It is time to critique my current backpack, the Osprey Kestrel 32. Possessing a backpack that matches appropriately and is geared in direction of the activities you’ll be doing is very essential when picking out a backpack. I took this pack on numerous hikes and treks for the duration of our quite outdoorsy vacation through Mongolia, Central Asia and the ‘Stans and I was quite impressed with it.
We’ve now completed our epic 5 month journey, and here’s what I can report about my backpack:
This backpack deserves significant marks in this location. I stuffed this bag with 10kgs of equipment though trekking by means of the Mongolian steppe for 8 times, carrying every little thing from food items to firewood to sleeping luggage.
This pack sat awesome and comfortable on my hips and beautifully dispersed the bodyweight among my shoulders and my waistline. There is a superior volume of padding on the two the shoulder and hip straps as effectively.
All through a regular journey working day, I hardly even observed I was sporting a backpack due to the fact it was so comfortable.
I absolutely enjoy the way the Kestrel 32 is designed. I can’t stand best-loading backpacks since you can never ever see what is in the bag! This backpack is a panel loader, which implies it opens like a sea shell, enabling you to quickly and rapidly see almost everything in your bag, and load it up more rapidly.
The harness adjusts as effectively, applying a seriously robust Velcro, to make sure the perfect in shape. They’ve also included a back again panel that lets air to escape from your system, which is excellent for when you are trekking, mountaineering or even just strolling. There’s absolutely nothing worse than acquiring sweat dripping down your back again even though travelling!
At the back is a pocket ideal for a hydration process like a CamelBak.
The weight and sizing of this backpack is remarkable. Weighing in at just a minor around 2 lbs with 32 L of space for gear and equipped to handle up to around 20 kgs of weight, what much more could you want?!
The Kestrel 32 arrives in two distinct measurements: modest/medium and medium/massive. As perfectly as 4 different colours: Fireplace Red, Tarn, Conifer Environmentally friendly and Gray.
Osprey has added a mesh, stretchy, lycra pocket to the front of the bag, which stretches like you would not believe that! I put my sneakers in there, maps, food and just about anything else that wouldn’t rather in shape into my bag.
On the aspect, there are also 2 of the same variety of pockets that are ideal for water bottles, or in our case, the bottom conclusion of Nick’s fishing rod.
On the waistband, there is a little zip pocket on each individual side. They’re the perfect measurement for placing matters you will need to have simple access to although you’re on the move, ie: stage and shoot digicam, lip balm, Apple iphone, treats, a lighter, drugs, and many others.
Operating alongside the mesh pocket on the entrance of the bag they’ve additional anything called “front daisies” which are these perfect tiny loops that you can hook carabiners on to. I hooked water bottles off of the front of my bag, and occasionally sneakers. It was excellent.
There’s a location correct near the waist belt for storing trekking poles while on the go.
My favorite characteristic is likely the compression straps on each sides of the backpack. Not only does it help to keep the pack comfortable against your physique, but it will allow for storing objects on the sides of your bag. On one particular aspect I experienced Nick’s fishing rod, and on the other aspect, I rolled up my jacket and strapped it in.
If you have been executing any form of climbing in which ice was included, there are ice-select loops at the foundation of the backpack. Even so, I utilised the loops to safe the bottoms of my 1-liter water bottles.
The mesh, zip pocket at the leading of the bag is a good position to put smaller sized items that you really do not want finding shed in the most important compartment, ie: cards, headlamp, jewelry, etcetera. There’s also a hideaway raincover.
In my opinion, there are 3 disadvantages to this backpack.
The to start with and most crucial is that the zippers can’t be locked with each other. You can only lock together the zipper ties which could conveniently be lower open up. This is ridiculous since certainly, each and every traveller desires to be in a position to appropriately lock their bag.
The 2nd is that I would have liked to have a further pocket or two inside of the backpack for tiny products. The a single on prime of the bag is useful, but it would be wonderful to have one particular or two that are hid inside the bag.
The 3rd con is that compared with the Osprey Farpoint Series, the harness device cannot be zipped away in buy to protect the backpack straps from damage, possibly from having caught on something or from airline team remaining a little way too tough with the bag.
Aside from that, every thing is a “pro”.
I would suggest this backpack to any individual. Even even though the Kestrel sequence is technically a men’s backpack, it worked for me. Due to the fact I’m tall (5’10”), the harness modified to suit my torso completely!
If you system to do any type of climbing, trekking, tenting or mountaineering, this backpack is ideal. If you don’t prepare on carrying out any kind of out of doors activities, I nevertheless assume this backpack has hundreds of attributes that the every day traveller could use as properly.
A substantial reward is its sizing. Technically, it’s tiny sufficient to healthy as a carry-on bag when flying. The charge is also very respectable: I received mine on sale on line for about $90, but from the retailer, it is generally about $130.
It is time everybody became a lightweight traveller. Downsize your backpack and purchase the Osprey Kestrel 32, it is the best dimensions for any adventure. Hopefully, this evaluate aided. Fantastic luck finding the ideal backpack for you. Click listed here to see the backpack on Amazon.
Update: Given that creating this evaluate, we switched to Osprey Stratos 34 backpacks which served us really well on a variety of hikes, which include the Inca Path to Machu Picchu.
What type of backpack do you use? Would you recommend it? Why/why not? Share with us underneath!
