Osprey Kyte 36 – the perfect small trekking backpack for women

It already seems ages ago that I did the Nendaz trekking in Switzerland, but in fact it is just over half a year ago that I was backpacking in the Alps. A new adventure, a new backpack! I took the Osprey Kyte 36 backpack for women with me on this trip. In this article I’ll give you my full and honest review, enjoy!
 

 

Osprey Kyte 36 – how I got to know this pack

You may think why I’d go for a new backpack while I still had a good backpack for trekkings. The backpack in this size that I have, has a relatively small hipbelt. I’ve been wearing the Osprey Tempest 40 for years and find myself not nearly as comfortable on a trek as when carrying the Ariel AG 55 that I carried on my treks in New Zealand. The latter has a very soft yet strong hipbelt which makes wearing it a lot more comfortable than the Osprey Tempest 40. But since I’m going on a cabin trek where I don’t need to carry my own cooking gear nor food, this one will be way too big for this purpose.
 
I get in touch with Osprey and tell them about my dilemma. They offer me to send the Osprey Kyte 36 liter backpack, a backpack specially designed for trekking and the female body. I decide to go for the Icelake Green, a nice color with turquoise details, making me feel very feminine as well.
 

 

A first impression

The Osprey Kyte 36 backpack is delivered to me a week before I go to Switzerland. It is the hottest week of the year, but I still decide to take the pack here on a trial hike through the local forest. I load it with some stuff for the trying and decide to hit the road. I immediately feel that the hipbelt is comfortable and soft, much better than the Tempest’s. This allows me to carry the weight on my hips without getting sore spots. In addition, I’m very happy with the fact that my mobile phone (an iPhone 8 plus) fits in the hipbelt pocket. Especially in the summer I often wear shorts that usually have no pockets. With the previously mentioned Tempest 40 my phone no longer fits in the hip pocket and I often carry it in my hand (or store it, not my preference, inside the backpack), but now I always have my phone at hand in case I want to snap a picture.
 

Off to Switzerland

Then it is time to go to Switzerland. I make a selection of which items will go with me on this trip. Because I’m traveling by train and I want to make the most of my time, I also bring items that do not go with me on the hike, such as a laptop and a bikini (for the spa after the tour). And so I only really get to test it right once I’ve arrived in Nendaz and am ready to hit the trail.
 

 

On the Nendaz trek

As mentioned, this backpack is equipped with an extra wide hip belt, which provides a lot of comfort for me. In addition, useful features such as the whistle and a rain cover are also featured on this backpack. The main compartment is accessible both from below and from above. I personally like the fact that I can close the bottom part for things that I should not need during the day, such as my sleeping bag, pillowcase (mandatory in corona time in the cabins in Switzerland) and my spare clothes.
 
In addition, I really liked that my water bag could be placed on the outside, so that no valuable space was lost on the inside. Suppose it is going to rain, something that is not unimaginable in the Alps, then a water bag can just get wet rather than other stuff. Also in case of a leak, this proves to be much safer.
 
I use the top compartment for things I want to have at hand quickly: sunglasses, sunscreen, a buff, my wallet and snacks. I use my other hip pocket for tissue paper and lip balm. After just one day I am satisfied with the layout of the backpack. It always takes a while to try out what fits best where, but within no time all items have their own space and I’m quick at grabbing what I need.
 

 

Features that I wasn’t happy about

The perfect backpack does not exist. Therefore I’ll also mention two things that I was less happy about. First of all, the included rain cover did not completely fit around the bag when it was full. I found out the hard way when it started to pour. Luckily it was just a quick shower, but next time I go to use it, I will have to bring a larger rain cover when it is fully filled (i.e. full size).
 
In addition, this backpack does not have a so called flat bottom, so you always have to stand it up it against something or put it down on its side. I think this feature is great with the Tempest 30 and 40. Besides these two small comments, I’m very satisfied with this backpack and hope that I can wear it for many years to come.
 

Technical details

Also useful to know: the Osprey Kyte 36 liter backpack weighs 1.5 kilos and the dimensions are 77x33x30cm. You order this bag at Amazon. Do you prefer a different backpack or a daypack? In this article I will give more reviews of backpacks for women!
 

Conclusion and disclaimer

I was offered this backpack in exchange for an honest review. If you have any questions and / or comments, please let me know. This article contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase via such a link, we may receive a modest commission for you at no extra cost!