Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

The Kestrel has an excellent suspension system for weights upto about 35 pounds. The pack is comfortable and the built in rain cover delivers peace of mind. The sleeping bag compartment is great when backpacking and when used for day hiking it allows you to keep your emergency clothing (for winter hiking) easily accessible. The pack is very well built, workmanship is excellent with no shortcuts taken.

The only negative about the pack is the side pockets for water bottles are not deep enough and for a Nalgene or other 1 liter bottle you have to tie the bottle so it does not slip out - this of course makes it difficult to use without taking the pack off. If you use a bladder then this is not really a problem.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

This is a great quality backpack, I love it so much that purchased another for my wife.

Really light weight. Great for backpacking.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

For the price this is a great pack. The size was perfect for my 4 day trip. It was very comfy to wear for hours of hiking. The pack material was very quality. The sleeping bag compartment made accessing the bottom of the pack very easy in a hurry. The only thing I didn't like about this pack was that it does not have a floating brain. If you try and overstuff the main compartment a bit too much, good luck pulling the top flap all the way over without some major stuffing. I endured up returning this pack to my local REI for just that reason. I wanted a pack with the floating brain. If you can deal without that one detail then this is a terrific pack. Also the sleeping pad straps that are at the bottom of the pack are too small to fit my sleeping pad. Maybe i just have a really fat sleeping pad. Had to get replacement straps but that wasn't a big deal. Overall great pack.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

Great pack if it fits you and your needs. Durable construction, good comfort under appropriate loads, decent organization, and an unbeatable warranty.

Osprey makes many great packs, and I would highly suggest checking them out at the store first to ensure you pick one that fits you and your needs. Osprey's volume ratings seem a little overstated compared to other pack makers. This takes nothing away from their product, just make sure you are getting one big enough to hold your gear.

My mountain hardware ultralamina 15 sleeping bag compresses to 10X7 and I had trouble fitting it in the sleeping bag compartment. However there are many warm weather down bags that will fit. The divider is also removable if you are willing to give up space in the rest of the pack. Ultimately I ended up getting a larger version and using this one for day hikes, minimalist overnights, and field work.

I like being able to separate and have quick access to certain gear. The belt pockets are a little more generaous than most packs and great for carrying small items like a spare magazine or headlamp.

The belt, when worn appropriately up around the hip bones, is low profile enough not to impede waist carry of my service handgun. With many packs I'm forced to use a drop leg holster.

I appreciate the "conifer" color scheme. In general I don't like bright colored gear. When doing population counts, Earthy tones are necessary for getting close to certain species unnoticed. In that regard, the rain cover is a nice bonus, but I wish it wasn't red.

This pack rides tight to the body and is stable during vigorous activity such as mountain biking. Ventilation is still fair. If you require more, packs like the Atmos offer excellent air flow.

This pack serves me well. Is a appropriate for you? Not for me to say, but certainly worth checking out.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

This pack is only 48 liters, but I can definitely fit everything in it for a 3-4 day trip. It has plenty of creative loops and pockets to help attach everything you need. It's also extremely comfortable - the most comfy pack I tried on, and I was pretty thorough. The hydration pocket is also outside the main compartment and really easy to get to - nice!

One gripe (and the reason I took off a star) - REI markets this as a unisex pack. I am a tall, slim girl (5'8, 123lbs), and I had difficulty with the sizing. I have the frame on this extended all the way and the belt tightened all the way down - it was the only way I could get it to fit properly in both length and in the hip belt. Thinking of changing out the hip belt and getting a smaller one.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

I bought this backpack after Christmas and finally got to use it on a backpacking trip this February. I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with every part of this backpack. The side zip pockets make stashing extra things you just can't get in the main compartment a breeze, it has a fully zippered sleeping bag compartment which is awesome. I really like the adjustable straps and how you can adjust the height of the pack; another thing that is really awesome are the pockets on the hip belt, these allow you to stash energy bars and you can keep you compass or other things you need handy. The one thing that really sold me on this backpack was the built in rainfly. All in all I personally recommend this backpack to anyone wanting to take short backpacking trips.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

I got this pack at the REI garage sale. I was looking for an affordable, women specific backpack, so I was a bit reluctant when my partner showed me the treasure he had found for me. I was really lucky since it fits me like a glove. I just returned from a two week road trip. We backpacked at Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks during the Texas winter. In the first this meant very steep climbing, the second not as steep but with 50 mph chilly winds. I was so grateful for this backpack which felt light and rested nicely on my hip! I"m specially happy about the many places where I can put a carabiner. The only thing I don;t like about my pack is that I have to pack my water reservoir (I have a 3 litter camelback) before everything else, or it won't go all the way down its pocket. This means also, that I need to take everything out if I want to refill it. Besides that , its perfect for me!

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

Bought this pack the summer before working as a trail guide in Colorado, where it was used most every day for eight weeks and it held up great. I used it mostly for day hikes where I needed to carry safety supplies for the group, but managed several overnight hikes, a two night and a three night expedition with this pack.

I love the top and bottom access points, as well as the multiple compartments on the outside of the pack. It makes it easy to pack in a way that you can get to what you need quickly. The rain cover that comes with it is great, spent several afternoons in the rain and all of my stuff stayed dry. Really a solid pack that held up to a lot of beatings.

My only complaints are the holders on the sides are not designed for liter bottles and can cause your bottle to pop out. I always put my bottles in the holders then clip them onto the pack.

Great pack, especially if you can get it on sale.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

I live in Southern California and use this as a work day bag for my job in parks and recreation, for day-hiking, and for the beach. This is a really high-quality pack that can hold the essentials and most importantly fluids. I work/hike/play in hot dry environments and over the course of a day will go through a gallon of water (what your body needs), and I need that weight to be balanced. This pack meets that basic requirement with room to spare. I, of course, also bought the Osprey bladder/reservoir since part of the big appeal of this pack is the easy loading and stability of the Osprey bladder/reservoir [$] While the little magnetic attachment is cool, you'll want to upgrade to the insulated tube[$] to keep your water cool and cover up the mouthpiece from dust/dirt/sand. So really your base price is going to be about $250 w/tax. What you get is a pack with enough capacity to haul 3L in the reservoir, another 3L in bottled water for refill + other drinks.I'm a big dude and unlike comparable Osprey packs that only had a small waist strap this pack has a full size waist belt so the pack stays close to my body and doesn't feel like it will swing from side-to-side when going over steep, variable terrain. The Airscape system works as promised and your back will be no more soaked than any other portion of your body. As a whole, this pack is really comfortable to wear and move with even when fully loaded with 30-40 lbs. The front bottom-loading pocket with your rain-cover is perfect for storing a minimal first aid kit. The large side pockets are perfect for storing lighter objects such as sun block/hand sanitizer/bug spray/toiletries and are easy to access even when stuffed with supplies, although you'll want to keep your fluids centered in the expansive main compartment. The large top section with two sealed compartments safely hold your valuables/glasses/food, and the mesh pocket is a good place for a small headlamp/extras. There are three external pockets, a mesh-fabric pocket on the back good for hold anything you need to get to quick like maps/guidebooks/baseball hat or dirty/wet items and the smaller bottle shaped side meshed pockets (you can't get to them with the pack on) work well for extras, I keep my work gloves in them. The adjustable straps on the back bottom can hold a sleeping pad/picnic blanket/beach towels. The main compartment can be accessed from both the top and bottom. I was skeptical about the top cinch, which is on the smaller side but have had no issues yet. I have yet to use the trekking pole loops or the potential for strapping a work tool to the exterior but they seem solid. The waist belt pockets are good for short-term storage, but are a little annoying on a full day hike, but would be useful for short camera storage. In short, the additional 10 pockets to the main compartment make this a complete day/3 day-pack. In short, you'll pay out the nose for this pack, but you get what you pay for. Versatility and comfort are hard to come by and having examined comparable packs I remain happy with my choice several months into ownership. Happy trails!

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack:

I have used this pack a few times on long weekend trips and so far it had held up nicely. Since I usually pack light, I've had no issues with space for my various equipment. Plenty of function for price. Rain cover is a nice bonus as well.