Dick Kelty grew up hiking in the Sierra Nevada of California. This is a moutain range 300 miles in length, studded with 14,000' peaks, and 10,000' passes, a land of mild weather, and awesome alpine scenery. The only thing keeping people from enjoying it was the terrible packs of the day, which only Navy Seal types could carry for more than a day hike. Dick was inspired to build a better pack, and in 1952 borrowed $500 to go into the pack business. He cut the aluminum frame pieces, and welded them together to form the first aluminum frame for a backpack. His wife Nena sewed the nylon packs, another first, in the kitchen. The first years they sold 29 packs, followed by 90 packs, followed by 500 packs, and soon had a thriving mail order business going from their home.
In five years, Dick quit his carpentry business, and made packs full time. The red pack below is a 60-70's vintage Kelty, with the unpadded waist belt of the time. A new hiker would still have a great pack if they bought the old red or green Kelty, and updated the belt and shoulder pads. They can still be found on ebay and used sporting goods stores. 
The packs came also came in green. The first Kelty packs were revolutionary in the aluminum frame, nylon pack, clevis pin attachment, and waistbelt. Later innovations included the padded waistbelt, top load bar, padded shoulder straps, wraparound belt, and pack compartments. In 1972 Kelty made a pack that is thought by some (including me) to be the best external frame pack ever built, the Kelty Tioga. It came with a padded wrap around hip belt, load bar, quick release buckle, hold open frame, incredible load capacity, and unmatched durability. I got a Kelty Tioga in 1972, and still use it today, 33 years, 200+ peaks, 3 Ptarmigan Traverses, 1 John Muir Trail through hike, and 1000's of miles of other trails later. 
I teach college backpacking classes, and go on 4-6 backpacks per year, and my trusty Tioga soldiers on, to the amusement of the younger crowd in their internal frame packs. I have two internal fame packs, I just like my Tioga for backpacking. The new Tioga is not that much different than the 1972 model, though I don't own one to make a good comparison. Kelty now sells about 80 different models of packs, plus tents, sleeping bags, and baby carriers.
I met Nena Kelty while camping and hiking the Grand Canyon last week. She told me the story of the development of the Kelty Pack. Great story, and, What a wonderful lady!
Posted by: G. Robert Burns (BOB) | November 03, 2007 at 05:24 AM