In its best form, a day hike is an energetic boost of nature that brings you close to the earth and clears your mind of everything but simplicity. It gets you straight to the essence of the place you are exploring, whether it’s taking you through a rainforest straight to the summit at 4,000 feet, beneath a waterfall or through rocky switchbacks. Your daypack is your main wingman on any day hike, so having a pack that meets your needs is essential to both enjoyment and comfort.
The Kelty Women’s Redtail 22 daypack is a lightweight, low-profile pack that features a women’s specific suspension system and a Dynamic AirFlow back panel that keeps you comfortable and cool when trekking up steep slopes. Out of the box, I was impressed by how lightweight this backpack is and how well it fits. It has a very simplified design, so if you’re a minimalist, you will absolutely love this pack. The front pocket is quite large and includes an organizational feature that impressed me with its roominess for my essentials, creating an easy way to keep them handy. I was able to pack multiple layers and extra food for longer and higher elevation hikes. It also has a pair of unique handles placed at the top and bottom of the bag. This was my favorite feature on the bag, as the handles made it incredibly easy to grab. It’s definitely a daypack, since I couldn’t imagine going overnight with this, but for traveling or a day trip, its size is more than adequate.
The outside carabineer loops are strategically placed for easy use, and the pockets on the inside of the bag are also well thought out. Because the pack includes a lot of different pockets, it’s easy to stay organized. The main issue I found with this pack was that the pockets are not deep enough for liter sized water bottles.
The quality of this pack is excellent with very well-made zippers. I found them to be very smooth, which makes all the difference when you want to grab something quick before you are on unleveled terrain again.
Bottom Line:
Overall, I have been very pleased with this pack. It’s versatile, has nice organization, even weight distribution and great support. It is practical, simple and of good quality and allows you to pack enough gear for a day of travel in the backcountry.
Tech Specs:
Length: 18 in / 46 cm
Width: 12 in / 31 cm
Depth: 11 in / 28 cm
Volume: 1350 in3 / 22 L
Weight: 1 lb 6 oz / 0.6 kg
Suspension: One Size
Torso Fit Range: One Size
MSRP: $79.95
Available Colors: Blackberry and Black
Features:
Panel loading
Hydration compatible
Water bottle pockets
Side compression straps
Ice-axe loop
Daisy chain
Zippered stash pocket
Large front pocket with organization
Key fob
Carry handle
Suspension Features:
Women’s specific suspension
HDPE frame sheet
Dynamic AirFlow back panel
AirMesh shoulder straps, waist belt and lumbar
Padded shoulder straps
Sternum strap
Ventilating back panel
Webbing waist belt
Kelty Women's Redtail 22
$79.95
Pros
- Thoughtful organization
- Lots of practical pockets
- Simple design - not too many functional straps or adjustments
- Very comfortable
- Functional
Cons
- Water bottle pockets not deep enough to accommodate liter water bottles
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