phspiller
2009-03-18 00:21:03 UTC
Below is the text of my Field Report for the Osprey Kestrel 49 pack. You can find the HTML version here:
http://snipurl.com/e165p [www_backpackgeartest_org]
Thanks for the edits.
Field Report
March 17, 2009
Test Locations
I have used the Osprey Kestrel 48 for two overnight trips in the Anza-Borrego Desert in Southern California. The trips have featured mild weather, with little or no rain. The Kestrel hauled all of my gear for these two trips.
Arroyo Tapiado- Anza Borrego Desert, California
January
Elevation: 900 ft (274 m)
High Temperature: 77.9 F (25.5 C)
Low Temperature: 47.5 F (8.6 C)
Precipitation: None
Ghost Mountain- Anza Borrego Desert, California
February
Elevation: 2500 ft (762 m)
High Temperature: 65.2 F (18.4 C)
Low Temperature: 48.6 F (9.2 C)
Precipitation: .1 in (0.25cm)
Field Performance
The Osprey Kestrel is ideal as an overnight pack, with enough capacity to hold gear, food and water for one. I have had to leave the pack at home for trips longer than one night, or trips that I need to carry gear for my young daughter, as the capacity is not great enough to handle the volume that I need to pack. The Kestral has an inflexible volume due to the top pocket being sewn onto the pack, rather than "floating" via adjustable straps. The top opening has a significant expansion collar, but when filled to the top, I cannot effectively clip down the top lid, and the elastic that arches the lid make the problem worse.
Pack Contents
The typical overnight dry load of the Kesrel 48 was 19 lbs ( 8.6 kg) I then added 6 lbs (2.7 Kg) of water, and 2 lbs (1 Kg) of food for a total weight of 27 lbs (12.3 Kg) . This was an acceptable weight for the suspension, and I carried it for about 4 miles on one trip and 6 miles on another. The suspension has a lightweight appearance, but was more supportive than I suspected. I was able to adjust the shoulder straps and the load lifter straps to transfer most of the weight from my shoulders to my hips when my shoulders began to tire. The load is stable on my back, although I have not encountered any severe terrain while wearing the pack as of yet. One of the high points of this pack is the comfortable suspension. It is cool, stable and supportive.
I really like the multitude of pockets that are featured in the lid of the Kestrel 48. I am able to keep snacks in one pocket, my personal belongings in another, and my map, compass and journal in the third, and I am able to access all of these things without disturbing the others, or worrying about a stray item dropping out as I dig for an item. I am not as crazy about the tall narrow pockets on each side of the pack. The only thing that fits well in these pockets is my bivy sack. Anything that is not long and narrow fits awkwardly and makes them hard to zip up. The pockets expand inward into the main body of the pack, so using them does not add volume to the pack. I would prefer an access zipper into the main body of the pack over these pockets. The stretch pocket on the back, on
the other hand is very useful. I normally carry my jacket and rain pants in it for easy access, but I have also put damp socks into this mesh pocket to help dry them out. The side mesh pockets work just fine holding 1-liter water bottles, and the external hydration sleeve is useful, but like all hydration sleeves I have encountered it is hard to slide a full 2-liter (2 quart) bladder into it with a full pack. The external nature of the sleeve makes it very easy to route the hose. The hipbelt pockets are nice for small items, and the zipper tracks nicely, making them easy to quickly open and close. My point and shoot camera fits perfectly in one, and a small bottle of sunscreen rides in the other. The bottom of the pack has remained damage free to this point. I have set it on dirt
and rocks numerous time, not taking any specific care to protect the bottom, and it have not shown any signs of wear or damage.
The "stow and go" trekking pole attachments are a nice touch, but you have to collapse the poles in order to use it. I would love to be able to stow my poles extended for short periods of time, while shooting pictures for example, but threading the extended poles through the bungee is a bit awkward and time consuming. I tend to lean the poles on my torso, as I have always done, rather than take the time to thread the poles into the attachment system. I have yet to use the built in rain cover, but that is only because the bulk of my Southern California backpacking in winter takes place in the arid Anza-Borrego Desert. I expect I will use it as I transition to backpacking in the damper more mountainous regions during the spring.
Summary
The Osprey Kestrel 48 pack has proven to be a good pack for overnight backpacking trips. For me, the volume of the pack is too small for anything longer, and the ability to overstuff the pack is hampered by the sewn on top lid. The suspension has proven to be comfortable for loads approaching 30 lbs (??? Kg), although I have yet to hike for an amount time with a heaver load. The pockets in the Kestrel make it an organizers dream but some of the pockets are more useful than others. The "stow and go" trekking pole attachments, and the built in rain cover are great details but they have seen limited use in my backpacking trips thus far.
Pro
- Comfortable suspension up to 30 lbs (13.6 Kg)
- Well ventilated backpanel
- Plethora of pockets for organization
- External hydration sleeve
Con
- The lid is sewn onto the pack rather than floating on adjustable straps, limiting the capacity of the pack
- The side pockets are an awkward shape.
Please check back in May 2009 for the Long Term Report of the Osprey Kestrel 48 Backpack. Thank you Osprey and backpackgeartest.org for the opportunity to test this fine Pack.
------------------------------------
http://snipurl.com/e165p [www_backpackgeartest_org]
Thanks for the edits.
Field Report
March 17, 2009
Test Locations
I have used the Osprey Kestrel 48 for two overnight trips in the Anza-Borrego Desert in Southern California. The trips have featured mild weather, with little or no rain. The Kestrel hauled all of my gear for these two trips.
Arroyo Tapiado- Anza Borrego Desert, California
January
Elevation: 900 ft (274 m)
High Temperature: 77.9 F (25.5 C)
Low Temperature: 47.5 F (8.6 C)
Precipitation: None
Ghost Mountain- Anza Borrego Desert, California
February
Elevation: 2500 ft (762 m)
High Temperature: 65.2 F (18.4 C)
Low Temperature: 48.6 F (9.2 C)
Precipitation: .1 in (0.25cm)
Field Performance
The Osprey Kestrel is ideal as an overnight pack, with enough capacity to hold gear, food and water for one. I have had to leave the pack at home for trips longer than one night, or trips that I need to carry gear for my young daughter, as the capacity is not great enough to handle the volume that I need to pack. The Kestral has an inflexible volume due to the top pocket being sewn onto the pack, rather than "floating" via adjustable straps. The top opening has a significant expansion collar, but when filled to the top, I cannot effectively clip down the top lid, and the elastic that arches the lid make the problem worse.
Pack Contents
The typical overnight dry load of the Kesrel 48 was 19 lbs ( 8.6 kg) I then added 6 lbs (2.7 Kg) of water, and 2 lbs (1 Kg) of food for a total weight of 27 lbs (12.3 Kg) . This was an acceptable weight for the suspension, and I carried it for about 4 miles on one trip and 6 miles on another. The suspension has a lightweight appearance, but was more supportive than I suspected. I was able to adjust the shoulder straps and the load lifter straps to transfer most of the weight from my shoulders to my hips when my shoulders began to tire. The load is stable on my back, although I have not encountered any severe terrain while wearing the pack as of yet. One of the high points of this pack is the comfortable suspension. It is cool, stable and supportive.
I really like the multitude of pockets that are featured in the lid of the Kestrel 48. I am able to keep snacks in one pocket, my personal belongings in another, and my map, compass and journal in the third, and I am able to access all of these things without disturbing the others, or worrying about a stray item dropping out as I dig for an item. I am not as crazy about the tall narrow pockets on each side of the pack. The only thing that fits well in these pockets is my bivy sack. Anything that is not long and narrow fits awkwardly and makes them hard to zip up. The pockets expand inward into the main body of the pack, so using them does not add volume to the pack. I would prefer an access zipper into the main body of the pack over these pockets. The stretch pocket on the back, on
the other hand is very useful. I normally carry my jacket and rain pants in it for easy access, but I have also put damp socks into this mesh pocket to help dry them out. The side mesh pockets work just fine holding 1-liter water bottles, and the external hydration sleeve is useful, but like all hydration sleeves I have encountered it is hard to slide a full 2-liter (2 quart) bladder into it with a full pack. The external nature of the sleeve makes it very easy to route the hose. The hipbelt pockets are nice for small items, and the zipper tracks nicely, making them easy to quickly open and close. My point and shoot camera fits perfectly in one, and a small bottle of sunscreen rides in the other. The bottom of the pack has remained damage free to this point. I have set it on dirt
and rocks numerous time, not taking any specific care to protect the bottom, and it have not shown any signs of wear or damage.
The "stow and go" trekking pole attachments are a nice touch, but you have to collapse the poles in order to use it. I would love to be able to stow my poles extended for short periods of time, while shooting pictures for example, but threading the extended poles through the bungee is a bit awkward and time consuming. I tend to lean the poles on my torso, as I have always done, rather than take the time to thread the poles into the attachment system. I have yet to use the built in rain cover, but that is only because the bulk of my Southern California backpacking in winter takes place in the arid Anza-Borrego Desert. I expect I will use it as I transition to backpacking in the damper more mountainous regions during the spring.
Summary
The Osprey Kestrel 48 pack has proven to be a good pack for overnight backpacking trips. For me, the volume of the pack is too small for anything longer, and the ability to overstuff the pack is hampered by the sewn on top lid. The suspension has proven to be comfortable for loads approaching 30 lbs (??? Kg), although I have yet to hike for an amount time with a heaver load. The pockets in the Kestrel make it an organizers dream but some of the pockets are more useful than others. The "stow and go" trekking pole attachments, and the built in rain cover are great details but they have seen limited use in my backpacking trips thus far.
Pro
- Comfortable suspension up to 30 lbs (13.6 Kg)
- Well ventilated backpanel
- Plethora of pockets for organization
- External hydration sleeve
Con
- The lid is sewn onto the pack rather than floating on adjustable straps, limiting the capacity of the pack
- The side pockets are an awkward shape.
Please check back in May 2009 for the Long Term Report of the Osprey Kestrel 48 Backpack. Thank you Osprey and backpackgeartest.org for the opportunity to test this fine Pack.
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