1952
Dick Kelty hand forms and welds packframes in his garage, while wife Nena sews each pack bag
first packs to use aircraft-aluminum contoured frames, padded shoulder straps, waist belts, clevis-pins, nylon pack cloth,
sell 29 packs for $24 each
1953
sales triple to 90 back packs
1954
sales now more than double to 220 packs in this year
1956
Dick Kelty quits his carpentry business to focus on Kelty Packs full-time.
opens first retail store and "factory" in an old barber shop in Glendale, California
1962
retail and mail-order divisions are moved to a larger building on Victory Blvd.
1965
backpack rain covers are introduced.
1966
Kelty packs are used on the National Geographic Antarctica expedition.
1968
production facility is moved to a new factory in Sun Valley, California.
1969
new BB5 pack is introduced in red with a large main compartment and five outside pockets.
also release an air mattress, camp pillow, nylon-covered sleeping pad, and rain poncho.
1970
Dick Kelty designs and produces the first stainless steel, quick-release waist belt buckle used on a back pack.
1971
Kelty produces two models of daypacks.
1972
Boston-based CML, Inc. purchases Kelty, and Dick remains chairman through CML’s six years of ownership.
1973
introduces the Tioga and Serac packs, the first new designs since the early 1950’s.
new packs feature a fully padded, one-piece waistbelt, waterproof fabric, and a new cam-lock buckle.
Serac pack also features a covered sleeping bag compartment.
1974
introduces its first internal frame packs, the Ruck Sack; the Haul Pack; and the "Tour Pack," which sells for $49
Tour pack, designed by John Robinson, considered by some as the first commercial internal frame pack
down booties and dog packs also added.
standard D-4 and A-4 external frame packs get padded waist belts.
1975
introduces first Kelty clothing with down-insulated jackets
introduces Kelty-labeled down sleeping bags.
Kelty packs used on the American ascent of K2.
1977
celebrates its 25th anniversary
introduces the Sonora frame pack, a full-feature pack featuring a front- and top-opening main compartment.
1978
produces their first Gore-Tex clothing
introduction of the first adjustable-frame kids’ packs, the 4/C and 4/D.
1979
American Recreation Products purchases Kelty.
1981
eleven pieces of luggage are introduced.
pack line now includes six styles of internal frame packs and eight styles of external frame packs
the color blue is added to the pack line.
1987
produces company’s first women’s-specific catalog, highlighting internal and external packs, along with sleeping bags
1988
introduces the radically designed Radial external frame pack and Windfoil series of tunnel tents.
The 1988 catalog was produced in support of the World Wildlife Fund
1990
introduces Jetstream mountain dome tent, Nautilus 3 season dome and Ultralight tunnel tent
Kelty now