Sep 10
1
Kelty Red Cloud 5000 Womens Pack
Kelty Red Cloud 5000 Womens Pack
By Karenna Awtry
Whether you’re loading up for an extended backpacking trip or packing the gear for the rest of your crew, the Kelty Red Cloud 5000 women’s backpack will fulfill your desires for capacity and comfort.
Designed specifically for a woman’s body, the Red Cloud 5000 promises a customized and comfortable fit thanks to several unique features. The Red Cloud pack’s Cloudlock II suspension adjusts with ease.
Just use the rip-and-stick function to slide the Kelty backpack up and down the frame. This adjustability ensures that your pack is in the right place according to your torso length and personal comfort zone.
The shoulder straps and hipbelt are contoured for ride and support that won’t leave you with hot spots or aching joints, even when you’re carrying upwards of 50 pounds. The Kelty Red Cloud 5000 gives you enhanced control when it comes to stability, too.
The sternum strap, load-lifter straps and belt stabilizers work together to keep your backpack balanced. A pulleylike feature on the hipbelt, called the Scherer Cinch, makes it so easy to adjust the hipbelt you’ll be able to do it without even thinking. The hipbelt is also removable, further enhancing the customizable features of this pack.
It’s little wonder that Red Cloud 5000 owners are unanimous in their claims of comfort with this Kelty hiking backpack.
When it comes to a pack that’s so capable of great capacity, you’re apt to fill it to the brim. That means your Red Cloud will get heavy, and when you’re hauling that kind of load, heat and sweat can be a major factor. Moisture-wicking ventilation on the back panel (as well as the hipbelt and shoulder straps) keeps things breezy and prevents irritation at pressure points.
We’ve covered the highpoints of fit, but what about all this talk of outstanding capacity?
The roomy main compartment can be accessed via a combination panel- and top-loading design, which gives you straight-shot access to all corners of the bag without any of that frenzied digging.
Keep your sleeping bag tucked away in a separate, zippered compartment that includes external straps for your sleeping pad. There is, of course, a hydration sleeve that can accommodate your own reservoir (up to 3L).
In addition to the major storage compartments are large, zippered side pockets, hipbelt pockets, 2 mesh water bottle pockets and a large front pocket complete with organizer. The top lid comes off, making a handy waistpack. Finally, extra gear straps to the outside thanks to a daisy chain, ice-axe loop and lash tabs.
You’ll either be overwhelmed by all the space or amazed at your ability to fill it up. Either way, you gear will stay neat and accessible.
Keep the whole kit and caboodle tight and dry with stabilizing side compression straps and a cinchable spindrift collar. The Kelty Red Cloud 5000 gets high marks from women who say it really is great at keeping out the rain and snow.
Red Cloud reviewers note this backpack’s outstanding comfort, padding, capacity, ease of load, adjustability and water-resistance. Some owners have found it difficult to unload as well as hard to compress; those complaints are few, and could be attributed to packing style.
Experiment with your backpack before you hit the trail and you’ll find there are many ways to adjust your gear. It might even take a few miles on the go before you find the best strategy. Be patient: this is a process all extended backpackers go through.
