Video Review: Keen Springer 29 L - $60

Video review:

Disclaimer:

This pack was purchased for my daughter.  It doesn't really fit into the crossover day pack class the way that all the other packs on this blog do.  However, it is close enough to make it worthwhile for me to review it as well as for you to find out about it.  So, here it is...


The good stuff:

This pack's headline feature is the fact that a "Crazy Creek"-like chair folds out from the back of the pack.  However, this pack is more than just this gee-whiz feature.  In fact, I was surprised by the feature set of this pack.  Surprised in a good way.

The design is simple.  There are only two zippers on the whole pack!  I love this kind of simplicity.  The outside of the pack as two mesh side pockets that, while a tad shallow, will easily hold a full sized Nalgene bottle.  The other outside pocket is a top, zippered compartment that will hold sunglasses or other small items to which you might want to have accessible in a moment's notice.  That's it for pockets outside of the main compartment.

The suspension system has a waist belt and lightly padded shoulder straps.  The chair feature makes the back remarkably still - a great thing in that it allows the pack to keep its shape and makes it more comfortable when carrying maximum loads in the pack.

In the main compartment, the laptop pocket also double as a hydration bladder sleeve complete with hook.  The organizer panel is has a slot for a tablet, and three divided pockets for smaller items.  There is also a small carabiner for your keys.  The main compartment opens wide without interference from other parts of the pack making it easy to access your stuff.

The bad stuff:

The chair feature works, but it also adds a lot of weight to the pack.  I would conservatively say that it doubles the weight of the pack (perhaps, triples...).  Also related to the back of the pack is that there is no mesh or open channels to allow for perspiration to escape.  This could prove to be a sweaty design.  Of course, the back is SO still that it actually stays off most of your back so it may actually be cooler than more back hugging pack designs.

The pack is not made out of the best materials.  The nylon, while coated for water resistance, is thin.  Overall, it does not give me a lot of confidence that this pack could last for the long haul.

One of the strangest omissions is that there is no sternum strap on this pack.  What makes this odd is that Keen provides a waist belt.  Usually, it is the opposite (and frankly, the sternum strap is more important for stability).  Its and omission that makes no sense and I would love to ask the designers at Keen what they were thinking.

Finally, the implementation of the laptop/hydration bladder sleeve is less than stellar.  It is difficult to load and unload a laptop because of the pocket that hangs down into this space and blocks the laptop sleeve and the fact that the back is SO stiff that you need to fight the pack to remove the computer.  It is all made worse by the fact that the roof of the pack is also too deep so you need to clear the packs walls when removing the pack.  It is so bad, that I would not ever consider using this as a laptop sleeve unless all you use is a netbook (and who uses netbooks anymore...).

Summary:

This is a simple pack that would be fine for the teen set.  It could never be a serious pack for a commuter or even a college student.  I think it would drive these kinds of users crazy.  Alas, it is not an expensive pack and you always get what you pay for.  If this pack lasts two years, I would be happy.  Don't expect to hand this down to your children, however. In fact, I would guess that this would last two days in the jungles of Borneo and two weeks in Paris before breaking down.

Grade: C