Posted: 6/22/2008 12:09:16 PM EDT
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Pics are coming as soon as photobucket lets me upload this will be 56k HELL This is my first product review so please go easy. Kelty Eagle 7850 Backpack Kelty Pack purchased as a multi-use pack, camping, hiking, hunting, and BOB; as I get to know the pack. Purchased from Amron International for $331 shipped Color is Coyote (I think it is OD Green but in the sun it really does look a little brown) Honest to goodness guys and gals this thing is green with coyote buckle so if you want brown get the desert tan and roll it in the dirt and grass. Will be calling Kelty Monday to hopefully get detail on the color ideas from their R&D Pack specs are as/kelty site above: Weight: 11 lb. 2 oz. / 5.0 kg 9 lb. 4 oz. / 4.0 kg using low-profile hood and no side pockets Dimensions: Length: 44" / 112 cm Width: 29" / 74 cm Height: 17.5" / 44 cm Volume: 7850 in3 / 128.7 l 6285 in3/ 103.0 l using low-profile hood and no side pockets Torso Fit Range: 16 – 22” / 41 – 56 cm My weight specs: Weight: 11 lb. 11 oz. 8 lb. 5 oz *strip to the bones (top hood/cover, rain cover, accessory side packs x 2) Pack Load for this review 41# no hood/fannypack, or accessory pouches, extra weight was added over what I usually carry I am 6’4” and weight 258# Temp: 81°F and humid Weather: Overcast with Rain Scattered Occasionally Trail Area: Jefferson National Forest 1+ hour hike on flat to moderate incline, dirt/rock trail as path in woodland environment, alone so no pics on pack win use. Will try to get pics of the pack in use in the next two weeks! Review: All 25mm Fast clip buckles are WJ Duraflex Stealth, Coyote color Waist Belt Buckle is 50mm is WJ Duraflex Monster, Coyote color All sliders are 25mm WJ Duraflex, Coyote color Sternum Strap is a 20mm WJ Ultraflex, Coyote color Zippers are YKK medium size, external has paracord pulls, Coyote color All zippers are double re-enforced sewn solid, easy zip action-smooth Pack appears too made of 600 and 1000 denier, primarily 600 on the upper 2/3 and 1000 at the lower 1/3.  Pack is marked made in the Philippines  BIG pack, wife made fun of me and said the pack was bigger than me. At the top there is a removable top cover with 4 rows and 7 columns of molle webbing and 2 rows of molle at 3 of 4 sides. Hood doubles as fanny pack, nice touch in my opinion. Fanny pack has a map pocket of mesh       Once the hood is removed there is a hidden cover that is similar to the removable hood/fannypack, actually has a little more pack coverage than the hood and molle as well.   With the removable hood in place you would have a difficult time going prone, if you go prone incorrectly. In the correct shooters prone position you would actually have some heads up (20rd mag), tested in yard, not in national forest. On each side of the pack there are removable accessory pouches, attaches by two straps/pouch with snap buttons (needs malice clips), two sets of two rows of molle each set is about 6ins. apart. Each pouch has small diameter aluminum poles for side reinforcement, keeps pouch losing its shape. These pouches would be great for keep cooking/food/stove and water filter items separate and easily accessible, along with extra clothing, etc. Accessory pouches maybe be good for magazine storage or cleaning equipment. One thought I have about these pouches are to put my spare hiking boots in them (one boot in a water proof bag in each pouch).   Also, each side has compression straps top and bottom, accessory pouches removed.  Internal main pack is accessible by two means. First, top open is closed by two different heavy duty draw strings with locks. The draw strings about 3ins. apart. I placed 4 x 300cu.in. individual bags in a 4 point square manner and still had plenty of room with bottom draw string closing completely with ease. Inside the main internal bag there are two draw string closed pockets, non-removable, that will fit a wide mouth 1 liter nalgene with ease.    Second, back open access is by way of a double zipped flap, zippers move smooth enough to zip open just enough then pull the flap the rest of the way. Here you have small front to back space for immediate need clothing (two shirts, pants, socks, underwear or light to medium weight winter underwear). Once into the clothing area there is another flap that is mesh, which allows you to see the internal bag contents. This flap is closed again with two zippers that move smoothly reveling complete access to the internal bag.     Back open access flap has two non-removable zipper closed accessory pouches and daisy chain dividing the two accessory pouches (each pouch holds a Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter with room left over). This would be a great place to add cleaning kits, tent poles, climbing gear, medical rolls, things needed quickly. Daisy chain is made from much heavier webbing than the molle on the pack otherwise. Again, webbing will likely be re-sewn heavier in the future if needed.  Bottom storage (1000denier) is approximately 1/3 of the bag and is big enough to accommodate a long Slumberjack Latitude 20°F Mummy Bag without compression bag with little room left over. There is a dual buckle system for the sleeping bag, but I used this for my ground roll and summer fleece in this trial. There are two external water bottle pockets, one on each lower side.   Frame is modular and customizable to you and your back. Lumbar and thoracic vertebras are padded well with black mesh cover foam. Longitudinal Aluminum bars x 2 are bendable. The instructions from kelty are easy to understand, showing how to bend the aluminum frame bars to fit your back. My pack needed significant adjustment and was some what time consuming, but worth the change. Belt is well padded with 2 rows of webbing easily accommodating my medium rollypolly and Bleeder pack on the other. The belt has a kelty patented scherer cinch system that is new to me. The cinch is pretty neat as you pull the belt tighter the cinch system provides an easy way to adjust waist belt tightness without over tightening the belt. Pull on each side once the belt is where you want it and you will feel the belt tighten. As you let pressure off the belt straps pressure around your waist is decreased just enough to be comfortable and still maintain the packs weight on you waist.    The support frame of the pack is locked in place on both sides with Velcro that is removable and folds back of its self so that longitudinal adjustment is easy to do. This provides the needed adjustment of the load bearing straps on the nicely padded should harnesses. The shoulder harness is fast off with 25mm buckles and easily adjusted and locks in place well one strapped over your shoulders. There are two carry handles, one a the top of the frame and another at the bottom of the frame    Rain cover is stowed at the bottom of the pack and is secured with a loop internally. One side white, the other is tan.    In short this is a big well made pack that I think will be modular enough, could be more. I will use this pack for hunting, hiking, camping, and possible a BOB in the future. The Kelty Eagle 7850 is great pack for the money but is a heavy pack that is big, yet is one of the best load bearing frame/harness systems I have seen/used (as good Northface, Marmout, Eagle, and etc.). Considering it is military, it is far superior to the Alice Pack and Patrol packs in my opinion. I purchased this pack for its size. I know many of you really hate its size but I am packing about 75% of my 4 year olds items needed for an overnight medium hike. He does carry his own pack (mainly his shelter, water, and snacks) but he is 4yo so he can’t pack much weight if we want to make any distance on the daily hikes. And yes we take frequent breaks as he needs them so don’t think I am a slave driver. I think he really likes hiking and camping. Will post some pics of us after the next hike. Pics of packed contents. My boys spare clothing, sleep, utensils, toiletries, etc. equal about 8 more pounds.      I hope in the future to be able to post some actual hard pack time pics (3+ day hikes with adults only), but as long as my boy says he wants to go I will only be going on 2 day overnighters on beginner to moderate trails that have plenty of things to do on down time. If I missed any details let me know and I will add the requested info. if I have it. Most Important part of this review and the biggest reason I bought this pack  Iso |
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Good writeup! Thanks! As a note for the future, always make your links hot unless there is a good reason to leave them cold. For example, in my old post (ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=18&t=612742) you should go back and make the link to this post hot. Then, go edit this post and make the Kelty link hot. |
 Instead of taking a dump on his efforts, why don't you start your own thread? Title it, "Lighter weight options to the Kelty Eagle that offer similar features." I am actually very interested in hearing about such a beast, because I've been looking at the Eagle. I greatly appreciate Iso's review. I'll be waiting . . . 
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That thing is HUGE.......I think my Subaru will fit in it.........
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Hot link to pack www.kelty.com/kelty/products.php?type=2&cat=all&id=172 I had a 7200 for a short time. Great pack. Huge capacity, built like a tank. |
You can't tell how a car is going to drive by looking at it. You can't tell how a pack will carry a load without taking it for a hike. I'm just asking for useful information. |
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Iso, Great review. Looks like a grea pack. Probably weighs less than my Kifaru EMR. Thank you for taking the time. I think you could probably cut quite a bit of weight if you didn't carry your golf clubs with you. That Titleist bag may help pass the time during a TSHTF situation, but damn they have to add a lot of weight. 
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I was waiting on someone to point out the golf bag  , but I took so many pics that I was not about to go back and redo it just for the cat nip can full of golf balls and the bag.iso |
ShakenNotStirred, thanks for the heads-up on the hotlink. I found it last night, after I LOOKED for it. thanks again iso |
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Pack was purchased from Amron International Watch is a Casio G Shock G100-1BV iso |