Kelty Redwing 50 vs Osprey Farpoint 55
Kelty Redwing 50 and Osprey Farpoint 55 are two large backpacks suitable for holiday backpacking on a long weekend. These backpacks are optimized for backpacking uses with lots of storage and convenience features. Kelty Redwing 50 is interesting because of the neat design and hybrid-loading U-zipper for easy access to the whole compartment. On the other hand, Osprey Farpoint 55 seems to be a very good value for the money due to the integrated daypack and convenient stow-away straps. Which one is the best choice for the money? See the comparisons between Kelty Redwing 50 vs Osprey Farpoint 55 below.
Size
Kelty Redwing 50 is the larger model of Kelty Redwing 50 vs 44 that we have discussed before. It is available in two sizes, Small and Large. The Small size measures 24” x 15” x 12”, while the Large size measures 26” x 16” x 12”. In general, Kelty Redwing 50 is wider and taller than Osprey Farpoint 55. It is lightweight and easy to navigate.
Osprey Farpoint 55 is also available in Small and Large sizes. Both measure 13” wide and 12” deep, but the Small size is 24” tall while the Large size is 25” tall. Note that Osprey Farpoint 55 has an integrated daypack that snatches to the front side of the backpack. If you load the daypack with lots of stuff, it can become very bulky and thus very difficult to navigate.
Capacity
Kelty Redwing 50 offers a total capacity of 49 liters for the Small size and 52 liters for the Large size. Kelty Redwing 50 is already sufficient for carrying personal gear for a long weekend. However, some people who need to carry not only their own gear but also their children gear, for example, may need some extra space.
Osprey Farpoint 55 can be your choice if you need some extra space. The Small size is 52 liters, while the Large size is 55 liters. You can put some extra clothes and waterproof boots if you need to. You can also put some stuff in the daypack, but be careful not to stash too much in it because the whole system can become utterly bulky and throw you off balance.
Features
Now, let’s see the feature sets of Kelty Redwing 50 vs Osprey Farpoint 55. Kelty Redwing 50 is also suitable for hiking because it has a hydration sleeve (which also functions as a laptop compartment) and ice axe/trekking pole loops. It has multiple pockets for easy organization. There are dual side pockets, a front organization pocket, and stash pockets.
As said above, Osprey Farpoint 55 comes with a zip-off daypack. Some people prefer to carry an independent daypack altogether, but this is actually a pretty good set-up. It also has a stow-away harness and hip belt under a zippered panel, as well as sleeping pad straps for secure carrying.
Kelty Redwing 50 vs Osprey Farpoint 55
Conclusion
Osprey Farpoint 55 is a very good value for the money. It has a larger capacity, and the integrated daypack can be useful. However, avoid loading too much stuff in the daypack because it can get too bulky. On the other hand, Kelty Redwing 50 is a good choice if the multiple external pockets are useful for you.
