Osprey Kestrel 48 Review

The structure of the pack is made of the cost, weight and flexibility optimized material; aluminum.

Shoulder Straps

Air mesh shoulder straps are edgeless and very well padded. Infinite adjustability without extra length with a velcro panel provides the best snug for your torso.

Load lifters missing the right angle are corrected with the previous 2016 Osprey Kestrel 48 model and now attach higher in the straps meeting the ideal 45-60 degree angle [2]. It's also the same in the 2019 model.

Additionally, sternum straps contain a rescue whistle where they meet.

Hip Belt

Pockets: There are 2 hip belt pockets on each side

Air mesh and decent padding in shoulder straps and back panel of the pack reach all the way down to the hip belt as well.

Hip belt of 2016 model is 3" shorter than previous model. M/L Size of 2016 model fits waists >29", while previous model fits waists >32". 2019 model is identical to 2016 model.

Previous 2016 model:

The benefit of less stiffness is that it feels more comfortable and wraps your waist completely when walking shorter distances with lighter loads.

The sacrifice made with less stiffness is that you'll probably start to feel the discomfort with relatively higher loads or walking anything longer than 15-20 miles. 

This is one of the reasons why I don't regard this pack as a perfect, ideal extended (5+ days) trip pack.

In 2016 model, pockets are much larger than regular size smartphones, but it's still very tough to fit very large smartphones. But this is updated with 2019 model and now they can fit any smartphone! This was one of my main gripes with the 2016 model, so it's great to see that Osprey thought about it and fixed this.

Storage

Compartments

Main compartment

Pockets: No internal pocket

Kestrel 48 is a top loading pack with a decent large entrance.

It's a true life saver when you need a confined item in the center and unpacking all the main compartment isn't the best solution - which happens all the time during every activity.

Sleeping bag compartment

Pockets: No internal pocket

Wide mouth access sleeping bag compartment is very large and separated from main compartment with a removable divider.

Previous 2016 model:

It's larger than regular size sleeping bag compartments so it's possible to stuff it with more lightweight, puffy camp items like towel, pillow, sleeping pad or nightwears since they help with effective weight distribution, frequency of item usage and shock absorption against instant crashes. 

If you'd like extra space inside, you can easily strap your pad outside with useful sleeping pad straps.

Also, they're removable:

On the underside of the external pocket there is a mesh internal compressed pocket which allows smaller room.

Front surface

Pockets: 1 mesh pouch

Mesh pouch on the front is useful for any item that you'd like to isolate from the inner, dryer items. It isn't zippered or attached with a velcro, so you're left with relying on the force of mesh compression to keep the items in their place.

With the 2019 model they updated the materials used in this pouch, and now nylon is also used besides mesh & the pouch is adjustable with compression straps! You can also use the straps to have the pouch apply more force.

Previous 2016 model:

An enclosed, safe pocket on the front is lacking and would be nice to have with this product in my opinion.

Side

Pockets: 1 vertical side pocket

At right side, there is a vertical zippered side entrance to the main compartment to gain access to entire pack content like mentioned previously. It's very useful during any activity.

At left side, there is an innovative quite large vertical side pocket.

Previous 2016 model:

Mesh water bottle holders at each side are very large and deep as you can see in below picture.

Compression straps work perfectly.

Previous 2016 model:

Current 2019 model:

Or side gear attachment!:

In addition to all these, there are mesh water bottle holders as you see. My main gripe with the previous 2016 model is that they don't offer horizontal installment - but only vertical.

This makes it impossible to store your water bottle there on the go - but this is also fixed with the updated 2019 model! Now they're accessible from sides as well:

Hydration

Hydration pouch is outside at the rear surface of the pack.

It's better than having pouch inside the main compartment such as Teton's 3400 Scout since you aren't made to unpack completely, replenish and pack completely back again which we all know isn't happening most of the time. 

Typically you'd just end up giving up on it - especially when the pack is full up to the brim. Pouch is right behind the straps and back suspension pad - right below the droplet symbol. It offers plenty of space that can fit up to around 2.5 - 3 liters of bladders.

Gear Attachments

Total 10 Gear Loops: 2 ice tool loops on the front, 2 trekking pole loops on the straps, 2 removable sleeping pad straps, 2 daisy chains and 2 compression straps that can be utilized for attaching extra gear.

Ice tool loops

You can equip ice tool loops with bungee tie offs and tool loops:

Trekking pole attachments

Stow-on-the-go trekking pole attachments at one side of the pack provide pole stowing without taking off the pack:

Sleeping pad straps

See Storage section above.

Compression straps

Compression straps mentioned earlier can be used to attach especially long gears in collaboration with water bottle mesh pockets:

Daisy chains

Extra gear can be attached using daisy chains[5].

Conclusion

Design intent of Osprey Kestrel 48 is a versatile backpack that can be used for both moderate outdoor events and traveling. If this is you, you're looking at one of your best options.