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
"My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation - come by grace and grace comes by art and art does not come easy." Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It