Kelty Asher 24 Backpack Review

The Kelty Asher 24 is a durable pack advertised for the hikers and backpackers of the world, and it definitely fills that role. Outside of those uses, we find it works well for a day outing and gym bag, though we find it does not work so well for the daily commute if you’re carrying lots of tech. The material is durable and the main compartment is great for storing clothing or shoes but lacks space for a laptop, notebook, tablet, and other work accessories. A unique feature is the large open-topped elastic pouch on the front panel of the backpack, made for carrying an extra layer of clothing when you are out and about.

External Components

The Kelty name and logo are screen printed just above the front pouch on the main opening flap. The size of the logo adds to the overall rugged look of the pack and we find ourselves wishing the logo was smaller, as that would give the bag a more professional aesthetic and make it easier to use this bag at the office in addition to outdoors. Daisy chains flank the left and right sides of the front pouch where extra gear can be attached. There are also two loops near the bottom front side of the pack, which are designed to hold trekking poles or other long, skinny items you carry. We don’t find ourselves using the daisy chains often, but clip-on gear like keys or a small hand sanitizer could easily fit here.

On the left and right side of the backpack are two travel water bottle sleeves. We love how the long sleeves and elastic top secure the entire bottle so that it does not fall out when the bag is jostled around. In other bags we have used, water bottles tend to escape when we are wearing the pack and bend down to pick something up off the ground. Plus, if you don’t want to use it for a water bottle, we’ve found that gym shower flip flops fit securely.

The shoulder straps are attached with a thin strip of nylon instead of directly to the bag. This gives the straps more flexibility, though we also find that it causes the straps to twist when we put the backpack on. We also find that the way the shoulder straps are attached makes carrying the bag less comfortable, as it feels like the bag is being pulled down when filled with gear. The back panel is sturdy and made of a breathable mesh. We find it stiff, yet supportive, when using the bag.

The Kelty Asher 24 also has a sternum clip and waist belt. The sternum strap is on a rail, so it’s highly adjustable up or down and can be pushed all the way down and out of the way if you do not wish to use it. The waist strap is there for support, but is not padded and isn’t removable. We don’t find ourselves using the waist or sternum straps, but you may find them helpful if you have a long commute or have filled the backpack with heavy items.

Fit Notes

The Kelty Asher 24 Backpack has a rugged look with its dark colors, course material, and daisy chains along the front. It might not fit in at the office, though it looks right at home on a hiking trail or for a quick overnight trip. Picture your friend that always goes hiking on the weekend—that will give you an idea of the vibe of this bag. If you want a more professional look, we suggest going for the beluga/stormy blue colorway, which is the bag we have here.

Inside The Pack

The main compartment flap goes down about ¼ of the bag, which allows the bag to open wide. It doesn’t open quite as much as a full clamshell bag, though it mimics that style close enough that it’s convenient for loading and unloading the bag as well as seeing to the bottom of the bag when it’s not completely full.

The main compartment is a large cavernous space that’s great as an overnight or day bag. If using it as an overnight bag, we suggest using packing cubes since loose items can easily get lost in the bottom of the bag. When we use this as a commuter bag, we find all our medium-sized gear (like smaller books and a tech organizer) get piled on top of each other, which requires us to remove most of the gear from the bag in order to access the gear at the bottom.

Inside the main compartment is a sleeve with an elastic loop to hold a water bladder and a slot on top where you feed the hose through to the shoulder straps for easy access on a hike. The pouch does have a false bottom but is not padded and has only a 6-inch opening, so it would not work well as a laptop sleeve. It may be better suited for a tablet like an iPad mini. When we use this as a commuter bag, we keep our laptop in a protective sleeve and place it in the main compartment of the backpack for extra protection since it lacks any padding otherwise. The laptop fits well in the main compartment, but the entire space is a bit narrow and when the pack is fully loaded we don’t like how other items in the backpack press up against the laptop when the bag is zipped closed. Because of this, we do not think this is a great backpack for the daily commute.

On the lid of the pack is a zippered pouch that opens horizontally and is lined with fleece. It’s a great spot for your phone, sunglasses, or other items that are easily scratched, though it also works great for quick-grab items like snacks. We store a tech pouch in the main compartment of the pack, though this spot is also large enough to store multiple charging cords and even a smaller notebook. Any small items you want easy access to are great here.

There’s also an external pouch on the front of the backpack that’s completely open on top and elastic on the sides. The backpack name “Asher 24” is screen printed on the top left side of this pouch. It can be opened wider or cinched down tighter with clips on the left and right side of the backpack, which helps you lock in gear of different sizes. According to Kelty, this pouch is made to easily store an extra layer of clothing when out and about, or even a notebook or library book for easy access. The disadvantage of this section is that it does not close on the top, so an item could fall out if the pocket is even slightly loose. For this reason, we do not suggest putting anything important such as travel documents in this section.

Overall, the Kelty Asher 24 is a rugged-looking bag that could work as a day pack or overnight bag, though with its lack of a dedicated laptop sleeve or tablet storage, we don’t recommend it for the daily commute or business travel.