Bruce,

To the best of my knowledge the waist belt on the LL Bean pack is unique to that pack/vest combo (Fishpond doesn't have it). As to the tight closure, though it isn't shown the Fishpond vest has a secondary closure on the inside of the zipper which can be used in place of zipping it. I do not own the Wasatch pack, but have a similar vest (identical to the Wasatch w/out the pack portion on back) which has this closure system and I've looked at the Wasatch in the past and seen it there as well.

Brian