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Q. I inherited a lot of camping gear from my father. I don't know if you are familiar with the Kelty Pack company. In the 1960's and 1970's backpacking was BIG in California. Everyone went backpacking in the Sierras. And the most popular pack was the Kelty pack. Their first store was not far from my house, on Victory Blvd in Glendale. This was all before I was born. My Dad was old enough to be my grandfather (I was an Ooops! baby) and my brother is old enough to be my Dad.
Anyway, my Dad, my Mom, and my Brother all went backpacking with Kelty Frame Packs. They last forever. Well, my Dad and Mom are Dead, and brother has lupus so bad, he will never backpack again. I am a small man, five footfour and 118 pounds. I use my brother's pack from when he was a boy.
When I hunt, I am afraid of getting lost and dying of hypothermia. (It's about 5,000 foot elevation in winter) so I carry lightweight tent, down bag, food, katadyn water filter, about 40 pounds of stuff).
I think that probably nothing I buy will be better for carrying stuff than what I have. Am I wrong? Are modern packs significantly better than frame packs from the 1970's?
Anyway, my Dad, my Mom, and my Brother all went backpacking with Kelty Frame Packs. They last forever. Well, my Dad and Mom are Dead, and brother has lupus so bad, he will never backpack again. I am a small man, five footfour and 118 pounds. I use my brother's pack from when he was a boy.
When I hunt, I am afraid of getting lost and dying of hypothermia. (It's about 5,000 foot elevation in winter) so I carry lightweight tent, down bag, food, katadyn water filter, about 40 pounds of stuff).
I think that probably nothing I buy will be better for carrying stuff than what I have. Am I wrong? Are modern packs significantly better than frame packs from the 1970's?
Answer
My 2500 cu. in. backpack which uses my Ridge Rest pad as its frame weighs nine ounces by itself, has lasted for several trips, and my total from skin out (FSO) weight is just 17.4 pounds. I wouldn't strap into a 5+ pound Kelty pack if you paid me. In fact when I got started in backpacking around age 20 I spent a couple thousand dollars on the latest and greatest gear thinking thanks to Colin Fletcher, Backpacker Magazine, and others ensuring me that 1950's traditional boy scout/ hunting/ military/ "bomb proof" gear was best, an investment that'd last a lifetime.
That was until I heard about ultralight backpacking around age 25 and over the next few years ended up selling everything at a loss, my 8 pound Dana Designs Astralplane Overkill backpack, my Asolo full leather hiking boots, my 3+ man LL Bean four season tent, my hiking poles, my Whisperlite camp stove with 20 oz. fuel bottle, my combat knife, an army canteen, and the list of junk I sold or dumped in the corner or gave away goes on, while the list of gear I bring shrinks in weight, cost and complexity every year.
My 2500 cu. in. backpack which uses my Ridge Rest pad as its frame weighs nine ounces by itself, has lasted for several trips, and my total from skin out (FSO) weight is just 17.4 pounds. I wouldn't strap into a 5+ pound Kelty pack if you paid me. In fact when I got started in backpacking around age 20 I spent a couple thousand dollars on the latest and greatest gear thinking thanks to Colin Fletcher, Backpacker Magazine, and others ensuring me that 1950's traditional boy scout/ hunting/ military/ "bomb proof" gear was best, an investment that'd last a lifetime.
That was until I heard about ultralight backpacking around age 25 and over the next few years ended up selling everything at a loss, my 8 pound Dana Designs Astralplane Overkill backpack, my Asolo full leather hiking boots, my 3+ man LL Bean four season tent, my hiking poles, my Whisperlite camp stove with 20 oz. fuel bottle, my combat knife, an army canteen, and the list of junk I sold or dumped in the corner or gave away goes on, while the list of gear I bring shrinks in weight, cost and complexity every year.
Good Hiking Pack for Kids?
Q. We're interested in getting a sturdy backpack for our oldest daughter. I'm willing to spend around 100-150 dollars if I know that it can be passed down through all 3 of our kids until it's completely out grown by all of them. I'd rather an external frame pack (it's what I'm familiar with) but if you know a really high quality internal frame I'll take it into consideration.
The kids right now are 7, 5, and 2 years old. We're thinking our first hike-in trip will be in 2 or 3 years when the little one is old enough to walk the trail by herself. My husband and I would bear the brunt of the gear, the oldest a little gear in the pack we're looking for, the middle one some dry food in a regular book-bag, and the youngest would just walk without anything.
Just so no one freaks out, we're not being unreasonable in our plans. My husband is an Eagle Scout and is an experienced hiker. I have only done drive-up campsites but have been camping since I was a baby and spent some time in the Army so I know how it feels to haul 70lbs of gear over several miles. As a family, we did some 1 mile hikes last year when the middle kid was 4 years old and we currently do 2-3 mile day hikes every few weeks, so we know that a 5 year old can keep up as long as you don't push too hard. In fact, this weekend we did a 3 mile 200 vertical foot trail with the Big Girls walking, the little one was carried in a pack, and finished in just over an hour.
All that aside what I'm looking for is a good quality, durable, external frame pack for a kid in the 9-11 year old range.
The kids right now are 7, 5, and 2 years old. We're thinking our first hike-in trip will be in 2 or 3 years when the little one is old enough to walk the trail by herself. My husband and I would bear the brunt of the gear, the oldest a little gear in the pack we're looking for, the middle one some dry food in a regular book-bag, and the youngest would just walk without anything.
Just so no one freaks out, we're not being unreasonable in our plans. My husband is an Eagle Scout and is an experienced hiker. I have only done drive-up campsites but have been camping since I was a baby and spent some time in the Army so I know how it feels to haul 70lbs of gear over several miles. As a family, we did some 1 mile hikes last year when the middle kid was 4 years old and we currently do 2-3 mile day hikes every few weeks, so we know that a 5 year old can keep up as long as you don't push too hard. In fact, this weekend we did a 3 mile 200 vertical foot trail with the Big Girls walking, the little one was carried in a pack, and finished in just over an hour.
All that aside what I'm looking for is a good quality, durable, external frame pack for a kid in the 9-11 year old range.
Answer
With the exception of the 7 year old they are to young yet for any large capacity back packs so simple day packs that you can get at any sporting goods supplier will do. In that pack they should carry some water, some snacks, a flash light, a whistle, a space blanket, a fire starter, a multitool, a signal mirror and a two way radio (and know how to use them).
Long treks 2-3 years from now? your eldest could probably use a JanSport Scout Pack or the Kelty Jr. Pack and be able to carry around 25lbs on an external frame pack. However for a young frame internal frame packs are better to use for balance, control and comfort and instead of carrying the weight of a metal frame they can carry more gear they need. There are many high quality packs and you should try before you buy, rent them if you can. REI is one place that rents gear and they have reviews available for the gear the do sell. Check them out
With the exception of the 7 year old they are to young yet for any large capacity back packs so simple day packs that you can get at any sporting goods supplier will do. In that pack they should carry some water, some snacks, a flash light, a whistle, a space blanket, a fire starter, a multitool, a signal mirror and a two way radio (and know how to use them).
Long treks 2-3 years from now? your eldest could probably use a JanSport Scout Pack or the Kelty Jr. Pack and be able to carry around 25lbs on an external frame pack. However for a young frame internal frame packs are better to use for balance, control and comfort and instead of carrying the weight of a metal frame they can carry more gear they need. There are many high quality packs and you should try before you buy, rent them if you can. REI is one place that rents gear and they have reviews available for the gear the do sell. Check them out
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Title Post: Is any pack significantly better than a Kelty Frame Pack from the Early 1970's?
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Rating: 96% based on 987 ratings. 4,7 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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