Kelty Women's Redtail 26 Daypack

I really wanted to love this backpack. It's made of what appear to be nice, sturdy materials. The fabric doesn't feel cheap at all, and is a good thickness. The padded straps are super soft and cushiony. The color scheme is really nice, the carabiner loops are well placed, and I love how there are handles at the top and bottom to make it easier to grab the bag. The pockets on the inside of the bag are also well thought out. I have a bag from another similar manufacturer, and their bags are strangely narrow and deep. Kelty's has good dimensions, and isn't too big or small for a day pack. The sternum strap is a little higher than men's bags (much more comfortable if you're on the busty side), and it has a removable waist belt. And to top it off, the bag is light weight, at just under 2 lb. (They do not claim that this has a laptop sleeve. It's a hydration sleeve good for keeping a bladder in there when you're hiking. There's no padding at all, so your laptop will not be protected.)

I really wanted to keep this bag, but I had to return it because for some reason, the back panel of the bag would not lie flat against my back. It's made of what appears to be a plastic panel. Kelty has padded portions along it to create an "airflow" along your back which I'm sure is useful while hiking, but the core of the back panel is a plate of plastic. I put in my normal day's carrying load--my netbook (yes, I still have one of those), two small books, a notebook, and a few papers along with pens, pencils, and phone. There was plenty of room in the back to put in much more. The weird thing was that the back panel actually concavely warped, and and pulled the bag away from my back. It was completely bizarre considering how well made the rest of the bag is. I lightened the load, but still the same problem. When the bag was empty, it lay flush against my back.

I cannot understand how the rest of the bag is so well made, but the back panel could be so poorly constructed.

I really wanted to keep this, but I sent it back. I can't have my bag pulling away from my back. Had the back panel been functional, I'd have kept it and given this bag 5 stars.

In my rating, I added an extra star because of the rest of the rest of the bag's construction.

2 stars/5

Thanks for reading my review!

I received this as a gift from my husband. He said I needed another "pack" because I've been using our Redwing 3100 for a few years and it always looked like I was ready to leave on a multi day trip. Although for a guy the 3100 may seem like a decent size, it was always too bulky and overwhelming for day to day stuff with the kids (traveling, pool, beach etc..) We are headed on a parent's only trip and he got this for me as a gift since we will both need separate packs for our trip. It is just the right size for my frame. Where I had extra room before, I'm now packing it right and it feels great for "running" around. Kids towels, extra clothes, wallet, cell phone and iPad fit great without the extra bulk. It's more the size of what I would think as a college backpack, but works great for what I need and do. I'm looking forward to our trip since it will carry what I need and not be overpacked, but not under packed either. Overall, it's Kelty construction, same material, but without the added features of some of the larger packs (no optical case or the long side pockets like on the 3100). It's definitely a day pack since I couldn't imagine going overnight with this, but for traveling or a day trip, it more than adequate and comfortable too! I recommend it if you are looking for the above qualities. If you wanted something more substantial and you're a woman, I would recommend the Kelty Redwing Womens Pack which has the same features as our Redwing, but the fit of the Redtail.

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I am very happy with the size and fit of this backpack. It has a lot of different pockets for your things to stay organized. It is lightweight and fits comfortably on your back and shoulders.

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Agree with the reviewer who returned it because of the concave back. I thought the charcoal colour was very nice, the construction sturdy, enough but not too many functional straps and buckles. However, the way it bends away from your back (even with hard objects like a laptop and books inside the back sleeve) doesn't make it good for carrying heavy loads. I know a couple of brands do this sort of anti-sweat construction, but it's not for me.

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My 10th gr daughter has been using this since last September and it's been enduring the daily abuse with amazing grace. It's been packed with incredible amount of heavy books and binders every morning and afternoon but no sign of torn seams or flattened cushioning. Some one the previous backpacks she got from more major brands didn't last long. So we are very happy with this purchase.

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