By Karenna Awtry External frame backpacks are becoming the classic Cadillac sedans of hiking gear: outdated, oversized energy hogs. The new era of backpacks is all about the sleek, streamlined internal frame, but there are still a few diehards who prefer the tried-and-true features of external frame packs. Thinking “they just don’t make them like [...]
By Karenna Awtry The Kelty Trekker 3950 is a throwback in this technology-meets-style era of backpacks. This external frame pack is a classic, having changed very little from its pioneering days for Kelty. The famously tough external frame backpack gets a few modern updates from Kelty in the Trekker. Among them: adjustability and enhanced comfort. [...]
By Karenna Awtry Have you been lugging around the same uncomfortable, rigid backpack for 20 years, unwilling to admit it’s killing your back because the darn thing’s just so durable? It’s time to swallow your pride and make a (quite fiscally humble) investment in the 2010 Kelty Lakota 4000 Backpack. You may find yourself pleasantly [...]
By Karenna Awtry The 2010 Gregory Kalmia 28 is a roomy daypack that’s sleek enough to be your messenger bag and technical enough to carry you through an adventurous day hike.