Customer Reviews Osprey Kestrel 48

Downsized to the 48L Kestrel from a 70L monster. This pack rides well and distributes weight from the shoulder straps to the hip belt very well. I've used it on multiple 5-8 day trips in the North Cascades on distances over 100 miles. The heaviest load I carried was well over 40lbs. After several hours the pack did become uncomfortable with that much weight, so I'd put 40lbs as the maximum comfortable load. It is true you can't use the sidepockets while wearing the pack, but it fits a 2L water bladder and the valve magnetically clips onto the shoulder strap making hydration on the go very easy. Phone and snacks fit in the hip belt pockets and the poles and Garmin to the shoulder strap. Took it on a 120 mile PCT section through the North Cascades with 26,000 vertical feet, and while it was way overloaded at the beginning it held up well and did not cause discomfort. With temps in the 90s, the mesh back allowed adequate airflow to prevent massive sweating. At 3 1/2 lbs, it isn't a lightweight pack, but the comfort and features make it a great pack for trips up to 5 in rough terrain and long miles.

I work for Ends of the Earth Hiking (and Ends of the Earth Cycling). I lead multi-day backpacking treks for groups of people with a wide variety of skill levels and athletic abilities. I need to pack my clothes and gear in a pack that gives me complete freedom and comfort so I can assist others. I need quick access to water, food, radio, first aid, etc. on the trail. I also need to be able to unpack easily in the evening and repack quickly in the morning. This pack is very comfortable. It has lots of compartments and attachment points. I'm able to carry my Martin Backpacker guitar with it. The rain cover is super easy to use and works well - I've hiked in the rain many times with this pack. I've used this pack for 8 years and love it! If there's anything wrong with it, it's that it is too durable and functional and Osprey has not been able to sell me a replacement because I simply haven't needed one.

I took this pack on it's first journey to NYC, where it performed really well! I had my raincoat, my sleeping bag (padding for my camera), snacks and water. My only gripe was that I couldn't easily access the camera without going into the compartment by the top. Not really a gripe, because it's not a camera bag. That being said, I really didn't have any problems at all with the pack. I couldn't reach my water bottle, because I had them upright and didn't realize they have the side entry for bottles! All user error there! I recommend this pack for people who want to carry lighter loads and go on shorter overnight treks.

I use this mostly for weekend long hikes; I tend to 'overpack' and pack heavy. This pack handles the load well and is very comfortable while doing so. It is very durable as well!

Recently bikepacked about 300 miles with the Kestrel 48 across my home state of Florida. I read many people in forums discourage bikepacking and bike touring with a backpack, and instead to use pannier bags. Well I went for it and was very happy I did. The back support is extremely comfortable and the bag offered multiple forms of adjustment to maintain good support throughout the trip. When it comes to bikepacking, the only pain point I had was the straps pressing on my armpits (due to the way you hold the handlebars). But for general backpacking, which I have done plenty of with this bag, I have no real complaints other than I wish it had side pockets. It carries its fair share of gear and is not overly huge like most bags. Osprey did a fantastic job with the Kestrel 48. I am looking forward to trying out their Exos bag for an upcoming AT section hike. Happy hiking/biking/travelling! Cheers.

This is an amazing backpack! I use it for traveling, especially when I only need to bring a carry-on as it fits the limits of various airlines (as long as it is not overpacked). I took it to Hawaii and Europe, and also used it on a few road trips in the US. It's extremely comfortable to wear. I can hardly feel any weight, even after prolonged use. The hip belt does a great job at distributing the weight. Even after wearing it throughout the day for multiple days in a row, my back was never sore. As far as organization goes, I love the various pockets this pack has. The side pocket that gives access to the main compartment is definitely a big plus if you need to reach an item at the bottom of your pack without unpacking everything. I also use Osprey packing cubes to keep things organized. There are a few pockets located in the lid (one outside, one inside) that come in handy to grab items quickly, such as a boarding pass or a passport. The two hip belt pockets are nice to keep things accessible when on the go, such as change, keys, or phone, although depending on which phone you have it might be tight. Comes in very handy to keep your subway or bus tickets while touring European cities. All in all, this is a great pack that I can't recommend enough. If you need a carry-on size backpack for traveling across Europe and other places, go buy this one. You will love it!

I teach both survival and navigation extensively and in doing so am exposed to harsh elements on a regular basis. This pack is on my back for all of it and has been a reliable tool for my needs. It hands the elements week and is tough through the thick of the woods all the while maintaining comfort. Definitely recommend this product for the weekend warrior or even the outdoor professional.

I love this pack, I only used my army issued assault pack for 4 years and decided to get this pack. It's fantastic it looks small and says 48 liters but the way it's engineered it's got a lot more space than that with all its hidden pockets and places to separate items.the one thing I think would take this pack to the next level it's not a pro or a con either just a tidbit you should think about. Their is a divider for your lightweight sleep system at the bottom and on one side are 2 adjustable straps if both sides had the adjustable strap you could fit larger sleep systems in the bottom without having to pretty much use the straps and not the divider for .... dividing. If you don't have the pack that made no sense if you do have the pack you might understand but regardless. Fantastic pack if mine broke and the life time guarantee for fixing or replacement did not exist I would instantly rebuy the pack no questions asked.

I never write reviews, but this pack is awesome. I've used it on 4-5 day hikes plenty of room. I have 4 packs this is by far the most comfortable.

I've never written a review before but, for this bag I felt I had to do it the honor. After five years this bag has seen years of field work abuse, months of world travelling, backcountry skiing, day use, overnight use and multiday use. It is stained and gnarly but everything is in its place and I bet it will go for another five years. I have never owned a more versatile pack. Buy it. Now. Also the mesh outer packet can fit a whole 4l bag of wine and if you accidentally put a hole in it like I did it accommodates the spout perfectly.

I used this backpack on a 2200 mile thru hike. That's nearly 5 months of waking up every morning and hiking with this bag. All the zippers, clips and (almost) mesh is as good as new. Perfect size for weekend backpacking trips or week long trips. Okay for airline travel as it is just slightly bigger than carry on size and if you're willing to shove around other passengers baggage you could probably get away with it.

Hey man, I'm like you I read all the reviews then I buy something. So I'll be honest, stop reading and buy the kestrel. I travel all over the world with my Kestrel. It's amazing. Everything inside is easily accessible, loads of outer pockets. That bottom pouch is awesome for laundry. I could go on but seriously get this pack. 48L is the ideal size for backpacking. Because TSA guidelines only permit 45L packs as carry ons and when you have to fly to Thailand or Cambodia it's nice to know your pack is safe right above your head.

Great pack. Light and big enough for 3-5 days on the AT. Full featured, well thought-out, and comfortable once adjustments are dialed in. I like that the waist/hip belt fits "bigger" folks, and that it was generally comfortable with a full load (approx. 35lbs). On my 3 day trip through southern PA and MD, the most helpful features were the bag compartment, which stowed my EE 30degree down Convert and down puffer jacket. Also, being caught in the rain, I appreciated the included pack cover. Note to hikers--keep rain gear easily accessible; digging around and unpacking dry gear leads to more wetness. The only improvement would be longer sleeping pad straps. The ones included were too short for my Themarest Ridgecrest Classic. I carried an Alps Lynx 1 tent, clothes, food, stove and fuel, and all the essentials. Headlamp, bug spray fit, hand sanitizer fit in one side hip-belt pocket, while the other was reserved for snacks only. The ample-sized pockets on top and below the lid held maps, wallet, etc. One more note; when bear-bagging, don't forget to check your side pockets for food and/or smell-ables, incl. hand sanitizer, sunscreen, snacks, and snack wrappers. No sense in attracting unwanted camp visitors over a forgotten piece of trash stashed in one the many pockets this great organizer bag has to offer.

I am a Boy Scout and I do a lot of camping. This has always been by go to pack for all my weekend camp outs. It is a very good size and for a minimalist like me, It suits my needs perfectly.

I bought this pack in Denver more than 10 years ago, after going through 4 big outdoors shops looking for the right bag. Not so big that I want to carry too much, and not so small that I cant carry enough. Since then it has traveled all over the US, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Bulgaria and Turkey. On the big trips it carried an average of 35 pounds. Some of these were backpacking trips, and some just travel with a backpack, but it does either job well and is very comfortable once I get it strapped in place.

I think this newer version looks better than the previous version of the backpack Very good pack, i love this pack ....

I enjoy this backpack for 1 to 5 mile hikes. It breathes well, is comfortable on the hips and shoulders. I can hold enough equipment for a 2 to 3 day camp out. If I travel I can put about 5 days of clothing and materials for travel. If they went to 60 liter for more internal storage it would be perfect. Only complaints I have is the water bottle pockets are not in a place I can reach without removing the pack, the bottom department isn't that large enough to stow non ultralight sleeping bag or tent, I dont like the divider or the straps it uses feels poorly designed and a bit annoying to take apart, the mat outside straps need to be larger if someone wanted to strap a large bulky sleeping bag, mat, or tent to the outside. I will put an internal dry bag in and take this fishing if I save up and see how I like it as a multipurpose bag. It will be my hiking pack, travel pack or festival pack till then.

I've used this product for multiple overnight and weekend backpacking trips and found that it is a great pack! Very comfortable and easy to fit all my gear. The side load zippers are a huge help when the pack is full and I need to access the bottom. The only difficulty I found was that the sleeping bag compartment on the bottom of the pack is small and can be difficult to load.

I'm a woman, and I downsized to the Kestrel 48L from a 50 +10L backpack (nobody needs to carry 60L of stuff on a 6 month backpacking trip - trust me!), and so far I've used it on a 2 month trip through South America and while there are a couple of things that my old bag had that I wish this one did (a small, removable day pack and full frontal access), overall I really love it! I have a very long upper body so none of the women's bags worked for my height, so the only problem I have is that the wasit adjustment doesn't go quite small enough for my waist, but the length adjustment is worth it, and it's still manageable and far more comfortable than the shorter women's bags. I highly recommend this bag for any other women out there that have this problem. I do find the side access a bit annoying as I don't find it super accessible. I read a previous comment that stated you can't remove the bottom compartment flap, but this is false; you can unhook it from the inside, near the back. I prefer the bag without the bottom compartment as I find there is more space this way. The side pockets are a bit tricky to reach when carrying the bag, but I use it for my main backpack and carry a separate daybag for my water, so that's not a concern for me, and I like how strechy yet secure the pockets are. Also, the statement about not being able to use the front pocket when the bag is full is also false; as long as you fill the front pocket first you should notice that the space is fully utilized. In fact, when I took the time to pack properly (as opposed to quickly throwing everything in for a quick hostel change), I found this bag to be a little bit TOO big! It says that you can sinch it up and use it for a day hike, but even then the top pocket buldges and the bag just doesn't sit quite right when it it fully sinched. That being said, I may just invest in the 38L for my next trip and ditch the extra 10L. I love this bag!

I own 2 ospreys, 2004 60 aether (still in excellent condition even after a 650 mile thru hike) and the 48 kestrel. I reduced gear, so I required a smaller pack. I purchased the kestrel in march 2016. Since then the kestrel has been used in utah as a day pack for varies trails and it has been to isle royale michigan for 6 days and 5 nights loaded up to 32lbs. I easily could have loaded it for 7 days. At 32 Ilbs and avg 10 miles a day, the pack was always comfortable. Even during breaks I kept the bag on. Its easily the most comfortable pack i have used. The aether back panel is flat to my back and causes sweating. The kestrel airflow back panel really helps keep my back cool, you still will sweat from hiking but not from overheating. The pockets help with keeping gear organized . The main body of the bag is very durable and still looks new. Also the daisy chains are very handy for hang wet clothes or attaching things too. The hipbelt pockets are a decent size able to hold my sawyer mini, purell or 2 cliff bars. The negatives, the mesh water bottle pouch has some fraying, do to over growth on the trails rubbing it, and I question it's long term durability. The water bottle stretch pockets are the biggest negative, I can't reach or put the bottles back without taking the pack off, the mesh is too high. I think they should add more fabric here to make them pockets, as is the mesh stretches but won't fit all water bottles. Side note the 04 aether mesh pockets are much better designed and stronger. The hipbelt pockets have a flap over the zippers( I believe it's to keep water out) but they are annoying, it's a hassle to do while hiking. Ula hipbelt pockets are much better. Lastly the sleeping bag compartment spacer can't be removed I don't use it, it's not a big deal though you just have to move it out of the away. Overall it's a solid bag, its a day pack to thruhike pack. The excellent fit/comfort far overshadows the negatives. Will use on my 2017 AT thru hike

Cannot reach the side pockets without taking the pack off. Must take pack off to reach my water bottle. Will return pack because of this non-functional feature!

The main side pocket is hardly usable when the main compartment is full.. The mesh pocket in the middle back of the pack doesn't stretch hardly at all compared to my Escapist pack, but I do like the stronger fabric on top of the stretch pocket to keep it from tearing.. Not sure why the company didn't put a huge Osprey logo on the center of the pack, as it would look way cooler if they did. MY BIGGEST GRIPE is with the water bottle holders.. They don't stretch near enough for bottles, especially when the pack is full. I have to force a Nalgene bottle into them with the pack off of me - I feel like they're going to rip off the pack and they have almost no stretch to them. The Atmos appears to have larger water bottle pockets and holes, as well as a larger loop to pull on for side loading of the water bottles. It's IMPOSSIBLE for me to use the side loads for water bottles on this pack; I could force a bottle into one with the pack off, but it would be jabbing me in the ribs/side the whole time, and the bottle angles down rather than up to fit in the pocket... These few things need fixed to make this pack a true 5 Stars and to make me actually happy about it. Other than that, I love the side zipper to get into different depth of the main pack compartment. I also love that it comes with a rain fly - Atmos needs that in the USA version. The bottom compartment for a sleeping bag/bottom pack access is great too. I'd suggest slightly larger hip pockets too.. Something more like belly bag size.

Not 48 L in size. If the main section is full, the outside side zippered pocket is not useable thus its not a true 48 L bag. It should be classified as a 40 L bag. Also for hiking all day a stronger frame would be ideal.

The way the LIGHTWIRE SUSPENSION 3.5 mm LightWire peripheral frame is contained inside the pack fabric STINKS! VERY POOR DESIGN! NOT durable enough! This is my second Osprey with that type of frame. BOTH FAILED AFTER about 4 years of use! I do NOT SLIDE down rocks with my pack so external abrasion is NOT the problem! The bottom tip of frame is like a bent coathanger and the metal tips wears through the fabric near bottom where shoulder strap attaches to the pack body. That makes the frame useless because the bottom of shouler strap is NO longer lifting the weight of load. Osprey repaired my first Osprey but then the repair failed! I appreciate the guarantee BUT it's hard to guarantee a faulty design! I xc ski or hike one day/week yearround so my pack gets lots of use BUT NOT abuse! I look for quality gear and I take care of it. I have a Kelty external frame pack that's in good condition after 30 summers of backpacking. I've been living and working in the mountains since 1974 so I've owned LOTS of packs and seen them perform and then age. Except for both my Ospreys I've never had a pack wear out in less than 10 years!