Private company

Kelty

Logo: http://www.kelty.com/ SVG conversion by JBarta, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

Outdoor sporting good manufacturer

Kelty is a manufacturer of backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags owned by Exxel Outdoors, LLC. The business is based in Broomfield, Colorado.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Kelty is a manufacturer of backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags owned by Exxel Outdoors, LLC. The business is based in Broomfield, Colorado.2

The story

The company was started in 1952 by Asher "Dick" Kelty (September 13, 1919 – January 12, 2004), who was one of the first gear designers to produce and market an external-frame backpack designed specifically for civilian use. He is considered to be the inventor of the aluminum-framed backpack. Kelty was also the provider of gear in the 1970s cult classic TV series The Land Of The Lost.

From Wikipedia’s article on Kelty (company), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

  • backpack
  • sleeping bag
  • tent

Listed on Wikidata.1

Products

Kelty products are widely sold by large outdoor outfitters such as Eastern Mountain Sports and REI, and Kaviso, among others. Kelty is one of a few companies that still specializes in external-frame backpacks for outdoors use. Kelty released approximately 170 products / 253 models with annual catalog updates. Tents are one of the core products of Kelty. Kelty tents are made of high-quality materials. Kelty tent fabrics are made of Polyester, which is longer-lasting than Nylon, and the poles are made of lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber. Kelty's focus as a brand remains budget friendly outdoor gear for camping and backpacking. Kelty also maintains a tactical / military spec division for government supply needs.

Product categories

Backpacks

Outdoor gear

Sleep solution

Read the full text

Tents and shelters

Outdoor kids' items

Camp furniture

From Wikipedia’s article on Kelty (company), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4