Kelty Coyote 65 Review

Kelty is known for its iconic external frame packs, but they also have an extensive line of internal frame packs that still carry a load well, like the Coyote 65. The Coyote 65 is slightly heavier than others in the review, but this extra bulk gives it the ability to carry heavy loads comfortably. It is one of the best budget backpacking packs that we've tested to date.

Performance Comparison

Suspension and Comfort

The Coyote 65 has an impressive carrying capacity that lives up to the legendary tails of its external frame-ancestors. We found that the frame stayed supportive with a carrying weight of 45 pounds, and the weight remained off of our shoulders. This pack can handle loads of around 50 pounds before experiencing any noticeable performance changes.

This long-lasting comfort under heavy loads owes some thanks to the dense foam used in the hip belt and shoulder straps. Because the foam is thicker and less spongy, it remained supportive and didn't cut into our shoulders or hips even when pulled tight to carry a large load. The shoulder straps are squared on the edges instead of tapered, which prevents a thin surface area that often pinches or cuts into the skin around the straps.

The waist belt is not sewn in, which allows it to pivot while hiking so that the pack's weight stays behind you at all times instead of wobbling side to side. The waist belt also features a load adjuster, similar to the load lifter above the shoulders, to dial in how freely the pack can pivot. We found it helpful to loosen the waist load adjuster when the pack is light, and we are moving faster and tight with a heavy pack when balance and support are necessary.

The back panel uses "AMP-Flow" ventilation that allows air to pass through and kept our back cool and comfortable throughout testing. However, the shoulder straps and hip belt do not feature any kind of mesh cover to improve airflow and could experience slow drying times.

Weight

The weight of 4.3 pounds may sound like a daunting start to your base weight, but if your goal is to carry heavy loads on long stretches of trail, then the extra pound will be worth its weight in comfort and support.

There is often a correlation between pack weight and carrying capacity, and we found this pack to be above average. If you plan on carrying heavy loads, it's better to have a 45 pound load that feels good on your back than a 44 pound one with the same gear that is uncomfortable due to a pack that is one pound lighter.

Features and Ease of Use

This pack features ample storage options that allow every piece of gear to have a place. It has unique "pass-through" wing side pockets, a lid zipper, sleeping pad strap, front external zipper pocket, two stretch water bottle pockets, and a bottom sleeping bag zipper access point to give you a taste.

The most interesting feature of this pack is the two wing side pockets that add enough room to fit a Nalgene water bottle on each side. This much extra space is useful to store electronics, preload with a jacket when rain is in the forecast, or to keep toiletries at hand when nature calls. It's like having two extra lids for odds in ends and are useful enough that we didn't miss having a stretch shove-it pocket.

The only downside is that they do hang low enough that a tall water bottle hits it or has to be put in at a diagonal. Even if we did miss a stretch pocket, the front zipper pocket is large enough to shove a puffy coat in when the morning chill wears off. The wing pockets aren't entirely sewn in, allowing for tent poles or a fly rod to pass behind the pocket and rest in the stretch water bottle side pockets. We found this feature more secure than simply securing a tall item with the pack's compression straps.

There is one moderate-sized zippered hip belt pocket that is good for storing a few bars and chapstick. The other side is a stretch mesh for quick access items that we found a good place for a phone. The convenient mesh made it easy to whip the phone out for photos or quickly check that we were on the right trail.

The lid uses a slim zipper opening on the side so that a hiking partner has more access to things you may need while the pack is on. However, we found this feature to be slightly inconvenient when using it ourselves. Since the zipper is only on one end, it made it very hard to see in and grab a specific item which had us only putting one or two items in at a time, so we had a 50/50 chance of finding the right one on the first try.

There is a bottom zipper access point under the pack. If you need your sleeping bag, it does not feature a divider, so the bag is still accessible from the top opening of the pack. This means that it is best to top load all of your gear and only use the bottom zipper if you need an item trapped at the very bottom or is useful to unzip when empty to shake out any dirt or leaves that are hitching a ride.

We also really appreciate the reinforced wide hanging/lift strap that is wide enough for two hands and makes it easier to lift the pack when it is completely weighted down. It's one of those features that works so well you don't notice until lifting another heavy pack with a thin strap.

Adjustability & Fit

The Coyote 65 uses a basic velcro panel to adjust for height and has a total range of four inches. We found it to hold tight yet was still convenient to readjust. The velcro panel is nice and thick, so if it is fully extended, there is still some nice padding against your shoulders.

The pack features a load adjuster on the shoulders to keep the pack weight close over the hips, and it has a hip belt load adjuster that can dial in how much the belt pivots while walking. The hip belt also has forward-pull straps to easily tighten to your waist and standard shoulder strap tightening.

Value

At half the price of some popular packs on the market, this pack can still carry the weight and has some useful unique features. If you were just getting into backpacking and worried about over-packing or would like a pack with more pockets for organization, then look no further than the Coyote 65. Its ability to carry a comfortable load is among the best, plus its storage of tall slim items is unmatched due to the wing side pockets.

Conclusion