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 May 2020 for £120.00 from Go Outdoors I remember thinking I got an absolute bargain – that’s before I’d even tested it out. I also purchased the pack during the COVID-19 lockdown so it was the perfect time to test it out on some local walks before heading up to the mountains.
Technical Specification
- 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
What we thought
One of the first things I noticed was how comfortable the Osprey Kestral 68 was – I actually found it more comfortable than the smaller rucksacks I had used previously. The level of comfort was probably assisted by the ventilated back system.
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. Being able to quickly access a first aid kit is essential in my opinion.
The hip strap has two zip pockets to stash items you need quick and easy access to – such as a mobile phone. In my experience these pockets are good in theory but they didn’t prove very practical in reality. I struggled to utilse these pockets on the go and found myself needing to stop which sort of defeats the purpose.
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 pack has simple clips as well which it might sound daft I love as I’ve had rucksacks in the past that I’ve found the clips to be useless and more difficult to use than they should be.
Conclusion
This is a great rucksack in my opinion, it’s sturdy with plenty of space and storage and feels very comfortable on your back. In all fairness I haven’t utilised the rucksack for the type of hiking that it is designed for – but I’ve loved it all the same everytime I’ve taken it out.
It is well priced at £120.00 as the pack is durable and has lasted several years and is still in great condition – I’d expect a little more wear and tear if it had been used for the type of hikes I had planned initially but feel it would still hold up well.
I love how much you can fit into the pack as well – I know it sounds daft to say but I often prefer to take this out on a day hike rather than some of my other packs as it feels more comfortable. If I do use it on a day hike it comes in useful as I can pack Louise’s stuff into it as well.
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.
