REI Co-op Trailmade 60 vs Kelty Nena 60
Quick take: The Kelty Nena 60 costs $9 less; the Kelty Nena 60 is lighter (3.31 vs 3.44 lbs).
Which one to buy
With price nearly a wash, torso length and the load you plan to carry decide this. The Kelty Nena 60 is cut for women and its torso adjusts from 15.5 to 21 in, which reaches shorter backs than the REI Co-op Trailmade 60's 18-21 in range. If you measure under 18 in, that alone settles it. The Trailmade solves fit a different way: two width builds and extended hipbelt sizes, which fit bodies that mainstream packs skip.
Load is the second split. Kelty rates the Nena for 40-60 lb, the same ceiling as its $280 Glendale, at 3.31 lb. The Trailmade's comfort runs out around 35 lb, and loaded for a week it sags onto the shoulders. The Nena also has the AMP-Flow ventilated back, where the Trailmade's foam panel has no real ventilation channel, and Kelty backs it with a lifetime defect warranty, while REI allows returns within a year for members (90 days for non-members) and takes back defective packs at any time.
The Trailmade's case is ease of use. Its U-shaped front zip opens like a suitcase, which owners single out as the easiest way for a beginner to pack and find gear, and it has two hipbelt pockets where the Nena has one mesh pocket. It also takes a bear canister, which the Nena isn't built around. Neither includes a rain cover. The Nena's 600D polyester is heavier cloth than the Trailmade's 100D ripstop, though the finished packs weigh almost the same, and its suspension is tuned for heavy loads, so a light weekend kit won't use much of what it offers.
REI Co-op Trailmade 60
Best if your torso is 18 in or longer, you need a wider build or an extended hipbelt, or you hike where a bear canister is required. It suits weekend loads better than week-long ones.
Kelty Nena 60
For women with shorter torsos, down to 15.5 in, or anyone planning heavier multi-day loads who wants a ventilated back and a lifetime warranty for $9 less.
| Spec | REI Co-op Trailmade 60 | Kelty Nena 60 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189 | $180 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (13) | — |
| Type | Traditional Pack | Traditional Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 60 L | 60 L |
| Weight | 3.44 lbs | 3.31 lbs |
| Max Load | ~40 lbs (tested) | 40-60 lbs (18-27 kg) |
| Torso Fit | 18-21 in adjustable, 2 widths | FIT-Plus adjustable, 15.5-21 in (39-53 cm) |
| Material | 100D ripstop nylon | 600D polyester oxford |
| Back Panel | Ventilated foam with steel perimeter frame | AMP-Flow ventilated panel over a perimeter frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | REI satisfaction guarantee: returns within 1 year for members (90 days for non-members); defects in materials or workmanship returnable at any time | Kelty lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects |
Pros & cons
REI Co-op Trailmade 60
- ✓Regularly cited in camping-gear discussions as the best sub-$200 starter pack because the torso, hipbelt, and load lifters all actually adjust.
- ✓The giant U-shaped front zip opens the pack like a suitcase — beginners rave about how easy packing and finding gear is.
- ✓Inclusive size runs (including extended hipbelts) fit bodies that mainstream packs ignore.
- ✓At 3.44 lbs it is lighter than most budget competitors and even some $300 packs.
- ✓Dual hipbelt pockets, bottle pockets, and a front stuff pouch cover the organization basics without add-ons.
- ✓REI's return policy effectively lets new backpackers trial it for a season risk-free.
- ✓Frequent co-op sales push it near $140, at which point owners call it unbeatable.
- ✓Simple, durable construction with few failure-prone gimmicks — reviews show very low defect rates.
- ✗The 35 lb comfort ceiling arrives quickly; loaded for a week it sags onto the shoulders in a way step-up packs don't.
- ✗The foam back panel runs sweaty on climbs — there's no real ventilation channel.
- ✗No raincover included, and the fabric wets out faster than coated premium cloth.
- ✗The hipbelt padding is thin, and several reviewers report hot spots on bony hips by day two.
- ✗No removable lid or top-access flexibility; the design is take-it-or-leave-it simple.
- ✗The steel perimeter frame is heavier material than the aluminum in pricier packs.
- ✗Bottle pockets are tight to reach with the pack on.
- ✗It's a starter pack by design — most owners upgrade within a couple of seasons, so factor resale into the math.
Kelty Nena 60
- ✓3.31 lb with a 60 lb rating is a better weight-to-load figure than any other Kelty pack.
- ✓Adjustable torso across 15.5-21 in at a price where many packs come in fixed sizes.
- ✓Ventilated AMP-Flow back, hydration sleeve and a hipbelt mesh pocket.
- ✓$100 cheaper than the women's Glendale 65 for the same load ceiling.
- ✓Lifetime defect warranty.
- ✗Kelty states that no rain cover is included.
- ✗Only a single mesh hipbelt pocket, against two zippered ones on the Glendale.
- ✗600D polyester oxford adds weight compared with the 210D nylon on lighter packs.
- ✗The 40 lb lower bound of the carry range suggests the suspension is tuned for heavy loads rather than light ones.
REI Co-op Trailmade 60 vs Kelty Nena 60: common questions
Which fits a short torso better, the Nena 60 or the Trailmade 60?▾
The Nena 60. Its torso adjusts from 15.5 to 21 in, while the Trailmade 60 starts at 18 in. If you measure below that, the Trailmade won't shorten enough, however well its two width builds suit your frame.
Will the Trailmade 60 carry as much as the Nena 60?▾
Not comfortably. The Trailmade's comfort runs out around 35 lb and the pack sags onto the shoulders when loaded for a week. Kelty rates the Nena for 40-60 lb, so it's the one to pick for long trips with heavy food and water.
Does either pack fit a bear canister?▾
The Trailmade 60 takes one. The Nena 60 isn't sold as canister-compatible, so if your trips cross canister-required areas, that's a real point for the REI pack, or test your own canister in the Nena before committing.