You won’t find many manufacturers that will release an entire range catered specifically to women, however, that is exactly what Osprey have done with the Kyte range of backpacks. Today we will see Osprey Kyte 46 Review and what are it’s ups and downs.
Why Are There Women Specific Backpacks?
A backpack specifically designed for women may offer several benefits, including:
- Fit: Women’s bodies are different than men’s bodies, and backpacks designed for women are shaped and sized to fit a woman’s curves and proportions. This results in a more comfortable fit and better weight distribution.
- Straps: Women’s backpacks often have wider and padded straps, which can help reduce pressure points and prevent discomfort during long-term wear.
- Length: Women’s backpacks are often shorter in length to accommodate a woman’s shorter torso. This ensures that the backpack fits securely and comfortably against the back.
- Style: Women’s backpacks are available in a variety of colors, patterns, and styles, allowing women to choose a backpack that reflects their personal taste and style.
In summary, a backpack specifically designed for women can offer better fit, comfort, and style compared to unisex or men’s backpacks. This is why some women may prefer to use a backpack made specifically for women.
Osprey Kyte 46 Review
- Osprey's stow-on-the-go trekking pole attachment is designed to quickly attach and carry trekking poles while wearing a pack
- An integrated and removable rain cover protects your gear from foul weather. It stows away in its own external pocket at the bottom of the pack
- An external reservoir sleeve is located behind the shoulder harness Allowing easy Loading/unloading of a hydration reservoir
- The zippered sleeping bag compartment provides easy access to your sleeping bag through the bottom of the pack
- Dual upper side compression straps stabilize loads while lower, cross functional compression straps also serve as external gear carry straps
First up, I must say that this backpack is awesome. The main reason for this bold statement is that it’s a women’s specific backpack, so the fit is amazing when compared to other generic or unisex backpacks on the market.
You really cannot beat getting a backpack that is just designed for the female figure, since we have curves in different places and are generally shorter than men and have different requirements, it’s super important that you try one of these packs before anything else, I know you will not regret it.
The Key Features
Pockets
On the front, we have a very stretchy mesh pocket which is suitable for any small items that you need to have access to quickly such as a torch, compass, and whistle.
Towards the bottom of the pack, there is a small front pocket which contains a handy rain cover that fits perfectly over your pack allowing you to be prepared for all those light drizzles or even downpours that you get if you happen to be on the top of a mountain.
There are 2 mesh pockets on the sides, which are elasticated and can easily hold water bottles, trekking poles or a few snacks for the trail.
In addition to the two side mesh pockets are two huge spacious zippered pockets, 1 on each side of the bag. These are a great added storage solution that are not a part of the main body of the bag, so they’re perfect for items that you need to keep separate or for things that you can have your hiking partner or buddy get out of your pack for you, this saves taking the pack off and on constantly to access items.
There is an additional and final pocket stored in the top lid of the bag which also has a ton of storage space and is secured by another zippered pocket.
Main Compartment
The main compartment of the bag is actually split into two separate spaces that are adjustable. The bottom section is secured via a heavy duty zipper with two zipper pulls and opens to reveal its own compartment, separated from the main body by a single panel.
If you need to make the inner one continuous amount of space, this panel can be adjusted via the handy slide buckles that line the bag wall, which allows you to completely move this separating panel/wall up and down and make it one continuous compartment.
The top lid uses two compression straps to keep the lid tight against the main compartment and underneath we have a drawstring enclosure, exactly what you’re used to seeing on most backpacks. This is actually a snow lid and is designed to prevent snow and other debris falling into your backpack once you open the lid.
Additional Features
Again on the front of the pack, you have a couple of neat ice-axe loops so that you can keep those items handy, personally, I prefer to use these to hold my trekking poles in place sine I don’t tend to do much ice climbing.
There are also two compression straps that run throughout the pack to help you tighten down the load so that it’s nice and secure and does rattle around.
The bottom of the bag also has compression straps to further increase the stability and reduce the backpack size which is great for narrow trails or even hiking around cities and on public transport.
There is yet another mesh pocket inside of the main compartment, which is perfect for valuables such as keys, wallet or purse and your phone etc.
The back panel has Osprey’s custom air space technology that keeps your load away from your back, which allows for air-flow and a nice breeze to keep your back cool.
Beneath the shoulder straps, there is a hydration hole through which you can actually pass a hydration bladder straw through, Shoulders that your drinking nozzle is within easy reach. Again, this is another great feature and it’s this attention to detail that first sold me on this bacShoulder
Shoulder Straps
Moving onto the shoulder straps now, the main feature of these are that they are completely adjustable, which is perfect for us girls with smaller frames. The entire section it comes undone with hook and loop fastening and you can simply pull up the frame and adjust it to wherever you need the straps to be.
So if you happen to have a longer torso like I do, you can have the backpack fit you perfectly and the waist belt will hug your waste in the correct position.
The contouring of the shoulder straps works well with a woman’s shape and they are also mesh lined underneath with added padding for cushioned comfort.
Waist Belt & Sternum Strap
The waist belt is also completely adjustable with a quick press-to-release buckle so that you can easily remove the pack. This goes hand-in-hand with the sternum strap that is also adjustable and will move around so that you can get a customized fit.
Conclusion
What I love about the Osprey Kyte 46 is that is is a nice size both for city sightseeing or when out on the trail. With the positioning and ample size of the pockets, you can easy to get into then while you have the pack on which saves a tone of time and hassle. If you are looking for a great fitting backpack that is designed with women in mind from a company the produces top-quality products then I can high-recommend the Osprey Kyte 46 backpack.
If you are looking for a great fitting backpack that is designed with women on mind from a company the produces top-quality products then I can high-recommend the Osprey Kyte 46 backpack.
