This Kelty Red Cloud 110 backpack review is about the new version of the load hauling 110 liters backpacking pack. For such a huge volume the pack is surprisingly lightweight, only 2.5 kg, which makes it an ideal tool for extended tours.
Best price & place to buy
- The best place regarding the price and shipping conditions is usually Amazon.com.
Description of the pack
Red cloud 110 is the largest pack presented in this site so far, and yet it is so lightweight. What you have here is an improved version of the well-known pack which is described elsewhere within this site.
The pack has 3 entry points:
- top access under the lid,
- front entrance through a huge U-shaped zippered opening, and
- through the bottom sleeping bag compartment.
Under the top lid, you have the usual collar with a cinch cord, plus a strap to close and secure the entrance. The lid is floating-type and it is also removable. You can use it as a daypack. For such a purpose it is equipped with nice and padded straps.
There is a divider between the main upper compartment and the bottom compartment, but it is movable and you can have one single large internal compartment. There is a hydration sleeve inside the main compartment.
On the lower front, you have attachment loops and higher up you have two carry handles. Below you have compression straps for a sleeping pad or any similar object, and you have daisy chains completely on the underside of the pack.
PerfectFit suspension system
The suspension for such a huge pack is enormously important, so here are a few details about what Kelty uses here. You have what Kelty calls PerfectFit suspension which includes the following: 2 aluminum stays, a HDPE frame sheet, an adjustable harness, and an adjustable HDPE-reinforced waist belt. This all comes with an incredibly pleasant padding and a wide spacer mesh, which you have in all parts of the harness and waist belt.
The harness of this pack is adjusted with your pack fully loaded and when it is on your back. So you have two straps, one on each side, which you pull to move the harness into the desired position. This is indeed very effective because you actually feel how the harness moves, and you can fix it at the torso length that fits you best.
Pockets
You have two pockets within the top lid, one of them is truly large. Both are zippered and with the entrance from outside. On the hip belt, you have two good size zippered pockets.
On the front, you have a stretch mesh pocket secured with a buckle in the upper area. It actually spreads partly over yet another organizer zippered front pocket.
On both sides of the pack, you have one lower stretch mesh pocket, and one zippered big pocket higher up. Here you also have a pass-through pocket which runs behind the zippered pocket. You have this on both sides. Here you can stow some long objects like tent poles, walking poles, axe, or even a rifle. The zippered pocket keeps these objects fixed and they are actually stowed in the lower mesh pockets.
You also have 2 side compression straps, on each side of the pack, so you can additionally fix these objects and keep them in place.
All these features you can see in this nice short video, please have a look:
You can compare this video with the video showing the old version of this pack.
Pros & cons
| Cons | Pros |
|
|
The rain cover can be ordered here.
Comparison with other brands
It is hard to find packs of similar size, so in the table below I give only 2 models that are still far smaller than Kelty Red Cloud 110:
| Gregory Whitney 95 |
Osprey Xenith 88 |
Kelty Red Cloud 110 | |
| Weight (kg) | 3 | 2.48 | 2.5 |
| Volume (l) | 95 | 88 | 110 |
| Lower compartment | yes | yes | yes |
| Hydration compatible | yes |
yes |
yes |
| Rain cover | no | no | no |
| Internal frame | yes | yes | yes |
| Harness adjustable | yes | yes | yes |
| Removable day pack | no |
yes |
yes |
| My rate | 9.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
The prices of the three packs in the table in the moment of writing this text are: $345, 270, 180. So Red Cloud 110 is clearly with no match.
Specifications & summary of features
- Weight: 5 lbs 8 oz (2.5 kg).
- Volume: 6700 cub in (110 L).
- Internal frame.
- Torso range: 15.5 – 21 in (39 – 53 cm).
- Size: 35 x 19 x 16 in (89 x 48 x 41 cm).
- Materials:
– Fabric: Poly 420 D Small Back Stafford.
– Reinforcement fabric: Poly 75×150 D Tasser Coal.
– Frame: aluminum + HDPE. - Removable top lid which converts to sling pack.
- Top and front panel access.
- PerfectFIT adjustable suspension.
- HDPE frame sheet.
- HDPE reinforced waist belt.
- Zippered side pockets.
- Front pocket with organization.
- Front stretch front pouch.
- Hip belt pockets.
- 2 ice axe loops.
- 2 pick-up handles.
- Hydration compatible.
- Ventilating spacer mesh back panel.
- Spacer mesh on shoulder straps, waist belt, and lumbar area.
- Load-lifter straps.
- Belt stabilizer straps.
- Sternum strap.
Conclusion
To conclude this Kelty Red Cloud 110 backpack review, what you have here is an enormously large, functional and lightweight backpack with the price which has no match. I stress that this is a quality pack quite comparable with the top packs in this industry. Even if you separately order a rain cover, the total price it is still well below the other packs. I have added it to my list of top-rated expedition packs.
Thank you for reading, I shall be happy to have some comment from you. Have a nice day.
Please see this video about Kelty’s PerfectFit suspension system:
Hi! Love your site. I’m planning a few mountain hikes this summer to a couple of 2000 m summits but need more equipment. I bought a lot last year but still need a good backpack.
I suppose this one is too large for a day trip. Do you have any advice for a day trip back pack?
Andreas
Hi Andreas, indeed this one is too big for day tours. There are many great day packs described in my page with equipment reviews.