Kelty Tioga External Frame Backpack

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Simply The Best

Having backpacked for nearly half a century, graduating Outward Bound in 1965 (back in the days when people occasionally didn't live through it), I must share with you my opinion that no one of whom I'm aware knows more about constructing a backpack than Dick Kelty. No one's been making them as long.
As to the advantages of the external frame, they are many. How much and what kind of hiking do most of us do, on or off trail? More than a thirty mile trip max? If you have a specialized need for an internal frame - or a big, heavy expedition weight external frame - great. If not, a lightweight, external frame is vastly superior on the trail - lighter to carry - easier to port - better at the campsite. What then is the allure of the internal frame? Yeah, they're easier to deal with in airports, and seem, but are not, more flexible, adjustable on the trail (that is - if you've got a good frame pack). While one cannot deny the versatility of some of convertable travel/internal frame packs, such as Lowe has made so well for years, for straight out backpacking, the Kelty Tioga is many times the pack. And,in truth, if you pack it in a duffel, a frame pack will carry and stow quite easily at the airport. I purchased one of the first internal frame packs that Wayne Gregory ever made (from him personally), and have used other internal frame packs. Unless you're doing some serious, extended off-trail packing - forget the hype, and stick with an adjustable external frame. Frankly, a larger day pack serves quite well for most bush rambles.
Consider your real needs in a backpack: 1) Comfort 2) Durability 3) Load Capacity 4) Security. No one makes a more adjustable (in as many ways), more LST (light, strong, tough) pack than the quite affordable Tiogas. The Tioga, as simple as its design seems, is a highly technical, sophisticated, and well-conceived piece of gear, state of the art, with a long history of refinement. I've owned a Stephenson - Kelty is more comfortable (does not dig into front of pelvis - and yet gives quite a bit of "hip carry"). Dana Design (I owned a "Longbed") - way heavier. Kelty knows how much space you actually need - and where. A twenty - thirty pound load is best. But it will expand to a lot more. You can pull out the frame and attach for longer stays in the wild. And very moisture resistant (so far anyway). Happy trails.

Very Pleased

I'm very pleased with this product. Plenty of room, it's comfortable and looks good. It's durable also. I took a spill yesterday and fell about 10 feet onto a rocky trail. My first bounce was directly onto the bag and there was no damage and everything inside was safe! Great product for the price!