Kelty Redwing

It does not come in anyway surprising that Kelty is one of the top brands in outdoor gear and backpacks. Their Kelty Redwing line of backpacks all boast the same high quality in materials, spacious and convenient main compartments, multipurpose pockets, and a suspension system that is designed for added support, stability and balance, and overall comfort.

What makes Kelty Redwing backpack  an absolute winner is its flat front zip that goes all the way around the front. It allows you to pretty much go through everything in your main compartment whether it’s in the bottom, middle or top. If you are savvy on packing light and packing well, you wouldn’t be having any trouble with this. This could even be your best choice yet, just as it was with mine – all these years.

After 14 years of using the 1997 Redwing, I realized it was high time I got myself something new and different for my travels. But that does not mean my Redwing was in less than stellar condition. Quite frankly, it looks just as new.

I thought I was going to have trouble fitting the new model of the bag in the plane overhead because it looked a little thick and stuff in the midsection. Gladly, it fit without a problem on the Southwest 737′s overhead, but not at AA 737 though. But that was the only problem airline-wise, it fit well in other 100-seater commercial flights.

14 years with the same bag and getting the upgraded one makes me appreciate the added pockets and slots that add to its already impeccable quality. I had a problem opening the main flap in the beginning but somehow discovered they easily clip off so that is pretty much solved.

Being a mom with two small children limits my space and movement and pretty much everything when I travel. So I try my best to keep my things compact and light and I try as best as I can to avoid bag check ins. This one allows me to have my stuff in one bag that fits in the overhead compartment, plus another bag for my computer, and still have enough hands and limbs to tow my kids things as well.

My first purchase was the smaller Kelty Redwing bag, that’s just a little bit bigger than the regular school bag. But I found out it was a bit too small to fit a few days’ necessities so I had to send it back and order the large model. It was perfect for 3-5 days of travel and now I don’t use any other bag for my trips.

Kelty Redwing  has got to be the best thing I got next to my bike. See, I ride my bike anywhere – so I needed something that could take in all that beating any bag gets from frequent rides, plus one that has enough space to carry all my stuff with room for emergency kits and tools. Well, that’s exactly what I got, and more. It does not look it, but it can so easily carry 30-40 lbs of groceries without trouble.

I can still comfortably ride my bike even with all that weight. I don’t have a car and so I had to stuff in my two loads of laundry in it and to my surprise, it sits just as well. I figure this will go well on my weekend trips and hiking trips as well. 

The bar on the bag is practically useless to me and I love how easily I can detach it from the rest of the bag making it even more comfortable on the bikes.

I just wish I took something with the smaller torso size. It’s a bit too big for me; I’m skinny at 5’9 so the bag kind of rides up when I’m biking and gets in the way especially when I’m trying to look behind. But everything else is seamless. I love Kelty Redwing bag, no doubt about that!