This looked better on paper.

By Scotty V. Ranked #304 - Overnight Backpacks (2000 - 2999 cu in) January 11, 2011

First off, I've owned a few Kelty products. They're not the best, but they are good starters for newbies, especially ones who don't go out every other weekend. The Yellowstone2 tent is still functioning for me after countless nights in the Gorge and even a trip up to Longs Peak. So I bought this for my girlfriend for x-mas and she loved it straight out of the box. The color is a really vivid orange/red that lives to it name 'Redhead' and overall it seemed like a good starter pack, with ample room for an overnights worth of gear. Until she tried it on.

If you noticed above, there are no pictures of the backside of this pack. It is a thin mesh wall arched by a strip of metal which compromises any comfort this thing was trying to retain for the user. The metal part, which forms into a straight bar across the top of the pack, would knock against her head whenever she would tilt her back towards the sky. We immediately went to our local outdoors store and she tried on a couple there, all which felt fine. She loved the synthetic support systems, like on Black Diamonds and a few Osprey, but she was finally content with a Gregory Jade, and it's been rockin' awesome ever since.

This is the first thing I've returned to Backcountry. :\

Also, the inside of this pack is cramped (due to the arch caused to hold it up), and with no sleeping bag zips, it was a pain to get a 2 lb. bag in and out, past that damned hump.

I would recommend shelling out the extra $50-$100 and getting something you won't need to return.

View Details: Kelty Locus 40 Backpack - Women's - 2500cu in

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes