In 1952, introduced one of the first external aluminum frame backpacks.听Now, 60 years later, that same company is putting a version of its widely-praised external aluminum frame on luggage.
Ascender 22.
Ascender 22.Called the Ascender Series, Kelty鈥檚 new retro-styled travel luggage starts with a single piece, the Ascender 22鈥攁 carry-on with an expandable external chassis on a removable bag. The bag and the chassis both expand to give you extra space鈥攆rom 40 to听55 to听70 liters鈥攕o that they can be either carried on or checked at the gate.听And the series is modular: Once you have the Ascender 22, you can swap the frame for the water-resistant Ascender听WR Duffel听or to the customizable, gear-ready Ascender听Trunk, both of which attach to the Ascender 22’s chassis.
The Ascender 22, Ascender听WR Duffel, and Ascender Trunk听all have backpack straps鈥攃arry them like a pack, with or without the frame. All three bags also feature organization options like a padded tablet pocket in the Ascender 22, Velcro dividers with separate gear compartments in the Ascender听Trunk, and a water-resistant interior compartment in the Ascender听WR Duffel.
Kelty will offer 21 different bags and accessories, from the modular Ascender 22 to the TSA-ready Metroliner pack to a gear-devouring, 140-liter Zeppelin rolling duffel. Accessories include the Hanging Dopp Kit,听the听Digital Access,听and the Wallet.
鈥淜elty packs and bags have been to every corner of the world,鈥 said Russell Rowell, vice president and brand manager for the company. 鈥淪o when we designed our new Travel collection, we drew upon decades of experience to reframe what luggage is capable of doing, allowing you to customize your luggage for any travel situation.鈥
So whether you鈥檙e headed to Europe for a month, planning a relaxing week in the Bahamas, preparing for a three-day weekend spent biking or climbing or skiing, or scrambling for an overnight business trip, Kelty鈥檚 Ascenders will have you covered. Available fall 2013, $349 (Ascender 22), $199 (Trunk); .