Osprey Packs Kestrel 68 Backpack - 4000-4200cu in - 2010 BCS

I thought this pack might be too large for me - I'm 5'4 and thought I might need to go with the smaller Kestrels but decided to step it up and give this one a shot. I'm really glad I did.
My favorite feature is probably having accessible zip pockets on the hip belt. I can keep things I need to access often there - knives, flashlights, energy bars, etc. and not have to remove the pack or stop my hike to access these smaller items.
The straps for a sleeping pad are not quite big enough for the pad I bought (it may be too thick), and the sleeping bag pocket on the bottom is pretty tight with my Aleutian stuffed in there but not completely unmanageable.
The external straps, trekking pole straps, extra side pockets and overall fit of the pack are great. There is easy access to my 2L camelback (which you can barely tell is there) which is rather nice as well.

There are lots of good things about this pack: quality materials, well made, just the right number of pockets and is comfortable. My only gripe is small, I don't like zippered sleeping bag compartments because in the Pacific Northwest it is necessary to line ones pack to keep things dry so it is useless, just a weak point in the pack that might leak. I cannot fault it too much though because I knew it had one before I bought it. The only other thing is I am not sure how well it carry heavy loads because I haven't loaded for a week or more trip yet.

The kestrel is a great series. I really like the way they fit and distribute the weight of the load. I dry camped with mine, so I was carrying 14 pounds of water alone and it held the extra weight great. My total pack weight was 45 pounds including water and food, and I had no issues at all.
There are plenty of compartments for very easy access to your gear with tons of space inside the main section as well. The side pockets stuff to the inside, so they are a bit of a pain to pack once the main compartment is full, but not too bad. I really like the hydration sleeve being on the outside. You really don't notice that the bladder is even there (I use the Osprey Hydraform). It is a bit of a pain to pull in and out with a full pack though.
Lot's of places to clip on gear if you need to, including a very convenient place for your trekking poles. This pack really has everything I would need in a backpack. And you have got to love the integrated rain cover! All in all this is a great pack that will do well on an extended trip.

I've used this pack a few times already and I love it. It's a great size for the weekend trips that I have gone on, and there was plenty of room for more stuff if I wanted to go on a longer trip. The main compartment is great, it seems like it doesn't have a bottom the way you can keep piling stuff inside. The top compartment is also very spacious, and the mesh pocket on the underside is awesome. The pack is extremely comfortable, the hip pockets are great, and the sleeping pad straps on theback are excellent. One of the best things about this pack is that it's an internal frame but has tons of straps and buckles on the outside. This pack is clearly a five star, and I would recommend it to anybody.

I hoped this pack would be what Osprey calls a “quiver-of-one”. But it turned out to be less than expected. I've been using an Atmos 50 and wanted something a little bigger for extended trips. I loaded the pack up with 40lbs and walked around the house. It does carry the weight very well, but I thought the pack looked small. I laid it down next to the Atmos 50 and the bags were the same length and circumference. I couldn't see where the extra 18 liters came from. Then I examined the external pockets. I really have no idea what they would be used for. They zip all the way open and billow to the inside of the pack. This basically reduces the volume even further. My final test involved filling up my 2 liter platypus bladder and putting it in the designated space between the pack and back panel. There was no way it would fit without bulging out the back panel. I returned the product the next day.

LOVE IT. brought it on an eleven day climbing trip from Bellingham, WA to Joshua Tree, CA to Malibu Canyon, CA to Red Rocks NV, and back to Bham and had zero complaints.

After limited use I am very happy with this pack. I took it on a 4 day trip to the Red River Gorge in KY and
I like it for a few reasons.

1)Highly adjustable: It has an adjustable torso harness, which let me get a perfect fit.
2)Pack panel: I sweat a ton and it lets your back breath because the panel has ridges and curves slightly away from your back and covered in mesh. I have used the Osprey Atmos 50 and its back panel curves a lot more and takes up quite a bit of room in the pack and the Kestrel's panel barely takes up any.
3)Includes everything: Includes every perk I could ask for, Pockets galore, hydration sleeve, gear loops, rain cover.

The only issues I have are:
not a huge fan of sleeping bag compartment and wish there was side access pockets, but with some planned packing it hasn't been a problem.

One thing to note: Unless I am dumb and can't figure it out there is no detachable pack. I mean if I wanted I could remove the top but not in any efficient way.

Was torn between this and the Atmos 65. While there is nothing particularly wrong with this pack, it just seemed a little too slinky for my personal tastes and I didn't particularly care for the placement of the sleeping pad straps. I'm a Z-Rest user and it forces you to hang it out behind, making the whole assembly a little cumbersome. With an inflatable pad it may not be so bad or you could carry the pad inside the pack or even on top, so it may not be an issue for you.

Beyond that, the quality of materials, fit, and finish were very good as you would expect from Osprey, and there's enough adjustment that I could get comfortable with this pack (I'm 6'-0", 190#, 18.5" torso). It's just that for my particular preferences, I think the Atmos may be a better fit.

I loved all the features on this pack! It's really an excellent deal! Osprey packs are all great quality and design. This is why I returned it and went with the Osprey Aura 65L. Osprey has even better packs to offer; I didn't think the Kestrel offered enough support on my hips and lower back when it was 40lbs in. If you don't have womanly hips, I think it'd still be great. However, you can't beat the breathable and form fitting backs on the Aura and Atmos packs!