Osprey Kestrel 48

I live in Southern California and use this as a work day bag for my job in parks and recreation, for day-hiking, and for the beach. This is a really high-quality pack that can hold the essentials and most importantly fluids. I work/hike/play in hot dry environments and over the course of a day will go through a gallon of water (what your body needs), and I need that weight to be balanced. This pack meets that basic requirement with room to spare. I, of course, also bought the Osprey bladder/reservoir since part of the big appeal of this pack is the easy loading and stability of the Osprey bladder/reservoir [$] While the little magnetic attachment is cool, you'll want to upgrade to the insulated tube[$] to keep your water cool and cover up the mouthpiece from dust/dirt/sand. So really your base price is going to be about $250 w/tax. What you get is a pack with enough capacity to haul 3L in the reservoir, another 3L in bottled water for refill + other drinks.I'm a big dude and unlike comparable Osprey packs that only had a small waist strap this pack has a full size waist belt so the pack stays close to my body and doesn't feel like it will swing from side-to-side when going over steep, variable terrain. The Airscape system works as promised and your back will be no more soaked than any other portion of your body. As a whole, this pack is really comfortable to wear and move with even when fully loaded with 30-40 lbs. The front bottom-loading pocket with your rain-cover is perfect for storing a minimal first aid kit. The large side pockets are perfect for storing lighter objects such as sun block/hand sanitizer/bug spray/toiletries and are easy to access even when stuffed with supplies, although you'll want to keep your fluids centered in the expansive main compartment. The large top section with two sealed compartments safely hold your valuables/glasses/food, and the mesh pocket is a good place for a small headlamp/extras. There are three external pockets, a mesh-fabric pocket on the back good for hold anything you need to get to quick like maps/guidebooks/baseball hat or dirty/wet items and the smaller bottle shaped side meshed pockets (you can't get to them with the pack on) work well for extras, I keep my work gloves in them. The adjustable straps on the back bottom can hold a sleeping pad/picnic blanket/beach towels. The main compartment can be accessed from both the top and bottom. I was skeptical about the top cinch, which is on the smaller side but have had no issues yet. I have yet to use the trekking pole loops or the potential for strapping a work tool to the exterior but they seem solid. The waist belt pockets are good for short-term storage, but are a little annoying on a full day hike, but would be useful for short camera storage. In short, the additional 10 pockets to the main compartment make this a complete day/3 day-pack. In short, you'll pay out the nose for this pack, but you get what you pay for. Versatility and comfort are hard to come by and having examined comparable packs I remain happy with my choice several months into ownership. Happy trails!

I bought the Kestrel 48 to use on the Camino de Santiago, replacing a larger, heavier mountain pack I used on a different Camino last year. I tried on many packs, and this one with its velcro "rip-and-stick" best fit my 5'10" 170 lb. frame and seemed comfortable enough when carrying 30 lb. of sand and pillows in the store. I also wanted light weight and a bottom-accessible sleeping bag compartment for my 40〫F sleeping bag. The integrated raincover was also a plus. I thought the shoulder and waist padding and the mesh side pockets looked a bit flimsy and the storage pockets seemed odd shaped.
In use (~75 mi. of training and 20 days of camino walking with 22 to 26 lbs for 15-20 miles a day), here's what I found:
45L is an ideal size for the camino -- space for everything I needed including an extra medium fleece with a bit to spare (didn't carry water purifying or cooking gear or food beyond day snacks). The waist belt was comfortable and adjusted easily, and the two sets of adjustment straps on the shoulder harness adjusted easily on the go, helping to easily adjust weight distribution. The sleeping bag compartment fit my bag with space for a couple of maybe needed items (sunscreen & TP/trowel), and the open edges to the inner pack helped for long items. The raincover was easily accessible and did its job. The side mesh pockets nicely held my two small diameter metal bottles; 1 L bottles were too wide. The big back stretch mesh pocket is very handy.
Some quibbles but not necessarily big cons: The shoulder straps worked but I wouldn't go over 30 lbs total wt. for long distance. If you want to grab a water bottle on the go, you have to be more flexible than I am; it's nice to be hiking with a partner. The sewn-in lid limits it's expansion capacity and requires some creativity in packing. I tried the trekking pole attachment and found it limited my arm movement, but I found that by using shock cord on the lid lashing loops and the ice ax loops I could very securely carry poles. I couldn't figure a way to use my water bladder efficiently ... the space is limited by the internal load and the back panel and straps ... so I used it as a space to store papers in a ziploc bag. The mesh side pockets ended up with a few snags; probably not a good pack for bushwacking.
A warning: the M/L size fits my frame beautifully, but with my 34"waist, there is no further adjustment left on the belt. Specs say 32" is o.k. Check this carefully in the store; remember that unless you're really fit, you will probably will lose weight in your waist as you hike.

Great pack if it fits you and your needs. Durable construction, good comfort under appropriate loads, decent organization, and an unbeatable warranty.

Osprey makes many great packs, and I would highly suggest checking them out at the store first to ensure you pick one that fits you and your needs. Osprey's volume ratings seem a little overstated compared to other pack makers. This takes nothing away from their product, just make sure you are getting one big enough to hold your gear.

My mountain hardware ultralamina 15 sleeping bag compresses to 10X7 and I had trouble fitting it in the sleeping bag compartment. However there are many warm weather down bags that will fit. The divider is also removable if you are willing to give up space in the rest of the pack. Ultimately I ended up getting a larger version and using this one for day hikes, minimalist overnights, and field work.

I like being able to separate and have quick access to certain gear. The belt pockets are a little more generaous than most packs and great for carrying small items like a spare magazine or headlamp.

The belt, when worn appropriately up around the hip bones, is low profile enough not to impede waist carry of my service handgun. With many packs I'm forced to use a drop leg holster.

I appreciate the "conifer" color scheme. In general I don't like bright colored gear. When doing population counts, Earthy tones are necessary for getting close to certain species unnoticed. In that regard, the rain cover is a nice bonus, but I wish it wasn't red.

This pack rides tight to the body and is stable during vigorous activity such as mountain biking. Ventilation is still fair. If you require more, packs like the Atmos offer excellent air flow.

This pack serves me well. Is a appropriate for you? Not for me to say, but certainly worth checking out.

Received this pack as a Mother's Day gift from my family 2 years ago, and I LOVE IT! It is easily and highly adjustable to a very comfortable fit - the most comfortable pack I have ever had (25+ years of hiking). I am a larger-than-average-but-also-short female hiker, and packs that fit me well are hard to find - this one is perfect! I have used it primarily for day trips and weekend trips, and it works equally well for both. Plenty of room, and versatile for a variety of gear - hiking, snowshoeing, rock climbing, kid's gear, dog's gear, backcountry picnics :-) Side compression straps pull the load in on lighter trips. Love the built-in rain cover as you never know when the skies will pour in the ADKs. Also love the ventilated mesh back pad, the side water pockets that expand/adjust to various bottle sizes, and the multiple places to secure gear on the outside of the pack. Whistle in the chest clip is a nice touch. Organizing and retrieving gear is pretty easy with access from top and bottom, two large side pockets, and 3 lid pockets, plus the outside mesh stuff pocket and ditty pockets on the waist strap. The quick stash loop for trek poles on the shoulder strap is great for photo opps or other times you need your hands free. I am an amateur photographer and can easily attach my camera pack to the front shoulder straps for quick access. As I accumulate lighter weight, less bulky gear, I'll be able to do do longer overnights, but 2-3 days are easy enough if you are conservative and well-organized. Pack is well-made and I expect to use it for years. All things considered, a great pack at a reasonable price :-)

I got this pack to use for my job as a caretaker for an outdoor organization that required me to carry basic gear from site to site every night for a week at a time. It's brilliant; the 48L size is big enough for my sleeping bag, cooking gear, several days' worth of food, and enough layers to either be warm and toasty or stripped down to the basics with everything else stored safely away. It's one of those bags where even when you think it's filled to the brim, you can fit "just one more thing." It's held up great after a full season of hard knocks; the zippers are solid, the buckles and straps show hardly any wear, and the stretchy mesh part on the front is way sturdier than it looks and has proved the perfect spot for drying sweaty socks or wet t-shirts on the move. I can't recommend this pack (or this brand!) enough, and if you're looking for something to either support an ultralight distance hike or a comfortable long weekend trip, this is your bag. The strap setup is also completely adjustable to fit your height and build, and it's compatible with water systems if you've got one. It's super comfortable to wear, even over rough terrain and extended time periods.

I got this pack to replace my old Kelty Redwing 3100. The Redwing is probably the best pack that I've ever had and is still in great condition. But I've had it for a few years and wanted to try something different. I use the Osprey Kestrel 48 everyday for work. It's very comfortable and the internal frame keeps the backside of the pack from sitting directly on your back. I was initially apprehensive about the size of the pack but have found that it is a great size.

The pros: internal frame, side pockets, two pockets on the lid, and the easy-access bottom pocket (good for a small sleeping bag or for separating gym clothes from the rest of your stuff).

The cons: the adjustable suspension is adjusted using a huge piece of velcro (hopefully that holds up over the long-term), the waist strap isn't removable (you can strap it to itself to stay out of the way for when your not hiking, but it makes for a big bulge on the bottom of the pack), the side pockets are flat and anything that does into them will push to the inside of the pack.

All-in-all, it's a great pack and I would recommend it to a friend.

I bought this pack as my main pack for fieldwork in Yellowstone. I'm pleased to say that this was a perfect purchase; I've used this pack for over 90 days in Yellowstone without any issues, flaws, or product defects. The pack loads easily, is highly water-resistant with an included waterproof rainfly, and is extremely comfortable. I've carried anywhere between 15-60 pounds in this bag, though the ideal weight is likely under somewhere around 40-45 lbs and under. One aspect of my fieldwork includes using nitrogen tanks, which I can fit into the main body due to it's wide opening and adjustable main compartment. A bottom hatch, two zippered pockets on the head and one underneath, two hip-belt zippered pockets, and an elastic strong-mesh front pocket allow for easy organization. While the zippers worked well, they occasionally snagged, but it was nothing that took more than 5 seconds. I'll likely buy an Osprey bladder to fit in the pouch, as mine was somewhat of a poor fit. The hydration pouch between the outside of the pack and frame, which help preserve storage capacity in the bag but also means it can be a tighter fit.

Bought this pack the summer before working as a trail guide in Colorado, where it was used most every day for eight weeks and it held up great. I used it mostly for day hikes where I needed to carry safety supplies for the group, but managed several overnight hikes, a two night and a three night expedition with this pack.

I love the top and bottom access points, as well as the multiple compartments on the outside of the pack. It makes it easy to pack in a way that you can get to what you need quickly. The rain cover that comes with it is great, spent several afternoons in the rain and all of my stuff stayed dry. Really a solid pack that held up to a lot of beatings.

My only complaints are the holders on the sides are not designed for liter bottles and can cause your bottle to pop out. I always put my bottles in the holders then clip them onto the pack.

Great pack, especially if you can get it on sale.

I got this pack at the REI garage sale. I was looking for an affordable, women specific backpack, so I was a bit reluctant when my partner showed me the treasure he had found for me. I was really lucky since it fits me like a glove. I just returned from a two week road trip. We backpacked at Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks during the Texas winter. In the first this meant very steep climbing, the second not as steep but with 50 mph chilly winds. I was so grateful for this backpack which felt light and rested nicely on my hip! I"m specially happy about the many places where I can put a carabiner. The only thing I don;t like about my pack is that I have to pack my water reservoir (I have a 3 litter camelback) before everything else, or it won't go all the way down its pocket. This means also, that I need to take everything out if I want to refill it. Besides that , its perfect for me!