Kelty Redwing 44 or 50 anyone?

Jeremy

No personal use. I have seen the bag and am familiar with the brand. Kelty reputation is good.

Both are technically too big for most carry on limits. People do manage to get over-sized luggage into the cabin often to the consternation of fellow passengers. But if the size limits were enforced, you will have to check in, especially the 50.

The 44 has about the same dimensions as my current backpack on paper, but because it is soft, i can easily squeeze down length and depth of my pack to fit even the smallest size limit. I think you may be able to do same unless the internal frame is stiff and rigid for its full 22" length. My bag has aluminum internal stays which are only 19" so i can squish down length to about 20". On the other hand if i fully expanded and overstuffed, my bag can balloon up to more than 25"x18"x14" during test packing. However, i have not tried that in real use.

Young backpackers like to rock the big trekking bags. Check out this girl's website and her recommended backpacks: http://www.backpackeurope.com/packing/backpacks.html
She recommends 65 litre backpacks... for women! BTW, my pack is the 3rd one down the page which is the SOC Gear Bugout. She says it is too small and is only suitable for light traveller. Trust me, 40 L is plenty big. Most posters here travel even with less. Thirty years ago, i carried a backpack which was well over 60 L for 2 months in Europe, but then i also carried a sleeping bag which took up almost 50% of the pack. Without the sleeping bag, i now carry a much smaller pack, but much more clothes, electronics and other stuff than i ever did back then.

Thanks for the info! I definitely have no interest in going bigger. I could probably make due with the 44 but it would be nice to have the 50. I believe I can take out the back support/frame to squeeze it down and fit. I think I'll end up buying it and swinging by the airport which is close and see if it fits. Although even when they don't fit in the carry on frame at check they can usually still fit fine on the plane.

The magic of a good technical backpack is the frame to properly transfer weight from your shoulder to your hips. If you take out the aluminum stay(s), you lose all that support. I would not carry the stays by hand because they looks like a blunt swords. It is funny,, TFSA only reacts to threats after the fact and never thinks proactively. If a terrorist were to pull out those stays mid flight, they would make for lethal weapons. I guess they are too busy looking for explosive footwear.

Furthermore, with the big bag, you run the bigger risk that you will have to check it in. And it appears that the shoulder straps and hip belt on the Kelty do not stow away, not like on my bag which do. You will run the risk that they will snag and be damaged during baggage handling. Hate to see you ruin the new pack.

I of course would not take the frame out and carry it with me through the airport. I would leave it home. I won't be doing any long backpacking or hiking while on my trip. And I know that I run the risk of having it checked, that's why I'm hoping to find someone who has used the bag before and get their take on it. Just about every review I've seen says they've had no problem bringing it on, but these forums seem to be a good resource.

For years I used an Essential Carryon Bag (Campmor). The weight on my back was not a problem; the bag weighs 1¾#, and I put less than 10# in it. However, I was looking for a bag with cinch straps and a sternum strap, so I got an eBags eTech 2.0 Weekender Jr. Although I didn't get it for this reason, It also has a waist belt. I was surprised at how well the waist belt transfers the weight to my hips. I was able to completely loosen the shoulder straps so all of the weight was off my shoulders.

I bought my Bugout on eBags which provided a lot of reviews on the site. There are reviews for your bag here: http://www.ebags.com/product/kelty/redwing-50-liter-ml-backpack/250724

Based on some of those reviews, some people have done what you want to do.

If you take out the frame and squish it down to fit the carry on size limit, the self-evident answer is yes you should be able to carry it on (subject to there being available room on the plane with everybody else carrying on). I could probably carry on a Glad garden sized garbage bag as long as I do not over pack it.

On the other hand, if you intend to pack it to its full dimensions and you want to know if they will still let you carry on, you are asking something akin to "Do you think I can get away with going 15 MPH over the speed limit and not get a speeding ticket?" Well, sure, everything is possible.

"Although even when they don't fit in the carry on frame at check they can usually still fit fine on the plane."

I have a 48 inch long duffle bag which could easily fit in the overhead locker. That is not the point. The limits are put in there out of fairness to try and give everybody at least a reasonable chance to carry on. If you are one of the last to board and everybody else brings in over sized carry on, there will be no room for your bag even if it is under the limit and you will have to gate check.

IMO, air lines should charge for any carry on beyond a personal item of say 15 inches (and give us one free check-in). Then there would be room in the over head lockers for everything including jackets and boarding would be quicker and more pleasant.

"Technically it is too big to carry on but just about every review I've read says they have gotten away with using it as a carry on"

I hate to point this out, but it really does not matter what 'every review' says When YOUR gate agent says "it's too big" you will be out of luck telling them that "everyone else got away with it" (AKA as the 4th grade defense of "everyone else gets to do x" ) will not do you any good.

I fly Delta a lot and find them to be incredibly lenient on these type of things. Of course the downside to that is since they let everyone on the plane carry on everything they want... if you are in the last boarding groups your oversize luggage is more likely to be checked since the bins are full!