Last Updated on November 16, 2020 by Lisa Vargas
I really enjoyed reviewing this pack and I used it as my first choice because it fit exactly what I was personally looking for in a bug out bag. I’m one of the people who loves the outdoors and loves to go hiking, camping, and fishing. Therefore, I would feel more comfortable throwing one of these on my back and using it as a bug out bag as opposed to some of the others.
We took this bag and reviewed it based on five categories including comfort and fit, durability, zippers, buckles and stitching, storage design, and water resistance. You will notice that this Kelty Coyote Backpack comes in two sizes. The 65L is designed for men and the 60 L is designed for women.
We’ve also reviewed several other bug out bags so that you can compare it with the Kelty Coyote 65 L Backpacks. You can see the full review of all 10 bags by clicking on our review article Best Bug Out Bag For SHTF.
Kelty Coyote 65 L Backpack
Editors Comments: The Kelty Coyote series backpacks make for excellent gear if you’re an avid hiker or outdoor enthusiast. Kelty has been around since 1952 is arguably one of the most impressive hiking packs among the outdoor community.
Read The Comprehensive Comparison Bug Out Review Here: Best Bug Out Bag For SHTF
- Capacity: 65 L (men) & 60 L (women)
- Dimension: 30 x 18 x 12 inches; 4lbs. 10 oz
- Pockets: 2 hip-belt pockets, 2 pockets on the lid, 2 side pockets,2 pass-through pockets, large front pocket
- Hydration: Room for a 3L water bladder
- Material: Polyester 420D
- Manufacturer: Kelty
Bottom Line: Excellent quality and great for bugging out on foot
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Very comfortable and durable
- Includes pass-through pockets to help get more gear loaded on your pack if desired
- Easy to adjust to your torso
Cons
- Material could stand to be a little thicker
- Doesn’t come with a rain fly
- No MOLLE webbing system
Summary
Founded in 1952, Kelty has been around for many years, which has given them time to perfect their hiking backpacks and constantly improve the technology that goes into them.
For a hiking bug out bag you will love the many pockets that this backpack has. It comes with Kelty Signature wing pockets, two front zippered pockets, and large J-zip top-loading access to the main compartment.
The Amp Flow technology on the back panel creates plenty of ventilation so that your back can breathe when you’re getting to your bug out location. With its Fit Pro technology included, this bag can be customized to fit different sizes and shapes.
The aluminum stay in the external frame is designed to help keep you and your pack balanced, especially if you’re in a hurry in emergency situations.
You will also notice that the pack has a ton of other features such as side-compression straps, the top lid converts to a sling-back, dual pick-up handles, belt stabilizers, and a sternum strap.
Read The Comprehensive Comparison Bug Out Review Here: Best Bug Out Bag For SHTF
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
performance comparison
We spent some time with this bag and it ended up being a fantastic bag for loading up our essential bug out bag list.
I’m not one for a MOLLE system, so for me, it didn’t matter that it didn’t have one. It still did well in all of the other categories that we rated our bags on. Below you can see how the Kelty Coyote Backpack measured up to each of the categories.
Comfort And Fit
The Kelty Coyote 65L Backpack was in a group that earned some of the highest marks on our list in terms of comfortability and fit. It does very well in the comfort department.
One of the best things about this backpack is its PerfectFit Suspension System. You can have a pack that’s perfectly tailored to your torso instantly! You can easily adjust the shoulder straps, the adjustment straps, the load-lifters, and the waste-belt. It’s easy to make adjustments while you’re hiking without taking the pack off of your back as well.
Immediately when you put this backpack on, you’ll find it to fit snug on your hips, the straps and buckles slide easily so you adjust to your size.
This backpack has lots of padding on the back and the shoulder straps so it really helps with the load-weight. It’s important that you have enough padding around the waist, which I wish there was a little more on this bag, but it was still comfortable enough considering what it would be used for.
The Kelty’s adjustable torso strap focuses on giving you a great fit. In addition to that, there is well-ventilated padding located on the back panel, the hip belt, and the shoulder straps.
You’ll be able to fit whatever you need in this backpack and it will certainly make for a good fitting, comfortable pack for bugging out on foot.
Durability
When it comes to durability, we gave the Kelty Coyote 65L Backpack a score of eight, because we were hoping to see the material a little thicker, but at the same time the stitching quality and zipper quality was fantastic.
The sturdy pack frame itself made up for a little of this, which is why we didn’t give it a 7. We wanted to see the pack make with a little bit more durable fabric such as 600D nylon as opposed to 420D like this one.
Since Kelty is known for its quality, you can always expect a great bag out of them no matter what. Everything is made with quality and craftsmanship second to none, so this bag will sustain whatever rigorous activity you put it through.
Because we are planning to use this as a bug out bag, it’s possible that you might be throwing this in and out of a bug out vehicle as well so you need to have a bag that’s durable and can withstand this type of treatment as opposed to just being used as a backpack.
Zippers, buckles, and stitching
You’ll have no problem with the way this bag is ruggedly put together. Kelty is known for its quality, so everything on this pack from the zippers to the stitching is put together well.
When you’re choosing a bug out bag, you want to make sure the strongest points of your back are the zippers and the stitching because typically that’s what goes first.
Have you ever had a bag that the straps start ripping because you’ve loaded it with too much weight? After a while, the straps and stitching just can’t handle it and you’ll have a problem on your hands.
Although we haven’t tested this bag long term, you can just tell that when we took it out of the box that it had good quality stitching and zippers.
Storage Design (Pockets, MOLLE)
In terms of storage design, the Kelty didn’t measure up to some of our other packs on the list. The only reason we gave it lower marks is because we always look for either MOLLE webbing systems or plenty of outside pockets to help with extra storage.
If we were reviewing backpacks for hiking, this would have earned higher marks in my opinion.
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Even though this bag has about 8 pockets on the outside, this bag will be more designed to throw a bunch of stuff into it with not much organization.
At 65L (they have a 60L for women), the capacity is fantastic, it’s just not going to be the best for organizing gear. It would have also been nice to see more D rings for strapping extra things to the pack.
There’s a nice compartment at the bottom for a sleeping bag, which can come in handy if you’re out on the road as well.
Please note, just because we gave it a 5, doesn’t mean you’ll see someone else give it a 9 or 10. But in this article, we are looking at the Kelty Coyote 65L Backpack as a bug out bag, not necessarily if we were going camping with it.
Water Resistance
Nylon is a fantastic water-resistant material that is extremely durable which is why it’s used for many of the bug out bags you’ll see out there. At the same time, it’s not even close to being fully waterproof, so don’t get caught in a storm with this pack.
But with that said, it should provide enough resistance so that your survival gear won’t get wet while you head for some shelter.
The reason the Kelty Coyote 65 Backpack only got a 6 out of 10 points is that it, unfortunately, doesn’t come with a rain fly. This is always important with backpacks, and something I wish it had, especially if using this as a bug out bag.
This is something that we hope the manufacturer will change in the future. But at the same time, you can easily go out and buy a separate one for this backpack and it will be just fine.
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Our Final Verdict
This Kelty Coyote 65 L Backpack definitely passes our test for being one of the best bug out bags for when SHTF. It’s extremely durable and rugged and you should have no problem with this bag when you are using it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Does YKK Stand For?
YKK is a branded name of zippers. It stands for quality and its what you want to see on most of your top bags. Just in case you didn’t know, YKK stands for the manufacturer, “Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha.” They are known throughout the garment and fashion industry as being superior in quality, but that reputation also passes through into the backpack market as well.
What Should You I Look For When Buying A Backpack?
There are several important things you want to look for when buying a backpack, and we’ve tried to cover most of them here in this review. Comfort and fit is the most important thing to look for. You don’t want to be stuck out in the high country with an uncomfortable pack this rubbing you in the wrong places.
conclusion
Final Thoughts
This hiking pack can serve you well if you’re going to be bugging out to the mountains or you think you’ll be on foot for most of your journey.
Kelty is one of those awesome brands that have been around for a very long time and everyone in the outdoor hiking community knows them.
Because they’ve been in business so long, they really know what they’re doing and they know the importance of quality, durability and the proper mechanics that are necessary to make a great bag.