Gear Review: Osprey Kestral 68 rucksack
I purchased the Osprey Kestral 68 rucksack following a decision to do more multi-day hikes rather than just single days. Prior to buying this rucksack I had only had packs up to 30L suitable for single day hikes.
I had done a bit of reading up on different larger packs and had been really impressed with what I had read on the Osprey – I also loved the look of the pack.
Purchasing the pack in January 2020 for £120.00 from Go Outdoors I remember thinking I got an absolute bargain – that’s before I’d even tested it out.
Quick Verdict:
The Osprey Kestra 68 rucksack is a sturdy pack with plenty of space for storage and feels very comfortable on your back – with a ventilated back system.
- Best for: Adding an additional layer a warmth (especially on early morning starts) or when stopping for a break.
- Price: £230 (I paid £120 for mine in a sale during COVID19 in 2020)
- Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)
Jump to: Summary • Design & Build • Value • Comparison • Final Verdict • Gallery
Summary
I absolutely love this rucksack — it is a really sturdy pack that has been comfortable on both single and multi-day hikes. The pack has plenty of room with a sleeping bag base compartment with internal divider as well as a ventilated mesh back system. Although I’ve used the pack plenty of times over the past five-years I haven’t tested it as much for the hikes these types of rucksacks are primarily designed for.
One of the only niggles I have with this rucksack is the hipbelt pockets — I found them a little useless in all honesty and not quick and convenient to use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lots of space and comfortable padded straps | Twin hipbelt pockets — not as easy and convenient to access as I originally thought |
| Ventilated back system | |
| Integrated & detachable rain cover |
Specification and Features
- 1.7kg
- Integrated & detachable raincover
- Large U-Zip opening
- Ventilated back system
- Stow-on-the-Go™ trekking pole attachment
- PowerMesh™ dual access water bottle pockets
- Front shove-it pocket
- Padded shoulder strap
- Twin zippered hipbelt pockets
- Sleeping bag base compartment with internal divider
- External hydration sleeve
- Twin ice axe loops
Design and build
If you are looking for a pack that can easily carry heavy loads with plenty of space for all your gear on longer trips then The Osprey Kestral 68 is perfect for you. In all honesty I had purchased the pack with the intention of doing lots of multi-day hikes and camping — however COVID put an end to those plans at the time. It has since been put through its paces on multi-day hikes in Scotland a number of camping trips where the design and quality of the pack has been spot on.
Value for money
Given how well built this pack is you will undoubtedly get plenty of miles out of it, it also sits nicely and is really comfortable considering its size. There are also lots of features that make this rucksack well worth the money. As well as using it on multi-day hikes I’ve also utilised the pack on single day hikes where I’ve packed both my gear as well as my girlfriends as I’ve found the pack more comfortable to wear than some of my smaller sized pack.
Competitor comparison
| Brand and Style | Weight | Volume | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deuter Aircontact | 2.5kg | 70+10 litres | £280 | Check price |
| Gregory Baltoro 65 | 2.2kg | 65 litres | £290 | Check price |
Final Verdict
- Comfort: 4/5
- Weather Resistance: 4/5
- Weight: 4/5
- Value: 5/5
This is a great rucksack in my opinion, it’s sturdy with plenty of space and storage and feels very comfortable on your back. As I’ve said above I haven’t fully utilised the rucksack for the type of hiking that it is designed for — but I’ve loved it everytime I’ve taken it out.
There is a built in divider, which allows the pack to be divided into two sections – the lower section is accessed by a zipped access panel. There are three outer pockets, two large side and one ‘shove-it’ pocket on the front of the pack. The two side pockets are really useful for water bottles and the shove-it pocket is great for lightweight jackets or extra layers.
The detachable raincover is easy to stash away and when needed has stood up to some tough conditions in the English mountains. Several hikes with really harsh weather conditions, particularly Buachaille Etive Beag in Scotland and the cover has not failed.
A large zipped pocket on the lid comes in handy for storing all kinds of things – I tend to stick a bunch of smaller things such as a small first aid kit, my lunch and stuff like that. With 6 straps there is also no shortage of storage options for you to attach large items to the backpack such as a sleeping bag or a tent.
The hip pockets to me are a it useless which is a shame as I feel they would have come in perfect for accessing stuff like your phone or snacks quickly on the go. Other than that I can’t really fault it – I’ve loved having such a versatile pack and look forward to getting more use out of it in the years to come.
Gallery
Tested by Mike Richardson — field-tested in the Peak District, Snowdonia and Scotland between January 2020 – January 2025. This product was purchased in full by Mike. We never accept payment for positive reviews.
