Kelty Yukon 48 External Pack

2020-08-01T20:00:00

Moved from an internal frame to an external one.... the amount of adjustability is phenomenal. yes the frame adds to base weight but with the rigidity it offers I'll never go back.

Jonathan L.

Originally posted at

2020-08-01T20:00:00

Excellent!! Best backpack I’ve ever had. As a small woman, I’d suggest a slightly shorter waist strap, to allow more tight cinching, as the tightest point was barely just enough for me.

Jeffrey S.

Originally posted at

2020-07-15T20:00:00

I am 5'2 and 5 months pregnant and have been doing a lot of backpacking this summer. This framepack is perfect for my needs, and for my frame. It's also this really pretty teal color (but looked more green online.) So that was a pleasant surprise. It's got plenty of pockets for everything and the lower back cushioning is so comfortable I honestly want to wear it all the time (but that's just because pregnant = lower back pain all the time.) Haha. Overall, a great investment that I'll be using for years to come!

Erin D.

Originally posted at

2020-07-01T20:00:00

I love my Yukon 48. I had a periwinkle Women’s Tioga in the 80s, then had one of the first Dana Designs Terraplanes. While I loved that pack and all of it’s ahead-of-it’s-time design, I missed the airiness, lightness, and simplicity of my old Tioga. So, here it is, 2020, and my stimulus check bought me an old friend with some nice new updates. It’s love all over again.

Beth L.

Originally posted at

2020-05-31T20:00:00

Loved the pack! Only wished that it had adjustments at the top of the shoulder straps as well. We hiked 12 days with 45 pounds, my 17 year old daughter and I ( older mother:) Plenty of room for our gear.

Heidi G.

Originally posted at

2020-05-16T20:00:00

lots of pics of Kelty Yukon/trekker/etc show the pack riding high on the frame, often with load items above the top of the model's head making the whole thing top-heavy. Is it possible to adjust the location of the pack so that it rides lower on the frame. Thx, MB

Mike

Originally posted at

2020-05-14T20:00:00

Took the pack through a nor'Easter hike and had no issues with interior moisture. The bag holds more than I need it too and is easy to attach things to on the outside.

Nichole F.

Originally posted at

2020-04-26T20:00:00

Well made, classic. Daughter is 5'4" and fits perfectly with plenty of room for gear.

David H.

Originally posted at

2020-04-24T20:00:00

I have enjoyed/used Kelty products all my life, here in Nepal. The Yukon 48 was supposed to have arrived here early in April. Regrettably today (25 April) we are in Day #33 of national "lock down." I'll be happy to review the pack once it comes (I still love external-frame) ... and I'm quite sure will will follow in the lineage of all Kelty products I have owned/used here in the past: Excellent.

Dale N.

Originally posted at

2020-03-24T20:00:00

after my trip to Mount Washington New Hampshire & the Grand Canyon; before years end hopefully. Customer service excellent(it was a phone order)

John J.

Originally posted at

2020-03-22T20:00:00

Excellent first pack for my young boy scout.

Rich P.

Originally posted at

2020-02-19T19:00:00

I am an adult female (5'4") but on the hefty side. Still, this pack fits me perfectly! I plan on using it for my upcoming thru hike. I have previously used Osprey packs for longer hikes, but the Kelty Yukon is actually WAY more comfortable for the load I am carrying (approx 40 lb). It has so many attachment points for tying equipment down, and it carries everything with ease! All the weight is on the hips! I thought my old Osprey pack distributed the weight well, but the Yukon does it even better! Like very very noticeably better. The two dings I have for the packs... no pockets on the shoulder straps or waist belt! I ended up buying molle attachments on Amazon to add to the shoulder straps for pockets. Also, the bag does have a pocket/sleeve in the back of the main compartment but it isn't big enough for my hydration kit (3L). I don't think the pocket was meant for one... as there is no hydration port/hole either. Not a big issue, as I am just going to plop my water bag near the top of the inside of my pack and have the tubing come out from the flap. Overall, I am so happy with my purchase. This bag is better and cheaper than so many of the high end internal frame packs. I highly recommend it!!

ashley k.

Originally posted at

2020-02-17T19:00:00

As a smaller lady (5'1", 120ish pounds), I regularly struggle with finding a well-fitting pack that has ANY room for adjustment, at all. The straps and sizing on this pack have some give, either way, and everything feels really well made. We're still in a deep-freeze here, but as soon as spring weather hits, I can't wait to see how this bag feels on the trails!

Tawnie T.

Originally posted at

2020-02-06T19:00:00

Took it out for the first time today fully loaded with everything I’ll be taking for a 4 day 3 night backpacking trip at Havasupai for a test run and it was amazingly comfortable, and I carried more weight with my Yukon 48 than I have previously carried before the Yukon 48 and my shoulders and neck felt great ???? not sore and tight like before. I have a 3L bladder that fits into my 5.11 tactical vest and it fits perfectly in my Yukon 48. strapped my bear canister full of MRE’s on top of the pack my pad underneath by doing so made plants of room inside my Yukon for everything else. I’m a 48yr of age 5’5” 140# male and former Marine and I LOVE MY YUKON 48

Louie T.

Originally posted at

2020-01-30T19:00:00

I haven't used the pack yet and hope I can update my review in the fall after my hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail. The pack seems very well built. Its color on the computer doesn't do it justice. I was a little concerned about not liking the color, but it is an awesome shade of green. Not sure why external frames aren't that common anymore. They seem like they can handle a load better than their counterparts and short of scrambling over any technical terrain I don't think I'll have a problem keeping my balance. I also think the size is perfect. I've seen reviews chalking this up to a women's pack because of its size but with how small the "larger" items (sleeping bags, pads, pillows, down jackets, etc) we need on a hike are these days it should be perfect. Unless you are the type of person who packs the house you should be fine and actually better off with a smaller pack. Probably the most interesting thing about this pack is that there was a marijuana bud inside it. The box was factory sealed so it couldn't have been a return and I had a good laugh over it. Some toker in the PI must have been rolling a fat one while making this beast.

Anthony D.

Originally posted at

2020-01-08T19:00:00

So at the moment the pack has yet to be taken on a joy ride. But the pack itself looks nice and we are anxious to strap some weight in.

andrew r.

Originally posted at

2019-12-25T19:00:00

This is an excellent pack, well engineered, wel made. Couldn’t be happier.

sarah e.

Originally posted at

2019-03-05T19:00:00

Purchased for a child and it fits perfectly. The frame and suspension system are adjustable so the pack can grow with the user. Adjustable shoulder straps make for a perfect fit. Only trouble is the large main pocket, it isn’t completely divided so your stuff will fall to the bottom if you don’t pack correctly. Would recommend for users as small as children or as tall as 5’10”

Scamper

Originally posted at

2017-05-31T20:00:00

My husband and I have been backpacking over 35 years and in fact we have only taken a couple of vacations where we did not backpack. We are not "weekenders" either. We have taken backcountry trips in Glacier for 10 days at a time. Ironically my first pack in the early 80s was internal frame and then a few years later I got a Yukon and loved it. Last year I thought it was time to try some of the newer, highly touted internal frames. I went to the famous backpacking store and tried on 5 internal framed packs - designed for women - filled with the weight I usually carry (35#). I seriously thought I was going to have to stop backpacking as my knees started to buckle under me (and yes, the salespersons said they were fitted correctly). Finally I said that I had my old Yukon external frame in the car and could I try it for comparison. I repacked the weight in the Yukon, put it on and felt like I was walking on air. I contacted Kelty and got a new belt and straps and it was even better. We took two backcountry trips in Glacier and I had no trouble carrying the weight.

Kathryn P.

Originally posted at

2017-05-31T20:00:00

My husband and I have been backpacking over 35 years and in fact we have only taken a couple of vacations where we did not backpack. We are not "weekenders" either. We have taken backcountry trips in Glacier for 10 days at a time. Ironically my first pack in the early 80s was internal frame and then a few years later I got a Yukon and loved it. Last year I thought it was time to try some of the newer, highly touted internal frames. I went to the famous backpacking store and tried on 5 internal framed packs - designed for women - filled with the weight I usually carry (35#). I seriously thought I was going to have to stop backpacking as my knees started to buckle under me (and yes, the salespersons said they were fitted correctly). Finally I said that I had my old Yukon external frame in the car and could I try it for comparison. I repacked the weight in the Yukon, put it on and felt like I was walking on air. I contacted Kelty and got a new belt and straps and it was even better. We took two backcountry trips in Glacier and I had no trouble carrying the weight.

Kathryn P.

Originally posted at

2016-12-06T19:00:00

It's hard for me to find reviews written by women the same size as me so I thought I would do one. I've only used the backpack for one trip so far, but I am in LOVE! Took about 20 minutes of hiking to get used to it but after that I barely even noticed it while climbing Mt. Adams in the 80 degree heat. I'm 5'5 and around 150 lbs and this size fits me perfectly, definitely wouldn't want anything larger though. I love all the external pockets and rectangular shape which makes it really easy to pack and find things.

Kaili P.

Originally posted at

2016-12-06T19:00:00

It's hard for me to find reviews written by women the same size as me so I thought I would do one. I've only used the backpack for one trip so far, but I am in LOVE! Took about 20 minutes of hiking to get used to it but after that I barely even noticed it while climbing Mt. Adams in the 80 degree heat. I'm 5'5 and around 150 lbs and this size fits me perfectly, definitely wouldn't want anything larger though. I love all the external pockets and rectangular shape which makes it really easy to pack and find things.

Kaili P.

Originally posted at

2016-04-21T20:00:00

I have had my Kelty Yukon for years. I have at least three thousand miles on this pack. I absolutely love the versatility of the external frame. The suspension is not user friendly to get set right. There is a lot of trial and error to get everything set to your body.....once you have the pack adjusted to fit it is a dream to carry. I have been back and forth between the Yukon and several other makes and models of internal frame packs.....I always find myself coming back to the Yukon. Thank you.

Chief

Originally posted at