TABLE OF CONTENTS OUR HERITAGE
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1963 American Everest Expedition 1963 Antarctic Expedition Across Chang Tang Evolution of the Brand
16 18 22 24
OUR BRAND TODAY
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Vision Mission Values
42 44 46
WALKING THE WALK
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Cure for the Common Kid Fund The Conservation Alliance Events
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OUR PEOPLE
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
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BUILT TO LAST
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PUBLISHED BY KELTY - AN EXXEL OUTDOORS BRAND 1 International Court, Broomfield, CO 80021 www.kelty.com ART DIRECTION & ARCHIVAL INITIATIVE Thomas Milam, Russ Rowell, and Torie Palffy COPYWRITERS Staci Amend, Torie Palffy, and Russ Rowell SPECIAL THANKS As we near our 70th anniversary, we give special thanks to our loyal customers, retailers, and happy campers everywhere. Together, since 1952, we’ve been able to innovate against our wildest ideas, welcome new faces around our campfire, and simply…get out and PLAY. OUR TEAM Russ Rowell – SVP/GM Vince Mares - Creative Director Shaina Siverson - Senior Product Designer Anna Olinger- Product Designer Torie Palffy – Marketing Manager Thomas Milam – Senior Graphic Designer Nels Larson – Senior Product Manager David Aiken - Product Developer Zach Lloyd - Product Developer
Andy Russell - VP of Sales Cody Patterson - Director National Accounts Andrew Moore - Midwest Territory Manager Bryan Hays - West Coast Territory Manager Adrian Person - Rocky Mountain Territory Manager Curtis Low - Southeast Territory Manager Kelly Dwyer - Northeast Territory Manager
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS American Alpine Club Library / Willi Unsoeld, Ross Bernards, Kat Dierickx, Katie Lasik, Thomas Milam, Galen Rowell, Van There, Tales of Voyage and Ben Wronkoski Copyright © 2021 by Kelty. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from Kelty.
“I realized I was too much of an outdoorsman to ever to be happy working inside again.” -Dick Kelty
OUR HERITAGE
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DICK KELTY MADE HIS FIRST BACKPACK IN 1933, AT 14, TO HAUL BLANKETS AND FOOD FOR OVERNIGHT HIKES WITH HIS FATHER IN THE SIERRAS. While overseas outfitting WWII aircraft, he learned about lightweight aviation materials—and an idea took root and grew. Upon his return to Glendale, California, Kelty set out to build a better pack: lighter, more comfortable, and BUILT FOR PLAY®. Dick’s backpacking friends agreed to test the new pack design, which featured an external frame that helped to distribute weight more evenly. Early feedback was positive, but ultimately it was the organic, iterative process of trail testing that led to Kelty’s biggest innovation.
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Nena, daughter Anita, son Richard, and Dick. 1957 “The funny thing I remember was that I was wearing white cotton gloves because of a severe case of detergent burn (Tide had just gone on the market). I can still hear another woman on the trail who couldn’t believe I was wearing white gloves while hiking!"- Nena Kelty
“We look at Dick Kelty as the Father of Modern Backpacking."
-Russ Rowell, Kelty SVP / GM
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THE KELTY WAY
Early attempts to DIY-dye parachute nylon in the Keltys’ washing machine yielded the company’s first green packs—not to mention a few loads of matching green underwear for the whole family.
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ONWARD + UPWARD During a time when the industry standard was wood and canvas, Dick Kelty lit out for the territory ahead—with stronger, lighter materials like nylon and aluminum, and design innovations like padded shoulder straps and an adjustable waist belt.
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HIKING IN JEANS, CHANGING THE WORLD On one particularly grueling hike, a member of the test crew tucked the base of the frame into the back pockets of his jeans, transferring the majority of the load onto his hips—and changing the nascent backpacking industry forever. Kelty’s next pack design, which featured the first simple waist belt, set the standard for backpack designs to this day. A few years later, after selling a few packs by mail order, Dick used his aviation experience to experiment with materials and construction that would make his packs lighter and more durable, including aluminum and ripstop nylon from military surplus parachutes. He sewed a simple cargo bag with his wife’s Singer, and attached it to the contoured aluminum frame with surplus aircraft rivets secured to a stainless steel rod. Again, Kelty’s innovations quickly reset—and maintained—the industry standard. 12
“Dick Kelty is widely credited with making backpacking more accessible to the general public."
In the spirit of trail-tested gear, Dick could be found out in the field talking with fellow backpackers, getting feedback, and of course spreading good will. User insight was critical in his design ethos: design, test, report back, and refine.
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FROM THE KELTY KITCHEN TO THE FAR CORNERS Dick spent nights crafting frames in the garage
and on stateside trails. “I’ll make a pack in any color
while his wife, Nena, sewed packs in the couple’s
you want,” Kelty said, “as long as it’s green.”
tiny kitchen. That first year, 1952, he sold 29 packs for $678.85 gross profit—and an outdoor legend
After the celebrated National Geographic Expedition
was born. In those early days, Kelty’s only source of
to Antarctica in 1969, though, Kelty added bright red
advertising was the Sierra Club newsletter—but he
packs to his product assortment. He ultimately added
quickly learned that this group provided the ultimate
sleeping bags, tents, apparel, and more to the mix—in
trail-testing forum. As he continued to refine and refit
a variety of shades—and the brand gradually evolved
his products, Kelty’s conifer-colored packs became
into the practical, colorful and durable, Kelty gear we
the go-to gear for major mountain expeditions
know today.
(including the American Everest Expedition of 1963)
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Along the way, Kelty Built® came to stand for easy-to-use, easy-to-love outdoor gear that’s built to last—and made to make the wilderness feel a little more like home.
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LEADING THE WAY TO THE TOP By by the mid-60s, Kelty packs, tents,
and sleeping bags were being taken on
expeditions to every continent on Earth.
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UNSOELD PHOTOS, AMERICAN ALPINE CLUB LIBRARY
1963 AMERICAN EVEREST EXPEDITION: KELTY SUMMITS ON A LAST-MINUTE WHIM In 1963, American mountaineer Tom Hornbein was preparing for the first-ever ascent of Everest’s West Ridge when countryman and climber Nick Clinch stopped by Base Camp for a tour. At the time, only eight men had reached the summit—all by the proven South Col route. As Hornbein and partner Willi Unsoeld checked and double-checked their gear, Tom found himself admiring Nick’s brand-new Kelty BB5 pack—and made the spur-of-the-moment suggestion to swap. Clinch was game, and the rest is history. Hornbein and Unsoeld bagged the summit and saved teammates Bishop and Jerstad from an icy grave on the way down.
“Doing it the Kelty way". Their route is now known as the “Horbein Couloir", and has only had 9 summiters since 1963.
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1966 ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION
SIX-PACKS
1966 AMERICAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION: KELTY FIRST TO REACH 6 HISTORIC SUMMITS
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AAME PHOTOS, AMERICAN ALPINE CLUB LIBRARY
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Just three years after the Everest Expedition, Nick Clinch would take a different Kelty pack to a different summit—six of them, in fact. The American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition would make daring first ascents of Antarctica’s six tallest peaks, including Vinson Massif. Kelty was there, every step of the way.
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ACROSS CHANG TANG
Galen Rowell Photography
CHIRU TREKS 2003 AMERICAN TIBET EXPEDITION: KELTY TRACKS ENDANGERED ANTELOPE In 2003, Kelty outfitted Rick Ridgeway, Jimmy Chin, and team as they tracked the endangered chiru antelope across the Tibetan Plateau. In this month-long trek, the team followed chiru herds to their secluded breeding grounds in order to establish a wildlife preserve.
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EVOLUTION OF THE BRAND Dick Kelty made his first backpack in 1933. In 1952, he opened his garage to the world and
turned his passion into a business. Today, we look back on decades of innovation, exploration, pranks, awards, and a rich history dedicated to getting more people outside.
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OUR BRAND LOGO
The original logo design straight from the garage where he crafted his first packs. If you are fortunate to own one of these, consider the history you are holding.
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1952
CIRCA 1965
CIRCA 1980
CIRCA 1975
2017
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TIME STAMPS: CATALOG COVERS OVER THE YEARS
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TIMELINE 1973 The Tioga Kelty introduces the Tioga pack: the first “fullfeature backpack” and 1963 1956 Dick Kelty quits his carpentry business to make Kelty Packs his full-time focus, opening his first factory and retail store in a former storefront barber shop in Glendale.
1952 KELTY PACKS FOUNDED Asher “Dick” Kelty launches Kelty Packs with gear he and his wife craft by hand in their Glendale, California home. That first year, they sell 29 packs for a gross profit of $678.85.
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American Everest Expedition Kelty gear summits Mount Everest, accompanying the first two American teams to accomplish this feat—setting a new gold standard for mountaineering equipment.
1970 Dick Kelty designs and produces the first stainless steel quick-release waist belt ever to be used on a backpack—a feature that would redefine comfort for the entire industry.
forerunner of all packs to follow. Later that year, Kelty packs become the most widely distributed in the U.S.
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1972
The American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition makes daring first ascents of Antarctica’s six tallest peaks, including Vinson Massif. Kelty is there, every step of the way.
Boston-based company CML, Inc. purchases Kelty, now a leader in the backpacking and outdoor industry. Dick Kelty stays on as chairman throughout CML’s six years of ownership.
1969 Kelty introduces its revolutionary, bright red BB5 pack—featuring durable ripstop nylon on a lightweight aluminum frame and a large main compartment with five extra pockets.
1989 Conservation Alliance Founded
1978 U.S. mountaineers Jim Wickwire and Lou Reichardt bring Kelty gear along on the first American summit of K2, surviving a bivouac at 27,000 feet to make Himalayan history.
Kelty joins REI, Patagonia, The North Face, and other industry leaders as a
1982 A five-man American mountaineering team led by Galen Rowell summits Cholatse—the last named, unclimbed peak in the Everest region—with Kelty gear in tow.
1987 Kelty Woman makes history with the first collection of outdoor gear—including backpacks, sleeping bags, and clothing—made specifically for the female form.
2016
founding member of the Conservation Alliance. To date, the Alliance has saved over 73 million acres of wildlands.
Tn2 Gear of the Year Award Winner After months of rigorous testing, Outside Magazine awards Kelty’s Tn2 tent top honors in their Gear of the Year roundup, which recognizes the season’s best new adventure gear. Many industry awards were given during Kelty's time.
1988
1982 Kelty introduces a Gore-Tex outerwear line, its first four sleeping bags (two of which were Hollofil bags, the Minalet and the Nuska), as well as its first ever tent collection (the Wonoga 2P, Conness 3P, and Orizaba 4P). ®
The company launches Kelty Treks: 15-person tours led by experienced, fun-loving guides, and designed to help nature newbies get outside and learn about the backcountry.
2000 Backpacking the Kelty Way Dick Kelty’s book, Backpacking the Kelty Way, cements his status as the “Henry Ford of backpacking.” Nick Clinch credits the waist belt with opening the outdoors to the masses.
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DAILY PLAY Dick Kelty loved nothing better than a good camping prank—and this mischievous spirit is in our DNA, shaping who we are today. Here are a few of his favorites. 10/10, would try again. And again.
Elk Duds (for all ages) Dick absolutely loved a gross-out gag, and this was his favorite camping prank to play on kids. He’d start by bragging about his vast knowledge of “animal sign,” which is just a nice way saying “I can tell a critter by its poop.” KIDS LOVE THAT, BTW. He’d talk about various local wildlife, what their scat looked like, and which animals the kiddos were likely to see near the campsite. Then he’d send them off to look for scat. With the kids occupied, he’d then sprinkle Milk Duds or chocolate-covered raisins—both of which are passable approximations of deer and elk sign—in a messy pile near the campsite. Then he’d look busy until one of the kids excitedly discovered the pile. When asked his opinion about their wild visitor, Dick would pop one of the “droppings” into his mouth, rolling it around thoughtfully on his tongue whilst pretending to discern the species.
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Tent Snake (for kids and teens) Dick also loved a good campsite scare. He’d wait until his friends had set up their tent and left it totally unattended, then run a length of knotted rope diagonally underneath it, from corner to corner (concealed from exterior view, of course). Then he’d wait until they were nodding off, and then slowly pull the rope out. Running the rope diagonally ensures that everyone in the tent can share the…thrill…of having one’s tent invaded by snakes under cover of darkness.
Beer Mule (for the adults) Not so much a prank, as good ol’ common sense. When your pals aren’t looking, stuff a couple of extra cans of beer in their packs, and bury it under some clothing. We figure you can get at least halfway before they discover the extra weight they’ve been carrying. And how could they be mad? More beer = more fun.
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OUR BRAND
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TODAY 35
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PLAYING HARD SINCE 1952 KELTY WAS BORN OUT OF A GENUINE LOVE FOR THE OUTDOORS. For Dick Kelty, getting outside was a physical need−and as a result, every single thing he made was handcrafted to make the backcountry feel as accessible and comfortable as his own backyard. As the Father of Modern Backpacking, Kelty has always been dedicated to connecting all kinds of folks with the wonders of the wilderness and encouraging PLAY in its most natural form. Because, let’s face it: nobody works for the Wednesday! And adventure doesn’t have to mean bagging an epic peak. It’s also a truck full of tubes and coolers,it’s baby’s first campout,or a last-minute road trip to whatever festival is happening that weekend. It’s ride-or-die friends, built-to-last gear and a healthy dose of “come what may.” It’s how we work. It’s WHY we work…because each and every one of us is Built for Play®.
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Kelty noun | \kel-tee\ 1. activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation 2. something way more fun than work 39
BUILT FOR PLAY IS MORE THAN A TAGLINE. From product design to professional philosophy to personal preference, PLAY is at the heart of everything we do. And, as gear experts who also happen to be regular, fun-loving people, everything we put into the marketplace was created specifically to help other folks like us embrace the outdoors, embody mischief, and embark upon a lifetime of adventures. From block parties to Bonnaroo, the backcountry and beyond, Kelty gear is always ready to ride.
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®
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VISION:
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From our earliest days in Dick Kelty’s garage, the Kelty vision has been clear: create happy campers from day one.
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MISSION:
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At Kelty, we’re working towards a world in which ALL people (and their amazing dogs, obviously) can enjoy the outdoors with minimum fuss and maximum fun. So, while our products are constructed to withstand epic adventures, they’re actually made for everyday folks: accessibly priced, easy to use, and even easier to love.
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EMBRACE YOUR BETTER NATURE
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We believe that time spent with Mother Nature brings out the very best in human nature—here’s how we’re working to foster this elemental exchange.
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INSPIRE
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From everyday to epic adventures, we are wholly dedicated to fostering and outfitting an unstoppable culture of outdoor play. 49
EDUCATE
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With accessible, easy-to-use products and a welcoming voice, Kelty is passionate about teaching backcountry newbies “how to outdoor.”
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CULTIVATE
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An ever-fresh product assortment not only sustains our core customer, but also attracts the next generation of happy campers. 53
PRESERVE
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Durable, high-quality products crafted using responsible methods and materials help preserve the outdoors for future generations. 55
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INVITE
By design, the Kelty brand is approachable from all sides (cultural, financial, and experience level) and we work tirelessly to welcome ALL.
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EMBRACE
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By nature, we believe everyone is Built for Play: all races, religions, gender identities, backgrounds, body types, and beyond.
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WALKING
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THE WALK
It’s one thing to say you’re Built for Play—and another thing to intentionally build a world that prioritizes play for others. Here are just a handful of the ways in which Kelty walks the walk. 61
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Kelty is proud to support the Cure for the
focus and foster physical wellbeing. Sales
Common Kid: an in-house philanthropic
from select kid-centric products support
fund dedicated to helping kids spend more
the fund, which sponsors programs aimed
time in nature. Studies have shown that just
at fighting the all-too-real Nature Deficit
five minutes spent in a natural environment
Disorder—and ensuring that kiddos get
can raise spirits, reduce stress, increase
plenty of Vitamin YAY.
“STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT JUST FIVE MINUTES SPENT IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CAN RAISE SPIRITS, REDUCE STRESS, INCREASE FOCUS, AND FOSTER PHYSICAL WELLBEING.” 63
PROTECTING Kelty is one of the four founding members of The Conservation Alliance, whose mission is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values. The Alliance was founded in 1989 by industry leaders REI, Patagonia, The North Face, and Kelty, who shared the goal of increasing outdoor industry support for conservation efforts. We now have more than 250 member companies, and plan to disburse up to $2 million in 2020. Since its founding, the Alliance has contributed over $23 million to grassroots conservation groups throughout North America. The results of our funding have been remarkable. Conservation Alliance funding has helped save more than 73 million acres of wildlands; protect 3,575 miles of rivers; stop or remove 35 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase 17 climbing areas.
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NATURAL PLACES 65
JAMMIN′ OUT If you've never ventured out to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, you're missing possibly the most interesting week of your life. Yes there is more banjo than you could ever want, but in reality there is so much more going on that when you return home, life as you know it will never be the same.
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KILLING IT This little piggy: team Kelty reprazentin’ at Frozen Dead Guy Days with our annual Coffin Race Team.
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WET WORK Kelty sponsors Boulder Tube to Work Day’s first annual Bacon Fishing Station with predictably awesome results.
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OUR
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PEOPLE
We’re all about sharing stories, playing pranks, and While we believe that everyone should play, we also know that not connecting with new people in new (and old) places. everyone plays the same way. Here are the three unique groups that Mostly, we love having a good time outside, and we make up the delightfully diverse Kelty customer base. look to “our people” to help us do just that.
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Good things come to those who wait. Whether you’re headed to the brewery or deep into the backcountry, we’re calling on our Instigators to get the adventure rolling. Be spontaneous, be the trip planner, take a leap and try something new, speak up for LNT, rally your crew, and maybe create a little mischief along the way.
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INSTIGATOR
EXPERIENTIALIST
NATURALIST
The Instigator looks to Kelty for the inspiration, gear, and expertise needed to turn their ideas into real-life adventures. It’s a mentality and a lifestyle, one that we share—one that comes to life through our brand archetypes : The Naturalist and The Experientialist.
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LET'S MEET THE
NATURALIST
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WHO: 40s+; experienced and traditional. Their dad, funcle, and BAD ASS NANA had—and likely still have—Kelty packs. They grew up with the brand and are familiar with its legacy.
WHAT: Traditional outdoors stuff like camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, and cabin trips.
HOW: No-frills fun. Natural colors and durable materials.
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LET'S MEET THE
EXPERIENTIALIST
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WHO: 18–39, Millennial and Generation Z city-to-campsite, journey-is-the-destination types.
WHAT: Versatile adventure: glamping, festivals, National Parks, road trips, doin’ it for the ‘gram.
HOW: Vibrant and stylish; looks good and works great; versatility that feeds spontaneity.
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
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Go on, choose your own adventure! From urban bike paths to backcountry boulder fields to badass bluegrass fests and beyond, Kelty has the gear to get you out. For every adventure, from everyday to epic, here are our favorite ways to PLAY. 87
EVERYDAY TO EPIC
TOWNIN’ AROUND
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Who’s to say the concrete jungle isn’t a legitimate playground? Around your neighborhood or across the globe—on your commute or in the classroom—our urban daypacks have your back. 89
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
HANGIN’ WITH THE FAM
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To secure a brighter future for this beautiful planet we share, we must raise the next generation right—with a love for nature, and a responsibility to protect it. It’s never too early to start. 93
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
DAY TRIPPIN'
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When adventure is everywhere, you need versatile gear that’s always ready to rock—whether you’re SUP-ing at sunrise or chasing the second-set chill at your favorite music fest. 97
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
SHOTGUN CALLIN'
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Wide-open spaces and windblown faces. Truck stop snacks and dayuse hacks. When home is where you park, you need go-anywhere gear that can turn on a dime. Roadie is ready. 101
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
HAPPY CAMPIN'
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Whether you’re venturing into deep wilderness or backing your Subie right up to the campsite, the result is the same: a cozy home under the stars, for you and your homies. 105
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
TAKIN' A HIKE
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As a gateway brand, it’s our duty to make the outdoors accessible to ALL—starting with a solid selection of awesome, affordable packs for shorter hauls and smaller forays. 109
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
LONG HAULIN'
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The Kelty brand started with a single backpack, and we’ve never lost sight of how we got here: one man’s singular desire to open up the wonders of the wilderness to everyone. 113
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EVERYDAY TO EPIC
WAGGIN' TAILS
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To say we’re “dog people” would be a vast understatement. So it’s important that our products are designed with the assumption that our very best customers are usually canine. 117
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BUILT TO LAST “When I was a baby, my dad used to carry me in a Kelty backpack when we went skiing. The pack is so well built, that when I turned 16, he gave it to me to use in the backcountry. My wife is now pregnant, and I intend to follow in my father's footsteps of taking my child skiing for the first time, swaddled and secure in the very same backpack.” —Miles O.
“My Kelty backpack saved my life. Hiking in the Grand Canyon, I slipped and free-fell over a 50-foot cliff. I was saved from what should have been a fatal fall because the major impact was absorbed by the pack frame.”
—Cheryl Soshnik (1997 Kelty Catalog p.33)
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“In 1979, I was selected to serve as a Wilderness Park Ranger in New York state. I ordered a Kelty Serac backpack. For the next three years, I logged over 1,000 miles per year on the trails. My Kelty Serac was a beast, and stood up to all the vigorous miles and loads. Fast forward 40 years, and I am still using that pack today! The pack has stories galore to tell.”
—Larry W.
“I purchased an old Kelty pack at a yard sale for $10, and used it for almost 30 years! The final trip, we took a bunch of 7–8 year-olds into the Uintah Mountains. One of the dads twisted his ankle, so I transferred his gear to my pack—it was so big, I looked like a snail. We weighed it when we got home: 92 pounds! I have a new Kelty pack now, as do both my kids. The old pack hangs on the wall. I can't bring myself to toss it.”
—Stuart K.
“My son was wearing one of your packs as he backpacked from Colorado to the West Coast. He was hit by a car, and that pack saved his life. While he did sustain several life-threatening injuries, the pack frame kept his head from snapping back. He will eventually make a full recovery—and we will be getting him a new Kelty pack!
—Cindy B.
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In lieu of attending his memorial service in 2004, Dick Kelty famously told everyone to...
“Go take a hike.” 122
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