ARC’TERYX KHARD 30 – MULTICAM

• Cost:    £££££ (£295) 
• Value for Money:  2/3
• Ease of use:  5
• Construction:          5
• Alliness:           4

  When it comes to kit, my go to brand list is small. One brand I’ve wanted to include for a long time but has always eluded me is Arc’teryx. 

  Arc’teryx for many of you are a world renowned civilian outdoor kit and clothing supplier. Some know they also have a Law Enforcement Armed Forces (LEAF) range.

  I’ve been in the market for a new daysack for a little while now and thanks to Edgar Brothers (edgarbrothers.com) and their ghost deals, I managed to secure myself a Khard 30 at almost half price!

  The Khard 30 is a 30 litre daysack made from 500D nylon Cordura® 6,6 balanced weave with silicon. It measures 560mm tall and weighs a cool 1.4kg empty. It’s a single compartment pack that is exposed by full U zip that can be top, side or full compartment opening. It has two side pouches are geared nicely to fit 3L hydration pouches and have routing channels inbuilt for the hydration tubes. It has a structured back panel formed by two removable aluminium rods and lightweight low profile straps on both the shoulder and waist. The shoulder straps also feature quick release buckles.

  The Khard 30 is PPE compatible by removing the aluminium rods so will work with body armour and helmets. It’s geared towards signallers, medics and assaulters and even has routing holes for all your comms cord needs. 

  Inside there is a plethora of Velcro and daisy chains. This is where the Khard comes into its own. You can 'modulise' this pack with a multitude of pouches available from various tactical suppliers. So if like me you’re and OCD freak the Khard is heaven.

  Now the first thing I noticed when I got my hands on the Khard was that its rigid. I mean it almost feels somewhere between 500D and 1000D nylon Cordura®. Even without anything inside it, it was true to form. Next it looks great. I hate poor strap admin and this bad boy has that covered. Velcro stays keep it tidy from top to bottom.

  So functionality. One thing I hate is having to pull everything out of my daysack to get something at the bottom. The U zip solves this problem. It allows you to access anything from the bottom to the top, either from the front or the side of the pack without digging deep or pulling it all out. Get it decked out and 'modulise' it with pouches on the inside and I can see this pack being a dream.

  However, it does have it’s let down’s. The first being the waist strap. If like me you don’t like a waist strap then its fine, but if you do then it’s a bit too light weight and I can see it being uncomfortable as it does ride high. That said, you can solve the comfort problem by adding on the hip pods that come with the larger model, the Khard/Assault 45.

  Now for the clincher. The biggest let down of all is the price. At nearly £300 it’s very high cost! Unfortunately all Arc’teryx LEAF gear is and not many people are willing to pay the price. But if you do decide to part with the money, Arc’teryx do guarantee their craftsmanship for life.

  That said I love this pack. Whether using it in an operational environment or just a day to day hike with a waterproof and your lunch inside, the functionality is second to none. Its rigid, looks great and although it doesn’t look it at first glance, is very comfortable. I’ve had this pack for about 3 weeks now and I just don’t want to put it down. I’m looking forward to seeing the punishment this pack will take.

 This Kit Pest Review was written by Dan. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you have any thoughts or comments related to this article then leave a comment! 

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