Backpacks today look nothing like the metal and canvas contraptions of the 1970s. Removable internal supports made of plastic have replaced external frames, and ripstop nylon now reigns supreme. No ...

Way back in the late '70s, like many of my generation, I put aside my trusty old Kelty pack in favor of one of those newfangled internal-fre packs: first a Lowe, later a Gregory, and currently a Dana ...

We explain the differences and benefits of an external frame backpack vs internal to see if there’s a good argument for resurrecting the traditional pack for long treks . | Credit: Joel Carillet ...

Pack: In 1988, I started with a Kelty Basic external frame pack, circa 1977. It had one big compartment, two outside pockets and a web hip belt with no padding. Two years later, I replaced it with a ...

In this column last month, I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as throwbacks - ...

In this column last month I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as bulky, ...