Kelty Flyway 43-Liter Backpack

All I have to say is that I lived out of this backpack during a 2-week tour of several major European cities (Venice, Rome, Berlin, Brussels, London). It came with me on cheap and sketchy airlines (at no charge because it just fit in overhead) and on the train from Rome to Venice. I caught buses, trains, and "the tube" (that's what redcoats call the subway) while my friends were trying to run with their rolling suitcases and looking like damn fools. This backpack chilled under my hostel bunk (with a lock on it obviously) or in the locker provided at some. IT HAD ROOM FOR A TOWEL SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO RENT A HOSTEL TOWEL. I once left a pear in one of the side pockets so long that it turned to slime and developed a civilization. This backpack forgave me. I once wore it to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago (because I was going to my hostel afterwards). We sat and shared a Chicago-style veggie dog on the shores of Lake Michigan. It has more sentimental value to me than anything else that I would still sell for drug money. When I die, I want to be buried with this backpack. Heck, it has so much space, I could probably be buried IN this backpack. That would be alright by me.

When looking to replace my Redwing 44, i was hoping to get another. Unfortunately the Redwing 44's only fit a max 18.5" torso length. So taking a chance on Kelty quality, I ordered the flyway 43 because my old 44 is used every day. I have to take a minute and say the only reason my old 44 was replaced is because it got coated in Hawaii red mud which never comes out of anything. This new 43 is just simply amazing.Again it gets used every day, and all my stuff stays very organized. The nice thing about this pack is that it doesn't puff out when you have the compression straps pulled in for light loads, giving it a slim profile and ease of mobility through crowded Oahu. All the adjustments are there, and you can customize the fit just for you.Another nice feature is that the waist strap tucks out of the way for every day use, but quickly deploys when needed. If you ever have to check the pack, simply put the attached rain fly on backwards and sinch it down (not needed for gate checking carry-ons on those little "puddle jumpers" though).The only reason i am giving it 4 stars instead of 5, and i know it's probably nit picking, but on my old 44, all of the zippers had those wonderful pulls with the aluminium triangles on them. Only the organizer pock has them on the 43.Overall probably the best and highest quality multi use pack out there. Kelty, you did it again.

Kelty hits the mark by paying attention to the details of making your trip easier by including conveniences in their Flyway backpack.Pros- Front panel loading gives much easier access to contents than top loaders and allows for an extra internal mesh pocket on the back of the front panel- Fabric separating the dirty clothes compartment is cut generous enough to fill the compartment when not in use. This also expands the other way when needing more room for dirty and less room for clean clothes.- Side compartments create a pass-through sleeve between the enclosed pocket and the main pack for umbrellas, walking sticks, etc.- Hip belt straps can be tucked away- Travel pack cover protects shoulder straps, but leaves the front handle exposed for easy carrying. Tucks away in its own compartment when not in use.- Carry-on friendly dimensions- Fits 3 eBags packing cubes (1-lg, 1-md, 1-sm) and an extra pair of shoes perfectly.- Padded laptop sleeve- Front compartment has organization pockets including a lined cell phone/camera compartment with velcro strap- Compression straps- Water bottle pocketsCons- No clothing compression straps- Not hydration compatible, but could be with a bit of tailoring- No hip belt pocketsI recently took this pack on a 5 day trip and was really happy I ditched the rolling suitcase. Having your suitcase on your back makes hopping on trains and bumming around until check in much easier.

I used to travel with an old college Jansport backpack but decided to get this before a 2.5-week trek around China. What a huge difference this bag was! The support system was a lifesaver, and I was able to carry about 23 lbs worth of clothing/shoes/misc gear everyday without a sore back. I still felt comfortable even during an 2 hour long uphill hike (and I'm an out of shape person).I was initially concerned about having enough room to pack everything I needed, but I was shocked by how much I could hold. The pockets on the side and front were very useful and like others here, I used packing cubes. To give others a sense of size, I was able to load a pair of full length jeans, 2 cropped jeans, a pair of linen capris, 5 shirts and 1 long-sleeved button downshirt/jacket (note: I used the army packing method of rolling outfits to save room). I also packed a swimsuit, 14 pairs of underwear and socks, a quart sized toiletry bag, a 17-inch travel tripod, a makeup bag, 1 pair of sneakers and 1 pair of sandals. And I still had room for souvenirs!I have trust issues with the TSA and was pleased to have no problems putting this bag in the overhead compartments of all the flights we took, including a small Embraer ERJ-190 model with JetBlue. I also brought it on two domestic Chinese airlines (one Boeing 737-800 and one Airbus 320) without an issue.My only complaint is the fact that the zipper pull tabs are nylon strings instead of a hard material I could lock for extra security, but I was able to use the rain cover while walking around the cities to ensure no one could rummage through my stuff.After using this bag, I can't imagine why anyone would want to lug around a huge suitcase on a trip unless they were staying in one place for several months. Seriously, people, pack light on your travels. It's so much better.