Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Kelty History

        Home Brands History Firsts Classics Logos Links Books News Action About

Profile

Images

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