Kelty Asher 55 vs Kelty Asher 35
Quick take: The Kelty Asher 35 costs $60 less; the Kelty Asher 55 carries more (55 vs 35 liters); the Kelty Asher 35 is lighter (1.75 vs 3.13 lbs).
Which one to buy
Measure your back before comparing liters. The Asher 35 has one fixed torso of 18.1 in, so short and very tall hikers will not get a good fit. The Asher 55 adjusts from 15.5 to 21 in with Kelty's velcro FIT-Pro system, which is rare at its price. If you are far from 18.1 in, the 55 is the only one of the two built to fit you.
Past fit, these are a day pack and an overnight pack from the same budget line, $60 apart. The Asher 35 has an HDPE frame sheet, a hipbelt with dual mesh pockets, a hydration sleeve and a 10-25 lb carry range, which suits long day hikes. The Asher 55 is the budget first backpacking pack: a perimeter frame, hipbelt pockets and a sensible volume for most multi-day trips. Testers find its suspension most comfortable up to about 30 lb, and reviewers note it gives up fabric refinement and long-term durability to premium packs.
Budget for a rain cover either way, since neither comes with one. Both carry Kelty's lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. For anyone planning even occasional overnights, the 55 is the one to buy.
Kelty Asher 55
For a first backpacking pack on a budget, especially if your torso is shorter or longer than average and you keep loads around 30 lb.
Kelty Asher 35
Made for long day hikes on a budget, provided an 18.1 in torso suits you and your load stays within 25 lb.
| Spec | Kelty Asher 55 | Kelty Asher 35 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $170 | $110 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (7) | — |
| Type | Traditional Pack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 55 L | 35 L |
| Weight | 3.13 lbs | 1.75 lbs |
| Max Load | 25-45 lbs | 10-25 lbs |
| Torso Fit | FIT-Pro adjustable, 15.5-21 in | Fixed, 18.1 in (46 cm) |
| Material | 600D polyester oxford | 600D polyester oxford |
| Back Panel | AMP-Flow ventilated back panel over a perimeter frame | AMP-Flow ventilated panel over an HDPE frame sheet |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Kelty lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects (reasonable lifetime of the product, original purchaser) | Kelty lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects |
Pros & cons
Kelty Asher 55
- ✓$170 is less than half the price of the Osprey Aether 65 or Gregory Baltoro 65.
- ✓3 lb 2 oz is light for a budget pack; most cheap packs are well over 4 lb.
- ✓Costs $115 less than the Osprey Exos 58.
- ✓Adjustable torso at a price where fixed harnesses are the norm.
- ✓Kelty has a long history in mainstream backpacking gear.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets included.
- ✓55 L covers most multi-day trips without excess volume.
- ✗OutdoorGearLab rates its features, durability and comfort below the premium packs.
- ✗No rain cover included.
- ✗Kelty's build quality is a step below Osprey and Gregory at the same volumes.
Kelty Asher 35
- ✓An HDPE frame sheet and a 25 lb carry rating at a weight most framed daypacks cannot match.
- ✓$110 for 35 L undercuts the Deuter Trail 30 by $45 with 5 L more volume.
- ✓Dual mesh pockets on the hipbelt plus a hydration sleeve.
- ✓600D polyester oxford is heavier-duty than the 210D nylon on most packs at this weight.
- ✓Lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
- ✗One fixed torso length of 18.1 in, so it will not fit short or very tall hikers well.
- ✗No rain cover is listed.
- ✗The lid is a fixed zippered pocket, not a floating or removable one.
Kelty Asher 55 vs Kelty Asher 35: common questions
Can the Asher 35 work for an overnight instead of buying the Asher 55?▾
Only if you can pack a night out into 35 L. Kelty gives it a 10-25 lb carry range and one fixed 18.1 in torso. The Asher 55 has more room and an adjustable harness, and testers find it comfortable up to about 30 lb.
How heavy a load is the Asher 55 really comfortable with?▾
Testers say its trimmed-down suspension is most comfortable up to about 30 lb. It will haul more, but there is not enough padding to make heavier loads pleasant, so treat bigger numbers as structural, not comfort, limits.
Will the Asher 35 fit me if I'm short?▾
Possibly not. It has a single fixed torso length of 18.1 in, so shorter and very tall hikers may find the hipbelt sits in the wrong place. The Asher 55 adjusts down to 15.5 in.