Gregory

Kalmia 50L Backpack - Women's

Great overall ride and quality. Bought for the Kalalau trail hike in Kuaui, held everything we needed and has great organization. The straps and suspension system worked well and it distributed the weight evenly. This is a great pack for entry level backpackers or more advanced backpackers, big enough to carry all comfort items you would want for a 2-3 day trip. Hip pads were big enough for cell phones and other items which was handy.

LOVE

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Amazing pack. So excited to use it on my cross country road camping trip. It has everything and more!!

Incredibly loud, nearly ruined trip

I just finished a section hike of the PCT where I was out for 12 days straight. I'm so grateful to get home for a few days so I can swap this pack out before I head out again. The butterfly shoulder harness squeaked so loudly the entire time I walked that I couldn't hear other hikers coming up behind me. There was zero chance of enjoying the wilderness unless I took my pack off or stood completely still. The frustrating part is that the shoulder harness and belt weren't very comfortable in exchange for all this weight and noise. The rotation system which made all the noise tended to pull the straps too close together instead of letting them widen out as they should. I'd pull them apart and they'd sit at a comfortable distance for about 20 minutes before eventually pinching again. I did not have good luck with the 360 float system either. No matter how much I tightened the waist strap and the load lifters, the only touch points were the belt band and the upper shoulder blade. I could not get good contact between my lower back and the pack, which is where most of the weight should be transferred to the body. I only bought the pack because I had such a huge food carry that I needed something with more weight capacity than the 30lbs capacity of my REI flash 55. The Flash 55, despite its lower weight, has a more comfortable fit and much, much better outside mesh pockets. The single mesh side pocket on this one is so narrow I could only fit in a map or other thin item like socks when the pack is loaded. It's TINY and there isn't another one on the other side for some unfathomable reason. Also, the back mesh pocket, which is a normal size, got a hole in it almost immediately. So I'm not thrilled with the durability either. I'm switching back to my other pack even though it says it's not designed for larger loads. I'll risk damaging it to be comfortable and have better use of external pockets.

Great Lightweight Backpack

This backpack has a ton of extras on it and secures and cinches tight. The best part is that it can be customized for your body type and does not wear on you even when hiking over 10 miles a day through rough terrain.

Sweet!

The Kalmia offered great space/ volume per weight, and fit me so well! The adjustable backplate offered needed personalization for fit, and the padding protected me from hotspots without being bulky. The rotating shoulder straps made a difference; I could feel the pack moving with me, instead of against me. The Kalmia 50 is my new go to pack! While this pack offers some personalization, it isn't the pack for everyone. I highly recommend trying the pack on before purchasing, and walking around a bit with some weight added to see how she rides. Overall: well made, great weight to capacity ratio, helpful personalization through various adjustment and tension points, moves with the hiker.