Pack Pioneer Dies

Some sad news from the States where the man known as the 'Henry Ford of backpacking' Asher "Dick" Kelty has died aged 84.

If you're wondering why you should be bothered, well, Kelty was responsible for not only the first aluminum frame backpack, but also the first waist-belt, the first padded shoulder straps, the first nylon pack-bag, the first zippered pockets, the first hold-open bar; and the first use of clevis pins.

In other words, a lot of the concepts which we take for granted and make it possible for us to carry decent loads in comfort on the trail and in particular, the move to carrying backpacking loads through the hips rather than the shoulders.

Kelty apparently grew tired of carrying heavy wood and canvas packs in the 1940s and in 1952 set up Kelty Packs to produce his own, aluminium frames. Then in the early 50s he adapted the principle of resting the pack frame in his trouser pockets into the first weight-bearing hip-belts and idea that's become standard across the industry.

Kelty Packs is still a major name in the US market, though not in the UK. Oh, one last thing, instead of a memorial service, Kelty urges everyone to "go take a hike."

For more about Dick Kelty, see the release on the Kelty site.