Built For Play
DICK KELTY MADE HIS FIRST BACKPACK IN 1933, AT AGE 14, TO HAUL BLANKETS AND FOOD FOR OVERNIGHT HIKES WITH HIS FATHER IN THE SIERRAS.
As a young man, while overseas outfitting aircraft during WWII, he learned about durable, 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®. He spent nights meticulously handcrafting frames in his garage while his
wife, Nena, lovingly sewed packs in the couple's tiny kitchen. That first year, 1952, they sold 29 packs—and an outdoor legend was born.
To this day, Kelty stands behind the quality and durability of our gear, and we want our valued customers to be completely satisfied with their purchase. That's why we in include our “Kelty Built” lifetime warranty on all products—protecting them against any potential defects in materials or workmanship. If customers experience an issue with their gear, they can simply contact our team and we'll fix, replace it, or otherwise do our best to make it right. Our guarantee covers the lifetime of the product, so customers can rest assured that their outdoor gear will last for many adventures to come—allowing them to focus on what really matters:
enjoying the great outdoors. After all, it’s what Dick Kelty would have wanted.