Kelty Trekker Backpack - LE 3950

Kelty advertises this pack to fit 16-22 inch torsos. I have a 21" torso and at maximum extension (the frame telescopes) it fit like a dream with 35 pounds of gear for 2 days. When the trail was on a straightaway, I would forget I was carrying anything. Given the adjustment options in the frame and hip belt, I believe it should fit 16" torsos in length with no problems. In other words, the fit is uncannily adjustable. I got this pack to replace my venerable REI SuperPak, which was a wonder of ajustability in its day, but this one puts it to shame. Furthermore, Kelty has incorporated many of the suspension features which were invented to make internal frames tolerable under load. In this case, they make the already load worthy external frame even more so. I was able to cinch the pack close to my back, making it more stable than my old SuperPak, without giving up ventilation. FYI, the water bottle pocket is the top right pocket, which is still somewhat usable even loaded with a 1L Nalgene. Odd, but ingenious. My only beefs are that the side pockets and rear pocket are a bit skimpy compared to Kelty's usually cavernous pockets. Oh, and the 3950 cubic inch spec is with the spindrift collar extended, as it is in the picture. Still, at full extension you have a large amount of frame below the bag to bolt things onto. More than enough room for the kitchen sink. If you're like me and gave up the external frame when family trips became shorter to accommodate short legged members but, now that trips are longer, have a problem with your entire back side being hermetically sealed by a heavy duty internal frame, this pack is the answer to your prayers. Utilitarian external frames have come a long way, baby.

I've been backpacking for ~20 years. For the record, I'm somewhre between a casual backpacker and avid adventurer. Also my gear is somewhere between minimalist and comfort driven. I've used mainly internal frame packs because they generally are more comfortable. The main downside is they are hot. So, last summer I started looking for an external frame. I chose this one for the price and reputation of Kelty. This pack allows great airflow on the back and is still very comfortable. It's not that big of a pack, but you can easily get all the gear you need for a 2 night trip in even the coldest temps. It could probably hold enough for a weeklong trip in the summer on less gear intensive trips. It's also much quieter than most other external frame packs. One thing I complain about is the side pocket zippers. Instead of being just across the top of the pocket (like most packs), they actually zip down the center. It allows better acess to the contents of the pocket,but I worry about objects falling out if I don't pay close attention. It's not that big of a deal, but some may want to know about it. Happy backpacking!!