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Description

No pain, all gain.

When you head out for a marathon all-day hike or even a quick overnight, you know you won't be hearing from your back or knees when you carry your gear in the Osprey Kestrel 38 Backpack. The Kestrel's ergonomic design, light weight, and plethora of stowage features deliver on-trail comfort, enabling you to shoulder loads of up to 35 pounds without a second thought.
  • AirScape back panel circulates more air to keep you cool and features LightWire peripheral frame that stabilizes the load and transfers weight close to your body
  • Stretch front and side pockets give you extra storage and organization options
  • External loops and front daisies with bungee tie-offs give you plenty of places to stash equipment
  • Integrated rain cover keeps your prepared for sudden rainshowers
  • Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment lets you quickly tuck your poles out of the way without stopping to unload
  • Zippered hip-belt pocket keeps your digital camera and energy gel packs close at hand
  • Sleeping bag stashes in the external zip compartment, or can be attached to the outside with a removable strap

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Osprey Packs Kestrel 38 Backpack - 2200-2300cu in

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Here's what others have to say...

Does the Kestrel 38 have enough room for...

Chris

Member since 
Posted on

Does the Kestrel 38 have enough room for a tent, sleeping bag, and some smaller items necessary for a overnight hike (ie. hydration bladder, couple nalgenes, rain jacket, snacks)?

Reviews seem positive on this site and others!

pgunnz

Member since 
Best Answer Responded on

If you go with smaller items there is enough room for them. If you are talking a bigger tent it will be tight but if you have a smaller tent you should have no problem. I loaded mine up with some stuff for an overnighter and it fit fine.

pack for climbing

vicente lopez

Member since 
Posted on

in this pack i can fit all my climbing gear harness carabiners rope everything and also a couple of extra jackets for the winter(just in case)

So I am thinking about getting this pack...

pgunnz

Member since 
Posted on

So I am thinking about getting this pack for a good multi purpose day/overnight pack. I have also considered the Talon 33 and 44. So I am just wondering what others takes on the size of these packs are for day/overnight packs.

Phil Maher

Member since 
Responded on

Hey,

Of the three, I prefer the Kestrel. I generally consider somewhere in the 35L size as the perfect overnight pack. 44L is getting a bit too big, although nobody says you have to fill it completely (although we do have some sort of psychological need to at least try). As a daypack, unless you need or want to carry a lot of gear, and maybe someone elses ,too, all these are pretty big. I know you want to try to get an all-in-one thing going, but sometimes it's better to break it down based on your personal preferences and a selection of the right pack for the right job. Hope this helps.

pgunnz

Member since 
Responded on

So this would be for daylong hikes. I have a Camelbak cloud walker (20L) and an Osprey Daylite (13L) and I cannot pack all the gear water and lunch that I need to take on a long day hike. I probably wouldn't pack this completely full for the day hikes (25L-30L depending on enviornment )

Phil Maher

Member since 
Responded on

If you need the volume, don't mind that it feels a little larger than what you're used to, and that partially loaded packs just feel kind of funky in how they carry sometimes, then this will fit the bill. All a matter of personal preference. Order it, try it. The worst that can happen is you send it back and try again. These are really comfortable and functional packs though.

Whats the difference in S/M and M/L when...

Matt

Member since 
Posted on

Whats the difference in S/M and M/L when ordering a size. I have a small frame 5'6 150lbs and would love the extra cubic inch that the M/L has but dont want something thats not gona fit my body. Does it just speak of cubic inch or does it suggest body size as well

April Forsyth

Member since 
Groups:
Responded on

Great question Matt, the sizing chart was confusing. The Kestrel pack does have different sizing for your body size. S/M is if your Torso is Less than 19 inches and the M/L size if your Torso is Greater than 19in. Hope this information helps. You may want to go with the smaller size but measure for the best fit.

5 5

Leslie Byers

Member since 
Groups:
  • Gender: Female
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

I'm a huge fan of the AirScape back panel. I've bought 3 Osprey packs of different sizes because I like the fit and feel so much (1 for me, 2 for gifts). I also really like the placement of the tightening straps and the multiple ways the shoulder straps can be adjusted for the perfect fit. The hydration sleeve is also perfect for use with any CamelBak bladder. Great stream-lined pack!

5 5

molp363951

Member since 
  • Gender: Female
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

I love this backpack. It has everything and is so well constructed. I'm an older adult who needs to keep total pack weight under 13 lbs for multiday/long distance trekking and this does the trick with lots of room to spare should there ever be an occasion when I might need to carry more. The built in rain cover is cool. All the other special little features inside and out. Wow. I'm really, really pleased with this pack.

2 5

joep234412

Member since 
  • Gender: Male
  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

I have carried the Osprey Aether 85 and the Atmos 65 on many trips. Very pleased with these packs so when I went looking for a day pack it had to be Osprey so I chose the Kestrel 38. Well Osprey let me down on this one. The top cover does not fit over the main pack without a struggle. When the main body is full the side pocks are very tight and shallow. The sternum strap is too high almost at the neck. Am I doing something wrong or did Osprey get this one wrong. Very Unhappy with this purchase.

Karen

Member since 
Responded on

It sounds like you're getting a little ambitious with what you're packing. If you stuff it to capacity, you're not going to be able to fit much in the side pouches and brain fits best over the top when you leave that space below the draw-string empty. Realistically, this pack works best with 35 liters or less of stuff and it does get kind of sloppy when you try and cram too much it it.

As for the sternum strap: mine sits a little higher than usual but only by a centimeter or so; nothing particularly noticeable. I would start by adjusting the shoulder straps tighter to see if that helps at all. Otherwise you may have just bought a frame that's too long for your torso.

5 5

Icarus_Smicarus

Member since 

This held everything I needed for a 3-month backpacking trip through SE Asia. I found it to be a very comfortable pack that distributed the weight evenly across my small frame (I'm 5'5") and it held up well to downpours in Laos, dusty roads in Cambodia, and everything in between.

I've also used this pack for camping trips and it holds my tent, sleeping pad, clothes, and accessories with room to spare. I just need to pick up a compact sleeping bag.

Ian

Member since 
Responded on

LoL, Any backpacks' side pockets get smaller with at overstuffed pack. The fix is easy if you're not impatient: Take the time to place things in your pack, not just cram it in.

Julian

Member since 
Responded on

Does this fit in the overhead compartments as a carry-on? I am planning on doing a 3-month trip in SE Asia as well. Thanks!

Karen

Member since 
Responded on

This pack fits in overheads like a dream, Julian. Even if you're using cheap European airlines (ryanair, easyjet, stingy companies like that) it fits perfectly withing size limits.

5 5

TJ

Member since 

This is my third Osprey pack and I think I'll be a customer for life. Beyond the awesome lifetime guarantee they seem to design packs with a lot of thought.

If you're in to light, overnight backpacking the Kestral will do the trick but as one who doesn't mind a little extra capacity for long day hikes the 38 is right on the money.

I actually swapped out my Osprey Stratos 36 which served me well for a couple of years for the Kestral 38 and am glad I did. The Stratos has the mesh back panel which is supposed to help circulation by keeping the pack away from your back. In my case, not only didn't it do much in terms of sweating, (which is something I do a lot of) but the design caused the internal frame to squeak. And after a few miles of that in my ear I'd be ready to lose my mind.

The Kestral fits like a glove although at 6' and having a longer torso I was right at the edge of getting a good fit. I can't imagine this working for someone 6' 3" or more.

The only drawback for me on this pack is the internal pocket on the top lid. It's mesh, sits at an awkward angle and requires unsnapping the compression straps to get to. Not sure why they didn't just put it on the outside like they do with the Stratos.

A really cool design feature is the two way compression straps towards the top of the pack. You can work them around the front or the back depending on the size of the load. Really smart.

All in all you won't go wrong with this pack unless multi-day trips are on your agenda. But you wouldn't be looking at this pack if they were.

(And the red color is awesome. More of a dirty maroon...not the brighter basic red as most of the pictures show.)

Osprey Rocks

are the shoulder straps detachable?

christina cumming

Member since 
Posted on

are the shoulder straps detachable?

Andrew McManama

Member since 
Responded on

If you undo the straps and release the velcro along the back where it adjusts you can remove the straps, but the hip belt straps are fixed on to the pack. But it might be a pain in the butt to remove and/or put them back on. I really don't think it's designed to be removed easily.

Kate Williamson

Member since 
Groups:
Responded on

Hey Christina,

Why are you looking to remove the shoulder straps?

And it isn't too difficult--the biggest pain in the butt is undoing the load lifter straps at the top. Undoing the velcro isn't too bad.

4 5

cathy

Member since 

I love my new backpack. I needed a small but durable backpack for traveling and this one worked out perfectly. I took it to Laos for a week-long trip and I was able to carry everything I needed and it still fit in the overhead.

Kate Williamson

Member since 
Groups:
Posted on

Ian

Member since 
Responded on

I. LOVE. THIS. PACK. I Use the Kestral 38 for Long Distance Longboarding. The straps keep the load as close to your body So I'm not working overmuch to stay balanced, it's seems natural to me after 15 miles. The Bottom pocket is a huge hit with me, too. My "Night Gear" Fit's without a hitch. This Pack is my deus ex machina.
-Sleek
-Roooooomy
-Modifiable
-Durable!

5 5

abradshaw100068654

Member since 

I recently picked up the 2012 Kestrel 32 and 38. Sometimes using a panel-loader is easier, but I got the 38 for when I'm carrying dayhike gear for the kids. I've always liked the Kestrel series but I think the 2012 version is even better than the previous versions. The pack seems true to its stated size, the hip belt pockets can be open/closed with one hand, the top lid pocket is generous, and the harness is extremely comfortable.

The build quality seems excellent; very sturdy pack.

I'll use this for dayhikes with the family where I'm carrying everything, day trips to the beach, and traveling (should be good for carry-on unless completely stuffed).