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Backpack Review: Osprey Kestrel 32

osprety kestrel 32

It’s time to review my current backpack, the Osprey Kestrel 32. Having a backpack that fits properly and is geared towards the activities you’ll be doing is very important when choosing a backpack. I took this pack on many hikes and treks during our very outdoorsy trip through Mongolia, Central Asia and the ‘Stans and I was very impressed with it.

We’ve now finished our epic 5 month journey, and here’s what I can report about my backpack:

This backpack deserves high marks in this area. I stuffed this bag with 10kgs of gear while trekking through the Mongolian steppe for 8 days, carrying everything from food to firewood to sleeping bags.

This pack sat nice and snug on my hips and perfectly distributed the weight between my shoulders and my waist. There is a good amount of padding on both the shoulder and hip straps as well.

This was an extra heavy load I was carrying – water bottles, food, wood, fishing rod, sleeping bags, etc. But it was comfortable.

During a regular travel day, I barely even noticed I was wearing a backpack because it was so comfortable.

I absolutely love the way the Kestrel 32 is designed. I can’t stand top-loading backpacks because you can never see what’s in the bag! This backpack is a panel loader, which means it opens like a sea shell, allowing you to easily and quickly see everything in your bag, and load it up faster.

osprey kestrel 32 bag
I love how the bag opens!

The harness adjusts as well, using a really strong Velcro, to ensure the perfect fit. They’ve also added a back panel that allows air to escape from your body, which is perfect for when you’re trekking, hiking or even just walking. There’s nothing worse than having sweat dripping down your back while travelling!

kestrel osprey backpack
The adjustable harness and airscape on the back

At the back is a pocket perfect for a hydration system like a CamelBak.

The weight and size of this backpack is amazing. Weighing in at just a little over 2 lbs with 32 L of room for gear and able to handle up to approximately 20 kgs of weight, what more could you want?!

The Kestrel 32 comes in two different sizes: small/medium and medium/large. As well as 4 different colours: Fire Red, Tarn, Conifer Green and Grey.

Osprey has added a mesh, stretchy, lycra pocket to the front of the bag, which stretches like you wouldn’t believe! I put my shoes in there, maps, food and anything else that wouldn’t quite fit into my bag.

On the side, there are also 2 of the…

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