Kelty Redwing 50 Backpack Review

The Kelty Redwing 50 is a surprisingly versatile backpack with a torso hugging shape than makes it easy to carry.

The Kelty Redwing 50 Backpack (MSRP $139.95) is a multi-faceted pack that can be used for day hiking, backpacking, school, or travel with a plethora of pockets and features to keep your gear well-organized and accessible. Featuring a new adjustable length frame, its greatest strength is its adaptability for many different kinds of adventures. Ideal for growing kids and adults, the Kelty Redwing 50 has a lot of innovative features that make it a great value.

Internal Storage and Organization

The Kelty Redwing 50 has many compartments and pockets that provide a lot of flexibility in how you use it. The main compartment at the center of the pack can be completely pulled back and opened like you would a travel suitcase or duffel (called a panel loader) or you can keep the compression straps attached and just open the top of the pack, through a top hatch pocket like a conventional top loading backpack.

You can use the Redwing 50 as a panel loader by undoing the side compression straps in order to fully pull open the main compartment or as a top loader, by accessing gear through a top hatch lid.

There's no organization inside the main compartment except for a hydration pocket, which can also be used to store a large laptop. If you plan to use the Redwing for backpacking or day hiking, you'd store most of your bulky gear in this main compartment, which is large enough to store a sleeping bag, tent, food, or a vertically oriented bear canister.

There's an open stuff pocket behind the main compartment, and a second closed pocket behind that on the rear of the pack. It has many small open sleeves for organizing school or office accessories, including a padded pocket that's large enough to store an iPad.

You can slide long objects like trekking poles, a tripod, fishing rods, paddles, skis, etc, behind the upper side pockets.

The most interesting pockets on the Redwing are located above the side mesh water bottle pockets. They're fairly large, about the size of a bulky pair of insulated winter mittens, but also good for storing a cylindrical cook pot.  What's neat is that you can slip gear behind them, like a fishing rod, a tripod, trekking poles, or cross-country skis even, and prevent them from slipping out using the side compression straps (top and bottom). I've never seen anything quite like them on a backpack, but they're a wonderful feature for carrying long and unwieldy objects without having to worry about them falling off your pack.

External Attachment and Compression System

The Redwing has two side compression straps on each side, both long enough that you can use them to strap larger items to the side of the pack. It also has two ice axe loops on the rear of the pack, but no shaft holders, so you'll need to rig something up yourself using elastic cord and some cord-locks.

Daisy chains along the base of the pack make it possible to lash a tent or sleeping bag underneath the pack.

There are also two daisy chains at the bottom of the pack, making it convenient to lash gear underneath, like a tent or a sleeping bag. You'll just need to provide your own webbing straps or cords to do this, as none are provided.

The back of the Redwing 50 is covered in mesh to wick away sweat with air channels between the pads to increase air circulation.

Backpack Frame and Suspension

The Kelty Redwing 50 has a very simple frame, basically a flexible plastic sheet that slots into a pocket behind the shoulder straps, reinforced with a center aluminum stay. The stay runs all the way down the back panel, terminating behind the hip belt's lumbar pad in the hip belt itself, which is exactly what you want for good load transfer and control.

The combination gives the Redwing 50 a nice balance of stiffness and lateral flexibility, with a frame that can be used out of the box without any additional adjustment, such as bending the stay. I'd rate the upper weight limit of the pack at 30 pounds, mostly limited by the volume capacity of the pack.

Torso length is adjusted by sliding the shoulder yoke up or down. It slides behind the mesh back panel and is controlled by simple webbing straps located near the hip belt. See video below for a demonstration.

The hip belt is pre-curved with pull forward adjustment straps, and has hip control straps connected to the bottom corners of the pack for lateral stability. The attachment point of these webbing straps makes it impossible to provide any hip belt pockets and unfortunately, there are no webbing loops of any kind to attach aftermarket pockets or gear attachments. Too bad about the hip belt pockets; I really think they provide a lot of convenience for users.

The Redwing's torso length is adjustable by raising and lowering the shoulder yoke, which slides behind a mesh covered back panel designed to wick sweat away from the wearer's back. The position of the yoke is controlled by a very simple webbing system that's lightweight and very simple to adjust, without requiring that you measure your torso. It's a great idea, actually, to demystify the torso sizing process. The documentation for adjusting the torso length could be better though (there is none), like a link to this video below.

This torso adjustment system works great if you know how a backpack should feel when it's properly fitted, but less so if you don't. If you're new at this, I suggest you get someone to demonstrate to you how the pack should feel when the length is adjusted properly, so you can learn how to do it without assistance.

Recommendation

The Kelty Redwing 50 backpack is a well designed, versatile backpack that can be used for a wide range of outdoor recreational and urban adventures, with storage and external attachment capabilities that support a wide range of gear lists and environmental needs. While its versatility comes with a slight weight penalty (3 pounds, 9.5 ounces), there's no denying that the Redwing 50's simple-to-use, adjustable frame system is a tremendous benefit for young adults and beginner backpackers who have a hard time finding a pack that fits them properly with the correct torso length. If you're looking for a backpack that you can use in the woods, in town, and for travel, I think the new Kelty Redwing 50 has a lot to offer, but it's also a fine backpack just for hiking and backpacking, and an excellent value for the price.

Likes

• Adjustable torso length
• Unique side pocket attachment system
• Top loading access to main compartment
• Excellent organizational features
• Load lifters

Dislikes

• No hip belt pockets
• Side mesh pockets are flush with ground and more susceptible to damage

Manufacturer Specifications

• Volume: 3100 in³ / 51 L
• Frame Type:  Internal
• Weight:  3 lbs 11 oz / 1.66 kg (just 3 pounds 9.5 ounces on the Section Hiker scale)
• Torso Fit Range:  15.5 – 21 in / 39 – 53 cm
• Waist Belt Fit Range:  One size only. Just barely fits me with a 36″ waist. The padded portion of the hip belt is 29″ long.
• Dimensions: 26 x 16 x 12 in / 66 x 41 x 30 cm

For a complete list of specs, visit Kelty.com 

Disclosure: Kelty provided Philip Werner with a sample Redwing 50 backpack for this review.

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