Kelty Red Cloud 5000

I LOVE THIS BACKPACK!

As a woman finding a bag thats waist straps would fit my waist was virtually impossible until I found this backpack! It is comfortable to wear even for a 6 hour hike, and has virtually no pulling on your shoulders. All the weight from your pack rests on your hips and makes traveling much more comfortable.

I also love the number of pockets and organizers this bag has. It makes everything reach

able from the water pockets to the dual hydration ports to the zippered pockets on the waist strap. To keep your bag nice I suggest investing in the Kelty raincover. It's really a must!

Overall love this pack and wouldn't change a thing about it!

I love this pack! I've taken it camping a number of times in the Boundary Waters (as well as traveling) and it's been great. Tons of space, pockets, etc. Adjustment was a bit difficult initially but once it was taken care of, it was great.

This is a great backpack. I am a 31-year-old woman and I have been backpacking for about 15 years. I used to carry the old men's external frame that my dad got me at a garage sale in my teens, then I got a women's external frame and thought... wow!... There really is a difference between men's and women's backpacks. This one doesn't bounce against my tail bone like the men's did.

So I started trying on different women's internal frame backpacks and fell in love with the Kelty Shadow's (3500?) feel. BUT it doesn't offer a sleeping bag compartment like I wanted and a friend talked me into getting more cubic inches (5000 instead of 3500) since I have a 3-year-old who backpacks with us, and I now need more room to store his food too.

This is the first backpack I have owned that I don't have to overstuff. In fact I have room left over. Everything has a place and it fits nicely. The frame can also be bent to your personal spinal curves, and it is of course adjustable like all of the new internal frames mostly are. It is so comfortable, the other day I wore it while doing chores to get used to it, and practically forgot it was on my back. It does not put pressure on my shoulders like the old ones did, but distributes everything nicely. My mom who is only 5' 2" (5 inches shorter than I) tried mine on and was surprised at how comfy it was. It is about 5lbs 13 oz.

I am very happy with it, and it is well worth purschasing especially since Kelty keeps it at an affordable price.

If I could change anything I might shoot to make it around 2 or 3 lbs with some kind of fancy space age frame like some have...but then they would probably charge more...so that is more of a personal thing for me... I am always oz. shaving now that I have kid food/gear to carry.

Very nice backpack overall.

-Stephanie in Cincinnati

I have been hiking and backpacking for 20 some years and out of all the packs I've worn this is the best pack I have ever had. It is easily adjustable to any torso size, holds a lot of gear!!!! It is extremely comfortable even when loads exceed 70 lbs.!!! It is extremely durable and tough all around even when hauling climbing gear into a base camp. It sits well and balances out well on hazardous mountain terrain.

I do own a Crestone Women's by North Face and it doesn't even come close to the Red Cloud. The North Face is durable but cannot haul gear for long base camp/climbing trips plus the hip belt on the North Face is constantly loosening up which is a great annoyance while trekking but with the Red Cloud you will never have a problem with the hip belt, it stays put!!! Plus the mesh pockets and zippered pockets are great for organizing gear and it is hydration compatible and I have to say is just an excellent all round pack!!!!! If you buy it you will not be disappointed!!!!

Loved the pack, but, I don't like the small water bottle holders on the side. My regular size bottle had to be clipped in to stay. The mesh side pocket for the bottles need to be much deeper or wider to accommodate a regular Nalgene bottle.

Spent 4 days/3-nights hiking in the Ozarks with about 40lbs. - good weather, no rain - and the pack was comfortable and I love all the pockets!!