and roll it up for use as a summit pack inside a larger pack. Fitting both climbing and bivy gear into this pack is a tight squeeze; for that I'd recommend the Khamsin 38 (also discontinued).

I would like to see something more durable than 330d Cordura on the bottom (it is a double layer though). Glissading tends to wear on it. The best thing about this pack? It only weighs two pounds.