Name: Jennifer Koles
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 5” (1.65 m)
Weight: 140 lb (64 kg)
Email address: jennksnowy@yahoo.com
City, State, and Country: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Backpacking Background

I started taking overnight backpacking trips this past summer in the Uinta Mountain Range in Utah. I found myself taking entirely too much gear. I am finding out slowly how to minimize my needs and not require extra luxuries. My previous outdoor experiences consisted of 4 wheel-drive camping in primitive areas and day hiking. I have some backpacking gear I purchased over the past few years. I enjoyed my backpacking experience this summer. I plan to take more trips, increase my duration, and reduce my pack weight from 45 lb.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Kelty
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Manufacturer’s Website: www.kelty.com
Listed Weight: 1 lb 4 oz (0.6 kg)
Weight as Delivered: 1 lb 2 oz (0.51 kg) according to scale MSRP: $45.00 US currency, hydration system included

Product Description

This hydration backpack is very small, geared towards the hiking minimalist. It has enough room to transport almost 68 fl oz (2 L) of fluids and cargo space to transport the bare essentials. It consists of a main storage compartment, outer mesh pocket, and a side loading hydration pocket. It is constructed of Rip-Stop Nylon and three durable zippers. A reflective strip accents the main storage compartment of the pack. It is oblong shaped with a blinker light loop attached to the top of the pack.

The main compartment can hold approximately 210 in^3 (3441 cm^3) of gear. It is panel loading and can be accessed with a side zipper entry without removing the pack.The small size of the outer mesh pocket means it is best suited to store frequently used items. An elastic band at the top of the mesh pocket keeps items secure.

The pack is fully adjustable to keep the pack secure and comfortable, with padded shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and a non-padded waist belt. The back panel is padded and stated by the manufacturer to wick away moisture.

The hydration system is claimed to have a 68 fl oz (2 L) capacity and an anti-microbial treatment to ensure taste free water. The tube swivels at the port and contains a locking Bite-Me Valve. The cap of the hydration system is secured to the bladder by a plastic piece.

Dimensions: 16 x 8 x 4.5 in (41 x 20 x 11 cm)
Size: One Size
Cargo Capacity: N/A from manufacturer. I estimate about 210 in^3 by pocket measurements (3441 cm^3)
Water Capacity: 2 L (68 fl oz) reported by manufacturer.
Colors Available: Desert/Black
Garnet/Black
Material: 420D Nylon Shadow Rip Stop

Features:

Front pouch pocket and outer mesh stash pocket.
TFO-Taste Free Hydration System with 90 degree locking on/off bite valve.
Side zipper access to hydration system.
Reflective accents and blinker light loop.
Padded back panel.
Sternum strap.
Webbing waist belt.
Wicking back panel.
Padded shoulder straps.
Sternum strap whistle.

Warranty:

Lifetime warranty on pack.
One-year warranty on hydration system.

Field Information

I have used this hydration pack on short day hikes at elevations ranging from approximately 5500 ft to 10,000 ft (1700 m-3000 m). I was looking for a pack that can carry the essentials for a short day hike and for mountain biking.

It is appealing to look at. I purchased the garnet/black color combination. I am not a fan of the color red, but this is a tolerable deep red.

After adjusting the pack it appeared to fit well with no initial discomforts noted. The sternum strap, waist belt, and straps to adjust the shoulder straps adjusted easily to conform to my body type.

It was time to fill the reservoir with water. I was unable to fill it with more than 62 oz (1.8 L) of water before the water began to spill out. The cap on the reservoir is attached by a plastic piece located on the inside of the opening. I found this to get in the way of my filling it. My other hydration systems have the cap attached to the outside of the opening. In the booklet I received with the product it is noted that there is an easy fill handle on the opening. This does not have the easy fill handle. I believe that this feature is included with the larger packs.

The water tasted good and I was able to open and close the cap with my gloves on as noted by the manufacturer. The hydration system fits into a side pocket. I found it time consuming to place it into the pack by using the side pocket, especially when full. The hydration system did not show any signs of leakage.

This pack has a small cargo capacity with the expectation that the user is going to only carry the essentials. For my first hike with this pack I was able to fit my digital camera, a lightweight jacket, gloves, and a hat into the main compartment. In the mesh pocket I was able to fit my small headlamp, keys, lip balm, and an energy bar. Everything I needed to carry that day fitted into the pack with no difficulty.

On the trail the pack fitted well. No discomfort noted on my shoulders or my waist. It was easy to make proper adjustments while on the trail. The hydration system was easy to use. Just turn the locking on/off switch, bite the valve, and take a sip. The tubing has a permanent kink in it and I found it to be larger in diameter and less flexible than other systems I have used.

The manufacturer notes a wicking back panel. I have used this pack in various temperatures approximately 90 F (32 C) to 40 F (4 C) and I still get a wet spot on my back from sweating.

This pack was purchased this year and used over a period of approximately 5 months. I estimate that I used this pack approximately 40 times. It has survived my outdoor experiences well. There are no signs of abrasions on the fabric, signs of fabric wear, and the zippers are still functioning at this point. The hydration system still has the kink in the tubing that has not worsened. An adequate amount of water is still able to travel through the tubing.

Summary

It is great for short day hikes when I just want to carry water and a few essentials. I like this pack because at times I do not want to carry a larger pack and this suits my needs for short day hikes and riding my bike. I do not particularly like the hydration system, it is cumbersome for me to fill and my tube is kinked. I do like to taste of the water. I am currently deciding if I should replace the hydration system with one from another pack.

Things I like:

Cargo capacity for my needs
Ease of use
The size of the hydration system
The water tastes good

Things I do not like:

Hydration system reservoir opening
The way the hydration system cap is attached to the opening
Hydration system tubing

Read more reviews of Kelty gear
Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Estrella

Owner Review by Jennifer Koles

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