REVIEW: Arc'teryx LEAF Khyber 80

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The Chaiber Pass (English: Khyber Pass) is located in the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan, connecting the Afghan capital Kabul with the Pakistani border city of Peshawar. At an altitude of 1,070m in the rugged mountains of the Spin Ghar range, one naturally wants to carry only as much as necessary. Hence the name of the Arc'teryx LEAF Khyber was born and aptly chosen, as this pack system has a very good weight/volume ratio. The Khyber is available in 50-liter and 80-liter versions. Martin presents the 80-liter version here.

Arc'teryx lists the Khyber 80 with 80 liters, which could be accurate when compared here - as seen in the pictures - with the Mystery Ranch SATL (60 liters). The weight is also the same for both packs, listed at 2.2 kilograms. This was confirmed by the scale as well.

The overall design is very simple - there are no MOLLE loops or other features typically found on military backpacks. This piece is made of 500D Cordura and comes from the Philippines.

The construction, as expected from Arc'teryx, is top-notch. All seams are strong, only the best materials are used, and despite the minimalist features, there is no sense that anything is missing at first glance. It's great that the Khyber doesn't become too "slouchy" with a light load, the compression straps on the sides keep the whole package compact.

Looking at the comparison pictures with the SATL, you can see that the Khyber still has room in the back to accommodate the additional 20 liters.

The Arc'teryx Khyber backpacks are actually the indirect successors of the Tango and Echo packs, with the Tango being based on the USMC ILBE Pack.

The backbone of any backpack is its carrying system. Here, Arc'teryx (pictured on the right) has used a 8mm composite plate held by two 22mm aluminum rods, similar to the Khard packs. The system is called C². It's interesting to see in the comparison image how Mystery Ranch has a completely different approach to back support.

The hip belt is nice and wide with the right amount of firmness - the straps are pulled back toward the rear. Again, there are no MOLLE loops for attaching pouches. The hip belt can be quickly released by opening the Velcro-attached center part and then removing the aluminum bars.

Important: There is no way to adjust the back length of the carrying system. The model presented here has an inconspicuous size tag with an "L" for Large. Since information about this is not available on the Arc'teryx website or from retailers, it's recommended to inquire about the size before making a purchase.

Potentially the only weakness of the Khyber is the shoulder straps. They are as wide as those on the Khard 45 + 60 and - for a backpack of this size - seem quite narrow. Unfortunately, a long-term comfort test with weight was not possible to assess the comfort of the straps, but since the hip belt transfers the load to the hips very well, the straps could work. Perhaps in the design, the thought was that the backpack would primarily be used with a plate carrier, making the width of the shoulder straps less critical.

A great feature is the quick release system on the shoulder straps. A pull cord is housed in the Fastex buckle, which securely opens the closure when pulled. The top half of the buckle is covered with elastic material.

Looking at the Khyber from the outside, there isn't much to see. On the front, there are elastic straps, as on the Khards, designed for lightweight gear such as a jacket. Above and below, there are flaps for insulated mats or similar gear.

The top flap can also be used with a light load to close the pack under the lid. Weight-saving measures were taken with the Fastex buckles where possible, using 20mm buckles where necessary. Otherwise, the standard 25mm buckles are used.

To securely load the Khyber, it features 3 handles: one in the middle at the top, and one on each side.

Since the pack doesn't have MOLLE loops, it has been equipped with narrow loops for attaching lighter gear.

The lid has a pocket both on the outside and inside, operated with a zipper. The interior is made of pack cloth material to save weight.

In the main compartment, you'll find... nothing. A very large main compartment - and that's it. Of course, not really. On the back, you can see the aluminum rods in their slots, with loops on the outside for further gear or pouch attachment to keep things organized.

Between the bars, there's also a hanging system for hydration bladders and the accompanying hose exits to the outside.

CONCLUSION: A lightweight in the 80-liter class - that's the best way to describe the Khyber 80. The backpack is elegantly simple and stands out with its timeless design. The only drawbacks are the narrow shoulder straps, and one might wish for some elastic outer pockets for water bottles, otherwise, the backpack lacks nothing.

You can get the Khyber 80 at TACWRK in Wolf, Crocodile, and Multicam. Price-wise, the model presented here in Crocodile is interesting - as you can get it for €375. The model in Wolf costs €500 and in Multicam a whopping €570.