As I continue my indoor odyssey I pulled this multi-coloured delight out of the cupboard to play with. It’s an old Karrimor Kimmsack. You can still buy it today, it’s called an OMM Classic. Much refined, with better features and adaptability, but essentially the same pack.
I was walking about the house wearing the KIMM stuffed with kit and it was very good indeed, I had forgotten how much kit it’ll take. It’s kind of retired these days as it’s irreplaceably purple, but it’s great for overnighters so I think I’ll take out out for a careful retro spin.
It’s very light at 480g, having no back padding accounts for a big slice of that. But it still has zipped hip-fin pockets, lid and mesh pockets, and a compression system. Years ahead of its time, and like the Alpinistes, still a benchmark.
Other indoor delights include the telly. I was watching Axe Men, it’s a reality telly programme following the fortunes of loggers in Oregon in the US. I like it as it reminds me of my days as an apprentice, but with trees instead of pipes, chainsaws instead of stilsons, but the same physical comedy and swearing. It’s set in some beautiful country and I kept wanting to be wandering along one of those forest roads looking at the tops of the clouds and tree covered peaks far below.
Then there’s Quincy, The Professionals, The Sweeney and more. Being indoors is like being in the ’70s it appears.
Hey, I’ve still got one of those too! :))
Mine’s green and dates from the late 80s. Judging by the closure strap I think the purple must have come a little later.
I’ve almost parted with it once or twice but it just seems a bit too good….
So you’re still stuck indoors then? you can tell it’s been too long when you start wearing your rucksack to watch the telly….! ;O)
hehe. “yes darling, I need the compass in the belt pocket to find the bathroom”…
Question re OMM. I originally found your blog months ago when I was trying to buy a latest Villain (we chatted & reminisced about the 45+10 Alpiniste).. I have approached several shops to supply me one and they have not been able to due to supply problems. They are OMM recommended stockists.
Don’t suppose you can get a ‘from the horses mouth’ reason for this from OMM? Or better still tell me a merchant who does have new stock of the later models…
All the best, PTC!
Aye Matt, this one is from ’95. Just a couple of years away from the end of the road for Karrimor really.
Keep yours for a rainy day :o)
hehe. “yes darling, I need the compass in the belt pocket to find the bathroom”…
Hi PTC,
Question re OMM. I originally found your blog months ago when I was trying to buy a latest Villain (we chatted & reminisced about the 45+10 Alpiniste).. I have approached several shops to supply me one and they have not been able to due to supply problems. They are OMM recommended stockists.
What is the ‘from the horses mouth’ reason for this (from OMM)? Or better still, can you tell me a merchant who does have new stock of the later models…
All the best to you!
The good news is that the new Villains and Jirishancas were being loaded onto a ship a couple of weeks ago and should be in the UK at the end of the month/ beginning of November.
There was nothing sinister in the shortages. OMM is a very small company, distrubution was limited and the factory orders were small. But this did hold back the brand from being all-conquering.
Things will be different now, there’s investment, there’s better distribution and there’s great new products coming in February ’09 and more again being planned for later in the year and beyond, some of which are going to blow folks socks off. The future is definitly orange (and black).
oooh, black I hope.
thanks, should have asked the OMM oracle before!! apols for the double reply above – pc trouble.
Keep this up; tis a pleasure to read.
Steve
Nae bother :o)
Mrs sbrt tells me purple is now ‘on trend’. She knows this sort of thing as she is a designer, fashion not outdoors stuff.
There will be a return of purple to the outdoors, I’m sure of it.
I think of nothing else :o)