Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

Intended Use:
I bought this pack with the idea that I wanted something big enough that I could pack around/take multi-day hikes that could also fit in the overhead storage compartment of an airplane for use during travel. It was important to me that this pack be cross-functional.

Photography:
My gear includes a DSLR, various lenses, tri-pod, etc. and, as long as I do not wish to access the gear during transport it works well. With camera in hand, the front pockets work exceedingly well for memory cards, batteries, and flash and even fit some of my smaller lenses. The side mesh pocket conforms to and holds my 300mm securely. It is a challenge to secure/access the tripod without removing the pack.

Hunting:
This pack is adaptable to allow the safe, hands-free transport of firearms, allowing the use of trekking poles. This vastly increases mobility, especially in some of the kettles, open prairie and marshland in Wisconsin. The front pockets conveniently hold energy, shells, ear protection, etc, while the elastic bands accommodate eye protection and gps as well. The pack carries the rest of my gear, while the lashings secure my hunting chair. Gear which allows me to stay in and move around the field comfortably during daylight.
The (ALL) zippers can be a bit loud at times, that said, I appreciate the minimized use of velcro.

Day Trips:
This pack is pretty much money when it comes to day trips. I've done up to 12 mile days w/o trouble or shoulder fatigue. I don't recall a time where a niggle from my pack caused any trouble during a trip. I've only logged about 100 hours of day tripping so not too much yet. None the less, I've been completely satisfied.

Multi-day:
This pack encourages thoughtfulness on multi-day outings. I've comfortably done 3 and 4 day hikes w/ appropriate weather protection during the fall w/o issue. Some creature comforts had to be avoided but I was able to keep pack weight in under 38 pounds with fuel/food and shelter. Beyond capacity the shoulder straps feel narrow, even so, the pack does carry the weight well enough. Crammed full I am impressed with the build quality, materials of manufacture, stitching, and components - of which, boast no failures to date. The lengthy straps for the sleeping pad engulf my pad, tent and ground cloth with ease.

Snowshoeing/Skiing:
There is a handle... a very robust handle at the top of this pack which is great for hanging the pack when you don't want to lay it down in the snow (if you can find a place to hang it from). To the back of the pack I am easily able to attach either ski's or snowshoes. The pack is very stable and I feel as comfortable moving with it as I do without.

Pros:
*I like that the adjustable holes for the lashings that also accommodate a carabiner, of which is attached external, easy to access first aid, among others.
*Both lashings also accommodate much more, such as my bow saw or other hand tools.
*The on-the-fly adjustability of all the straps that matter to comfort is first rate. Once in place they stay put.
*The whistle in the front clip is a nice and thoughtful touch.
*All the 'hands-free' accouterments of the pack are extremely 'handy' (pardon the pun) including the trekking pole leash.
*Access to gear in the main hatch can be done w/o using a zipper, drawstrings are appreciated for both silence and because they are easily repair/replaceable. The strings can also come in handy if necessary.
*Accessory rain fly and rain fly pouch also a nice touch.
*Size for longer trips encourages thoughtfulness.
*Durable construction/materials.

Cons:
*Size for longer trips encourages the opportunity to be uncomfortable or mistakenly think something unimportant.
*Wish front belt pockets were slightly larger.
*Straps, when at or exceeding capacity can feel narrow on shoulders.
*Challenging to refill and replace hydration pack when pack at/near capacity.
* 5-days worth of the type of gear that I pack is about the threshold of volume for this pack (which it clearly isn't built for). Ultra-Lighters may feel otherwise, of course.
*If you want to hunt and shoot some photos while snowshoeing during a multi-day trip... this pack is too small.

Overall, this pack does much of what I'd like it to do. Without having a custom pack built, I find it difficult to believe that their would be a more adaptable, better performing solution.
If you are comfortable with the volume of space and the fit, I highly recommend this pack.

Regards,

Jim

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

I did my research before buying this pack. I looked at Gregory, Kelty, REI, and other brands, but settled with Osprey.
I have used it twice, one in Ape Caves in Washington and once on a weekend backpack/camping trip.
This back not only held my tent, pad, sleeping bag, hydration bag, food, clothes, and cooking material, BUT I couldn't event tell.
It fits great around the waist, and is VERY easy to adjust. There are so many places to put stuff that I didn't know what to do.
Also it comes with its own rain fly, and my camping trip was in a downpour and everything remained dry, even my camera.
This is great back, and it is the best value at the price.
I highly reccommend this product!!!

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

I'm currently using my Osprey as my main pack for traveling throughout Europe. Its great for that purpose. Lightweight, fits me fantastically (5'5 girl), and isn't so big that I pack it with unnecessary items. I can fit surprisingly a lot more than I thought. One downside is the lack of many pockets and compartments that other packs might have. Also the zipper doesn't go all the way around so, if I have something in the middle of my pack, its a bit of a hassle to get to. But that problem doesn't exist if the item is at the bottom of my pack because there's a zipper there. Awesome!

Honestly, quality product. I'm abusing it and its holding up great.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

I've used this pack on my canyoneering trips in Zions and that means carrying 200 feet of wet rope in it, sliding down rocks, using it as a brace between me and two rock walls, throwing it off cliffs, etc. It has been everything I wanted in a pack for just that sort of activity. It's got some great gear loops so I can hang my rappelling gear on it, a 200 foot rope fits in it just fine. And it's got a ton of pockets for stashing cameras, snacks and everything else. It is so comfortable too! Even with the heavy weight in it I can adjust it perfectly to the point where I don't feel like I've got any weight in it. Sweet pack and no complaints!

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

Was looking to replace my Gregory Reality with a smaller pack for traveling abroad. The features of the Osprey seemed ideal- excellent location of compartments, comfortable and adjustable fit, sits well on the hips, built in rainfly and so on. Was going to use it as a school backpack as well and planned to break it in this semester.

Note on the Gregory: I've had it for 6 years and it's been tossed off busses, thrown down stairs, used as a chair, a pillow, stepped on, shoved through tight spaces, skidded down rocks, dragged, swung, kicked and otherwise ridden hard and put away wet. It is still in awesome condition.

I've had the Osprey 2 days and it already has a hole. It fell off the back of my bike and the slight skid opened it up already.

Excellent backpack if you are careful with your gear. Not a great choice if you're wreckless like me. Returning it for something tougher.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

This has been an amazing pack so far. I've used it for several long day hikes and a few extended weekend overnighters. It does a great job of hugging your body and even with the amazing amount of padding still comes in under several other comparables packs in weight.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

I bought this pack to use for colder-weather dayhikes and one-night backpacks where I need just a little more room to hold clothes and other items than a light summer pack can hold. I find that I use it even for summer dayhikes because it is so darn comfortable, mainly due to the hip belt that my summer daypack lacks, but I have not found it useful for multi-day backpacks...just too small for my style of backpacking. I really enjoy the tension mesh that holds the pack itself off my back. This helps a little on cooling, but the real benefit is that there are no sharp corners poking me in the back. The stiff tension bars hold the pack's shape even if it's not completely full, and that also helps in loading and finding items within. There are lots of pockets, straps and attachment points, and after almost a year of use, there are no tears or rips. The integrated rainfly has come in handy on many occasions, and it deploys very quickly and easily from the back of the pack. It may be too much bag for some to use as a daypack, but I like to carry all I need to be prepared for just about anything (emergency kit, rain jacket, extra shirt, trowel, food, water, compass, etc.), so it works great for me.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

Great weekend pack that serves a lot of purposes. I've used it for everything from day ski tours around Berthoud Pass, long day ski tours in the San Juans, spring 2-3 day weekends in the Sangres and then general travel. Carries 25-30 pounds very well, have loaded it up to 35-40 and it didn't have any issues. Shoulder strap foam is the key to this whole piece of equipment and makes life a lot easier on those long slog descents back to the car.

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

The clerk at REI worked real hard on fitting my daughter, making sure it was not to big, nor that she would outgrow it in a year, this pack was perfect! She can do 15 lbs and later carry 25 easily with this pack! I have since searched for anything better, and can not find it!

Comments about Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack:

I bought this pack to replace a beloved old Marmot pack that seemed irreplaceable in terms of fit and comfort. I've bought many day packs in many price ranges over the past few years, and always end up abandoning them. I bought the Osprey Kestrel 38 around Christmas for two week-long winter trips in Yellowstone, but really put it through it's paces during 2 weeks of wilderness day hiking in the San Rafael Swell in central Utah.

The s/m pack is a great size for my 5'8" height. It is capable of carrying all my gear for an extended day hike at high elevation with unstable weather, but would also work great for fast and light overnights, or touring in Europe. It is easy to load and easy to adjust. The pocket for the hydration bladder is very easy to access, and will accommodate a variety of sizes. The outside pockets and straps are in handy locations. The built-in rain-fly is a great feature, but I also appreciated that it could be removed to reduce weight.

I mostly wore very light clothing while in Utah, but since I was doing long hikes in unstable weather, I always carried plenty of gear including a minimum of 3L of water, food, rain gear, wading sandals and never developed any sore spots, even on my bony hips.

Fantastic pack!