What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:"The Osprey Kestrel 48L Backpack hits the sweet spot I have been looking for in a two-day pack for a long time. The AirScape backpanel kept things noticeably cooler on a hot desert canyon trip where I was moving fast and sweating hard, and the Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment meant I could go hands-free for a third-class scramble without stopping to lash anything down. The integrated rain cover has already saved me twice."The best backpacking trips are the ones where the pack disappears and the terrain takes over, and the Osprey Kestrel 48L Backpack earns that kind of trust quickly. The LightWire peripheral frame stabilizes loads up to 40 lbs without the rigidity of a heavier internal frame, and the AirScape backpanel keeps a channel of moving air between the pack and your back through the kind of sustained effort that turns a lesser pack into a sweaty, uncomfortable burden. For two-day summit bids, quick overnighters, and fast desert canyon miles, this is exactly the right amount of pack.The feature set covers the scenarios that matter most on technical terrain. Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment lets you rack the poles in seconds when the trail pitches up and hands need to be free for scrambling. Daisy chain gear loops and bungee tie-offs run down the front for lashing extra gear, a zippered sleeping bag compartment keeps the bottom organized, and stretch mesh pockets on the front and sides swallow a rain jacket or a water bottle without requiring the pack to come off. The integrated rain cover stows until the sky opens up, and StraightJacket compression straps keep the load tight when the pack is not running full.
Material: [bottom] 500D nylon packcloth, [main] 210 x 630D double diamond nylon;
Volume: [small/medium] 46L (2807cu in), [medium/large] 48L (2929cu in);
Support/Suspension: [backpanel] AirScape, [frame] Lightwire, [frame sheet] Atilon foam;
Shoulder Straps: ridged foam;
Waist Belt: yes;
Hydration Compatible: external;
Reservoir Included: no;
Access: top;
Pockets: 2 stretch mesh, 2 zippered hipbelt, 1 zippered vertical side, 1 hybrid shove-it;
Gear Loops: yes;
Ice Axe Carry: yes;
Trekking Pole Carry: yes;
Sleeping Bag Compartment: zippered;
Rain Cover: yes;
Compression: StraightJacket straps;
Dimensions: [small/medium] 26 x 13 x 13in, [medium/large] 28 x 13 x 13in;
Claimed Weight: [small/medium] 3lb 7oz, [medium/large] 3lb 9.4oz;
Activity: backpacking ;
Manufacturer Warranty: lifetime;
storecredits: 0.0;
Style Variants
Available Colors: Black, Olive Tan
Size Reference for Osprey Kestrel 48L Backpack
Available Sizes: S/M
