TREKKING
Product 2019
Man
The OSPREY KESTREL 48 backpack is designed for hikers who want to journey in the mountains (alpine and/or glacier hikes) for several days and be autonomous.
A review “before excursion” and first impressions.
The various storage:
The backpack has enough volume to leave for several days of autonomy. The main compartment can be split in two by a separation, which is held by two fasteners and small straps, a system that allows you to adjust the volume of the lower part (cleverer than a fixed inner zip).
The lower section is accessible from the outside through a very fluid zip. Here you can store a sleeping bag.
The upper section opens and closes with a cord that slides effortlessly (photo). It is also accessible via a long lateral zip.
On one side there is a large fairly flat, zipped pocket (which is almost the height of the pack).
On either side there is enough storage space for a liter water bottle, the pockets are a stretchy, fine mesh fabric (photo) (could be fragile in the long term).
On the front there is an easy accessible open pocket, you could store clothing, climbing shoes, a map or any object that isn’t too bulky.
You could keep your crampons in here if they are protected, as neither the nylon fabric of the pack, nor the side nets of this pocket are designed for this purpose.
The top flap of the pack includes a good sized pocket, an inside “net” pocket with a clip for keys, both with zips (photos).
On the belt, there’s a zipped pocket on each side, for small kit or food, easily accessible. The rain cover stores at the base of the pack in a pocket (photo). If you add a tent or mattress under the pack the rain cover isn’t quite big enough to cover it all.
The pack is kitted out with top and bottom compression straps, two small straps under the bag to install a tent, for example, and at the sternum a strap with whistle.
The nylon canvas seems sturdy and waterproof (up to what point we don’t know), at least water repellent. It will also be necessary to check the waterproofness of the zips.
The accessories:
There’s a very original pole carrying system on the left hand strap on the pack that enables you to store and remove your poles without removing the pack (photo) (System Stow-on-the-go). It seems very practical for more technical passages where you have to scramble during a hike. We checked this out straight away.
Two ice axe attachments are available. We did wonder why there is no small elastic strap to wedge the ice axe handle into as there is on the Osprey KESTREL 38.
The top compression strap plays this role if you tighten it so that the ice axe does not move (photo).
Behind the rear netting, Osprey have a special place to store a bladder (photo).
The rigidity of the back means you aren’t bothered by the bladder, however, when the bag is already filled, it is more difficult to slip the bladder in. It should therefore be done before filling your pack.
Carrying comfort:
The back is curved, well-ventilated, and sits perfectly above the hips (photo), the mid-strap is very easy to handle (photo), the straps at the top of the shoulder straps are easy too, and all this makes the pack sit perfectly against your back and good for carrying heavy loads.
It is average weight for this type of pack volume.
Review of the bag “after its first excursion”
A first excursion of five to six hours allowed us to check the carrying comfort and performance.
We loaded it with about 12kg of kit, using most of the pockets, but without “filling it to the brim”.
The Osprey Kestrel 48 sits perfectly against your back (photo), and surprisingly very well-ventilated. All the straps are comfortable, the waist strap adjustment keeps the pack neatly at the hips.
We also tested access to the pack’s different compartments.
We found no negative points at all. We were able to store a 20-meter hiking rope in the large zipped side pocket (photo). For crampons, we tested with and without a protective bag in the front pocket, we recommend using a protective bag (photo).
At first we used the main compartment’s zipped opening to take the pipette out for the bladder (photo).
On a different outing, we were able to slip a bladder into the back of the pack as designed by OPSREY (pictured). It is better to install the bladder before filling the backpack.
The pole attachment on the shoulder strap and side proved to be quite practical and not a problem for walking or moving around.
We only regretted one thing, the absence of a strap on the shoulder straps to tension the load (a very popular accessory with hikers especially for heavy loads over long periods, thru-hikes).
The Osprey Kestrel 48 proved its versatility and is sufficiently technical to allow hikers to access short alpine and glacier excursions, for several days of autonomy. A longer test should confirm all the backpack’s qualities.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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