great for smaller bodies

By Peter Burke Ranked #476 - Weeklong Packs (Over 4500 cu in) January 16, 2009

I bought two of these for my 10-year-olds last summer for a 200 miles hike. It is difficult to find any serious gear for smaller children, but at least in the backpack department we found what we needed (unlike shoes - nobody makes a real mountaineering boot for size 2...). The packs set for the smallest back size fit them just right, plus were large enough to carry their part of the gear with room to spare. We had absolutely no failures and the packs proved to be pretty resistant to water. Unlike my fancy Gregory pack, these kept the down bags dry in a 6 hour hailstorm. Once my daughter even slipped during a river crossing and the entire pack dipped into the river - nothing got wet during that brief submerge.

It took bending of the frame rails to make the packs fit well but since the packs are designed for this type of adjustment this is not a negative point - other packs won't let you get to the frame that easily.

We'll use these packs again this summer for a month long backcountry adventure

View Details: Kelty Coyote Backpack - 4750cu in

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes