Kelty Redstart 26 Daypack

I've been using this bag for the better part of a year now, and I take it to work and back every day. There are a lot of great things about this bag and not really any bad things. One thing to keep in mind: this bag is 100% designed to be carried with both shoulder straps on and the sternum strap connected. If you do that, this will be the most comfortable backpack you'll ever use. You will forget it's there, that's how comfortable it is. However, if you like to carry your backpack slung over one shoulder, college-student style, it will not stay on your shoulder. It will be very awkward and uncomfortable, and it will keep slipping off. This bag was purpose-built to be very comfortable with both shoulder straps and sternum strap, and it is not comfortable at all in any other position.

The bag is exceptionally well-designed with very high construction quality, like most Kelty products. There is a surprisingly well-designed flat plastic frame inside the bag, behind the backpanel that serves as a light frame and keeps the bag in shape. It has a second, bonus usage: there is a wide, flat pocket inside the main compartment that lays flat against the plastic frame sheet in which you can put documents/folders. Because they are laying flat against the frame, your documents/folders will not bend, even if you stuff your main compartment with other items. The inside organizer pocket near the top of the inside flap is great, and there is a zip compartment behind it for a few other loose items, as well. The side mesh pockets are very, very useful: easy to reach around and put stuff in there and take stuff out, but have just enough retention at the opening so that stuff never falls out.

I really like the design of the main compartment opening, too, but with a caveat. With the small, quasi-top-loading zipper area and the straps that clip over the main zipper, you feel pretty secure. No one is going to try to open it while you're in public; it would be too difficult, and you'd definitely catch them. But there is a drawback to that, too. If it is that difficult for thieves to get into the main compartment... well, then logic dictates that it will also be difficult for you to get into the main compartment. It is a little bit of a pain to unclip the two straps, unzip the quasi-top-loading main compartment, and reach down there for stuff. If you are constantly taking your bag off, opening the main compartment, and taking major items out, this bag might be too much of a hassle.

All in all, great bag. If you wear the bag with both shoulder straps connected and don't need to access the main compartment every five minutes, you will appreciate this bag's excellent, secure, comfortable design. If you wear your backpack slung over one shoulder, aren't terribly concerned with someone trying to open it on a train or something, and are constantly getting stuff out of the main compartment, this is not the bag for you.

*UPDATE 10-OCT-2012*

Well, I spent more time looking at this bag and thinking about it, and I can really see how this was designed as a hiking daypack. That's really what it is. It's not a bookbag or a schoolbag, actually, and so I can't dock any stars for that since it isn't designed for that. In fact, Kelty even specifically calls it a daypack. Now then, I use mine as a bookbag, and I like it a lot for it's excellent ergonomics, high construction quality, and fantastic design. But my above caveats stand:

1. an excellent daypack

2. a so-so backpack

3. a meh school/bookbag

I bought this for single day hikes and it is perfect for me. I think it would be a bit light to load it up for multiple day hikes but as the "Daypack" name suggests, it's great for a 4-8 hour hike.

Pros:

Lightweight

Durable

Very comfortable straps that are easy to adjust

Water bottle holders on each side

Cons:

The torso buckle looked a little flimsy but it has held up well so far

Both the Mrs. and I wore it and despite our vastly different frame sizes found it comfortable.

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I bought this backpack because on the thumbnail, it seemed like the backpack consisted of charcoalbrownbrownish colors, but thats not the case. The backpack is entirely charcoal colored, which is a bummer. Other than that, the backpack seems solid and I anticipate that it will last a vast amount of time! Inside the bag, there's enough compartments to keep your tools/school supplies organize. The straps on the backpack are uncomfortable when wearing a tank top or something similar. Also, you can probably fit a 15 inch laptop for i can fit my 13-inch macbook pro and there is still a little room left. Overall, great backpack for any situation out there; traveling, school, camping, etc.

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I bought this Redstart to replace a kelty daypack i've owned for 18 years. Not because the old one is broken, but because I wanted a slightly larger daypack. If that doesn't say something about Kelty quality, I don't know what does.

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I go on occasional day hikes, but I primarily use the pack for bike commuting to college. It's much more spacious that it seems, I can always fit all my books, computer, and an extra set of clothes or a jacket. My only complaint is that it's difficult to see the bottom of the bag because the top opening is very small. If the zipper was longer, I think it would make the pack more functional without compromising its function.

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