Kelty Red Cloud 5600 Pack (Patriot Blue/Charcoal)

For $150 this pack is amazing. The highlights include the great
stability and comfort. I backpacked many times all over the world
with this pack, including a 2-month trip from Panama all the way
up through Mexico, and it was awesome. There's a lot of storage
that compresses easily. The accessory pouches and compartments
are very smartly sized and placed. The detachable fanny pack is
great for day excursions. I saw many people carrying aroudn an
extra back-pack. No need here! It fits perfectly ontop of the
pack. Kelty always has great products, but this is a fits all
pack that should sell for a good 100 bucks more. You can't do wrong.

Large pack for a extended hike, easy access to all areas of pack, good price for novice backpacker.

Very good, large capacity, sturdy for the price.Had bought one, now got one for my teenager.

I just finished a weeklong hike with my new Kelty Red Cloud 6650. Here are some things I observed...

Now, before I review this item I must tell you the difference (if you are not familiar with it already) between internal and external frame packs. An external frame pack is one of course that has the frame of the pack on the outside, allowing the user to tie several various items to the frame, such as tent, bedroll, and sleeping bag. An internal frame pack has the frame located internally so the pack is more of a "school" looking pack and of course does not have the bars on the outside.

When buying my new pack this time around, I chose to go with an internal frame pack. There are pro's and cons to both. The biggest pro to me with an internal frame pack was the fact I was not going to have any worries about things strapped down coming unstrapped while hiking, getting torn up through brush, or causing me to become top-heavy in precarious situations. I found that with an internal frame pack I had much better balance as all of my items save for one was located inside the pack itself, and weight wise was situated closer to my torso.

When purchasing your internal frame pack of course, your then going to want to make sure that you have items that are fit for it and are not going to be needed to strap on the outside of the pack. Make sure your sleeping bag is one that "stuffs" instead of a roll up one, so that you can fit the stuff bag inside the bottom compartment that is made for it, therefore getting it out of the way. Try and do the same with bedroll, camping pillow, and tent. The tent might be difficult but if you can fit it or the bedroll inside your pack, the other can go externally with the straps that are on this pack at the bottom of it.

What is good about this pack? Versatility for one. The pack has a multitude of compartments both big and small that can all come open, undone, and is easily accessible at a moments notice. There is of course the main compartment, which is located in the center of the pack. You can access this from the top or from the zip drawer on the bottom of it, which you access through the second compartment that holds your sleeping bag. On the outer top of the pack (so if you lay the pack straps down on the ground) there are several compartments located in a sort of layered "shell" system which when pulled back, also allows another access to the main compartment.

The smaller compartments on the outer part of the pack in the "shell" system are great. This is where you have your little things; your bags of trail mix, your suntan lotion, playing cards, paperback book etc. There is a little felt fold over sleeve to store eyeglasses in which I thought was great since I used it for just that. On the top of the pack is the "topper" which has 2 different compartments. One is for Bulk and the other is for things to lay flat, and it includes a latched ribbon that you can keep your car keys on. Other pockets provide places for maps, flashlights, matches, and the other assorted items you may be taking with you.

One of the greatest features of this pack? It's the 100 oz. Camelback reservoir bladder that when filled, can be placed in a compartment between the main compartment and your back. Don't be fooled, you won't even know its there! The aquifer tube you will drink from can by pulled through and placed on the left or right strap over your shoulder, so you just turn slightly to it and can have easy access for a quick drink. When going on long trips (5-12 miles a day) its never a bad idea to have as much water as possible, so on each side of your Kelty Red Cloud 6650 are the standard yet classic pockets to hold water bottles. On the outside of the pack, on the shell pockets located on the top (if you were to place the pack straps down on the ground) are a ribbed spine of nylon material that has several loops in it. This is in the case you do decide to pack more on the outside, you can hang just about anything from them, or strap on a map tube, tent stakes or any other long object vertically instead of the traditional horizontal.

Durability: This is very important. When you go hiking with newbies, you soon see who has the 30-dollar specials. These take a whack or two from branches and a scuff from a rock and ultimately are toast by the third day. With this pack you get what you paid for. As it says in the item description, it's made with durable 420-denier nylon micro ripstop, 600-denier; Kodra nylon and 500-denier nylon. In layman's terms it means its tough enough to withstand anything including a mudslide, giving you years of enjoyment on the trail. The one thing you have to be careful with is the size of this pack. Normally for a three-day jaunt a backpacker can easily suffice with a 4500 cubic inch pack. Coming in at 6650, this particular red cloud can hold everything but the kitchen sink. Its something to keep in mind when hiking...you want to pack as LIGHT as possible because the more you pack, the heavier you are, and therefore the more energy you will exert when hiking. Not to mention that if you get overloaded it can be dangerous balance wise and tougher on your poor feet!

The cinch system is great with the main compartment. Everything has drawstrings with locks or durable double-tongued zippers on them, so I doubt you'll ever break any of your closing lids and flaps when on the trail. The main compartment draws shut both around the top and on the top giving you a double protection if it rains. The straps that hold it on are easily adjustable and are comfortable to wear. They can be tightened up at any location so that none would ever be able to complain again. The belt system is easily adjustable as well, and most of this can be done WHILE the pack is fully loaded and on your person, making it nice to do while not slowing you down.

Again, it may be to big of a pack for you storage wise, but anything over three days, this is the one to have, and for the price you can't go wrong. I see a lot of 300 dollar packs out there but they don't do the Kelty Red Cloud 6650 justice...at least unless your hiking K2 or something, and even then it would still do you proud.