External Frame Backpack 1970s

Kelty's external frame backpack from the 1970s — founded by Dick Kelty in 1952 in Glendale, California — is the founding artifact of American backpacking culture. Kelty's innovations in frame design and load distribution created the modern backpack. Pre-1980 Kelty packs with the original tubular aluminum frame and the San Fernando Valley label are historically significant. Value: $150–$500.