Bag Review — Kelty Redwing 50
Looking for a backpack that can take you traveling around the world, camping in the desert, or on a weekend trip with your friends? I want to show some love for my original travel bag, the one I bought (after meticulous research) back in 2015 for my first trip out of the USA — the Kelty Redwing 50.
After four years of heavy use, I’ve got some insights to share.
Note — Kelty has updated this pack; this is a review of its previous iteration.
Exterior and Pockets
Here’s a shot of the whole bag with a departure load packed. You’ll notice no major blemishes, no tears, no scuffs on the bag. Despite FOUR YEARS of abuse. This thing is invincible.
The Kelty Redwing 50 also has loads of sturdy attachment points — clip your carabiners on and get creative! To save space, I keep shoes clipped outside, like these Vivobarefoot Gobi II desert boots.
Carry handles on this bag are minimal, but durable. There’s one decent handle sewn in with the molle loops, and a small one on the top near the straps. Neither has any padding. Shoulder straps, however, are very comfortable and durable, as is the hip belt.
The “wing” pockets (pictured above) are detached from the main compartment, giving you two flexible spaces to fit larger items or a combination of smaller items, like cold-weather items (gloves, scarf, beanie).
There is also a pass-thru space behind these wing pockets, meant for items like hiking poles. This is a feature of the bag that really highlights the creative packing solutions that are possible with the Kelty Redwing 50. You can store a light jacket, a towel, or just about anything that will fit in these spaces.
My favorite feature of this bag has to be the HUGE mesh water bottle pockets, which are just incredible. Almost any water bottle can fit in these bad boys, and they’re large enough that I designate one as quick-access storage for my Patagonia Nanopuff jacket (another must have for backpacking; I’m still using mine after 6 years).
I’ve been traveling with a Cotopaxi Allpa 42 for the last 2 years, and while I love it, the tiny water bottle sleeve has been a huge issue for me. Points for Kelty!
Main Pack Storage Compartments
You’ll be surprised how much you can pack into the Kelty Redwing 50. In addition to the ample space provided by the water bottle and wing pockets, this pack boasts a quick-access “brain” pocket, an external pocket with some dividers for organizing small items, and, of course, a cavernous main compartment.
The brain pocket is solid, and will be your primary quick access area.
I typically keep a book and small journal here, plus a fanny pack or small shoulder pouch, and small knick-knacks, such as accessories and souvenirs. If you’re in transit, this is an ideal place to store snacks, airplane tickets, headphones, and a passport. There’s not a ton of space here, so you’ll fare better by reserving the brain pocket for a few small items that you want regular access to.
The exterior organization pocket is helpful, but I do have qualms with it.
Pros: Lots of space, and it’s deep. There’s a key leash. It has slim pockets of assorted sizes. I love keeping my passport here because there’s a perfectly sized pocket with a Velcro strap to secure it.
Cons: When bag is packed, the bottom of this deep pocket becomes a black hole. Most of the dividers are just too slim to reasonably use. A lot can fit in this space, but the organization features fall short. Expect to be digging around for small items that get lost in here.
The main storage area of the Kelty Redwing 50 is spacious,
. . . and there aren’t any sort of organizational features that force you to pack in any certain way. So it’s really up to you to pack efficiently.
One of my major gripes with this bag was that the main access zipper didn’t go all the way, making items in the bottom of the pack difficult to access. Top-loading packs are great for hauling gear, but they’re less ideal to live out of. However, with the use of packing cubes, everything becomes simpler. That bottom space doesn’t need to be accessed because no individual items will float there; easy-access items go on top of the cubes.
In the main compartment, I’ve got four packing cubes, a daypack (in this photo, the Camelback), small dopp kit; and in the divider, a Microsoft Surface Pro 7, slim moleskin journal, and large documents folder.
What’s in each packing cube:
Medium: 1x Gramicci climbing pants, 1x linen pants, 2x long sleeve button up layers
Small: 3x t-shirt, 2x short sleeve button up — all rolled
Slim: 4 pair boxer brief, 4 pair socks (plenty of extra room in here)
Slim: 4 t shirts folded
I have also used this bag for backcountry camping, climbing trips, paintball outings, etc. For activities where you’ll be fully loading in and out, this bag is perfect. A lot of the issues I was having with this bag on my earlier, long-haul backpacking trips were due to my inefficient packing techniques.
Here are my overall ratings and thoughts on the Kelty Redwing 50:
Durability — 4/5
After four years, this thing still feels invincible — I’m not overly cautious with the pack, yet is has no cuts, tears, or major blemishes. I never hesitate to grab it for adventures. The straps have held up, as well as all zippers and buckles. I would give it 5 stars, but I had one issue with the chest buckle/load bearing strap detaching from the piping on the shoulder strap about 1.5 years in.
Comfort — 4/5
The bag has nice padding and straps, plus a hefty hip belt. When everything is set up correctly, it’s a comfortable pack that I’ve done miles at a time with. I’ve loaded it up and hiked into the Joshua Tree back country to camp. I’ve even jogged two miles to catch a train in Austria with this thing fully loaded (doable, but not recommended).
Efficient Use of Space — 4/5 (travel with packing cubes, or for hauling adventure gear); 2/5 (travel without cubes)
If you are using this pack for travel, get packing cubes (I recommend Eagle Creek products). Learn from my mistakes. The exterior organizer pocket is more frustrating than helpful, but the wing pockets, pass-thru spaces, and bottle pockets REALLY shine on this pack.
Carry On Travel — 3/5
I know people are always quick to proclaim carry on restrictions as dogma, but from 2015–2019, I only had to check this bag TWICE — and once was because of weight, not size. However, this bag is a bit on the bulkier side, especially when loaded. It will not fit under a seat, but definitely fits in the overhead compartment. This has been my personal experience, but I think we can expect airlines to continue getting stricter. Also, you don’t need 50L for long-term backpacking. It’s just a bit too big. I would recommend checking out the 44L version of this pack.
Price — 5/5
You can pick up this (older) version of the bag for around $50 (try eBay), or the new updated version for around $130 online. For a pack that is this well built and functional, that’s a STEAL — especially in a market where travel packs are being sold for well over $300. At the end of the day, you could travel in your old Jansport schoolbag. Spend less on gear and more on street food!
Overall — 3.8/5
I have lots of love for this pack. Sure, it lacks a lot of the “ritzy” features of the “Kickstarter bags” and more modern packs, but it also lacks the premium price tag. This pack has a more rugged, adventurous look and feel, high build quality, and is a great platform for you to use.
This was my first backpack,
. . . and it took me just about everywhere. It also taught me a lot about travel — and myself. Though I chose to switch to the Cotopaxi Allpa 42 (mainly for quality of life upgrades and more interior organization features), I’ll still keep the Kelty Redwing 50 close at hand for my more adventurous, outdoor trips and treks.
