Need help with Kelty Cloud pack

I recently bought a Kelty White Cloud backpack from Craigslist for $20.00. I recieved the pack the other day and it had several straps and buckles removed and was filthy but otherwise in fine shape. The top pocket and the main bag along with the suspension system is intact and in awsome shape. The embroyderd word "KELTY" on the top pocket has been removed but the actual logo is still there. After washing the pack and meticulously inspecting it i can find no damage that would affect the packs comfort or performance. The pack was sent to me with a small bag of straps and buckles that the previous owner had cut off. The only thing that is realy wrong with this pack is the fact that the previous owner had canibilized all the straps and buckles that he felt was useless and threw out the front crampon pocket and the side pockets. When i called Kelty i was told that it was an authentic Kelty White Cloud pack , i had gotten a hell of a deal and that it was manufactured in 1995 ( based on the model # inside the packbag ). They also said that it was compatible with todays pockets and do-dads. Problem is , when i go to find a detailed picture of the 1995 version , i can not identify the placement on the pack of all the straps that the previous owner cut off. Kelty will repair all pockets and straps , but they do not have any info that goes back that far on this particular pack. As far as i can tell , he cut off two daisy chains that ran along the top and bottom of the pack that were essential to attatching the two side pockets and front crampon pouch. He also removed two tool loops from each side of the hipbelt that were meant for carabiners. If anyone has a 1995 or newer Kelty White Cloud i would greatly appreciate some help identifying the straps so i could give Kelty a detailed repair list when i send the pack to them for repairs. I can provide a picture and also would like to see a picture of a Cloud with all the bells and whistles attatched the way it was meant to be. Thanks !

Could you not package it all up and send it to Kelty and let them sort it out? I had a white Cloud but it's been so long I'd never figure it out without one in front of me.

I suppose i could but they dont even have any information on it. Also , that would take all the fun out of it...its like a jigsaw puzzle at this point.

I have a Kelty Flight. It's made of a different, not quite as light fabric, but otherwise I believe it's the same design as the Cloud series. I could take some digital photos of it and send those to you if you like. I don't know it's exact vintage, but estimate sometime in the mid to late 90's. If that'd help, send me an email address and I'll try to get something to you in the next few days.
Gerry Magnes
Schenectady, NY
PS--you did get an incredible deal!

Bigfoot-If you have what I think you have - the white Spectra pack, that is a real deal, in spite of the missing pockets and whatnot.

The new Cloud 5250 sells for $800 on Kelty's website. Whoever owned it must have had no idea what it was.

The only person I know with one is Jim Shaw-send him a PM and ask him about it. I've seen it in person, but it was a couple of years ago. I think at one time Kelty made two sizes of them. Jim's is the big one.

Like Gerry, I have the Flight-similar in design to the smaller Cloud. I think my pack is about 4500, but I'm not sure. Like yours, info is hard to find.

I do have all the straps and stuff. On mine, the pockets clips on to the pack to clips that are sewn under the daisy chains that run down the back. The gear loops clip into loops sewn into the belt.

Thanks ! In my research , i found three different models from around 2001 ...the largest was black trim/buckles , the mid sized was blue trim/buckles , and the small one was yellow trim/buckles. They also called them by their different capacities , ie : vapor (later cloud) 4000 , 4500 and 5000-6000. The pack i have has WHITE buckles and YELLOW trim . Very confusing ! Kelty said mine was the large model even though it has the odd color scheme.

And Kelty confirmed that is was made with the Spectra fabric , not a kevlar...the threads were kevlar i believe they said. The person i bought it from said he WAS the original owner , but he "was too old to be carrying around such a big pack."

I found this site with a couple of pics of the two models - the 5250 and the 6500, no idea how old the page is, but I doubt they have the big one-I don't see it on Kelty's website and their link to it from the page doesn't work. But the link for the smaller one does and you can see a pretty good picture of one all put together.

After looking at the picture, my pack is made totally differently, so don't know how helpful any pics would be.

Kelty packs

Thanks , Gerry ! The one i have has a dual clip attatchment for the top pocket like the smaller version. The pack is entirely white with yellow nylon trim , though.

Mine is somewhat different, perhaps like Tom's. There is only one clip for the lid pocket, the middle pocket on the front of the pack looks smaller on mine, and the side pockets might be a bit smaller as well. I'll send some photos in the next day or two and you can judge for yourself if they're useful or not and let me know if you need any other photos or specific details.
Gerry

Thank you.

As I recall those packs came out in 1988 and were around 5000 cubic inches and had blue straps. Why someone would cut the straps off that pack is a real question as the straps were also made of exotic ultralight material.

I had 2 of the originals, one was serial number 40. It weighed 51 ounces and had NO side pockets. It was a true himalyan altitude type pack. Modular straps and outside pockets came later - or as you said - your pack was made in 1995, It does not sound like an original white cloud. Does it have the titanium frame inside? Mine did. what color are the straps?

Anyway the modular pockets attach where ever you want them. They have little clips that go through tiny loops that someone no doubt cut off of your pack.

Does the waterproof material still adhere to the inside, if not return it to Kelty for a refund or replacement. They gave me a new cloud 6500 to replace my white cloud. My old backpacking friend still has the secong white cloud.

Too bad yours was ravaged, but they are indestructable... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />
Jim

have you checked Kelty's website? It amazes me that they claim they don't have anything when this appears right on their site...

http://staging.kelty.com/kelty/pdf/Packs/ACF64F.pdf

sending you IM as well

Thanks , that really helps ! My pack is very similar , but still differes slightly from the drawings ( mine has actual spectra ice axe holders , not nylon ones ). Great info !

Yep, Mine has the one clip for the top pocket. I got mine from Curt a while back. I think Penny did a mod to his to put 2 clips on the top pocket. Why Kelty thought 1 was a good idea is beyond me. Other than that, I really like mine.

Not really huge enough for winter, but now that I have my sled, it doesn't matter. I'd rather tow the sled than carry a lot of weight.

I know the guy who designed them. I'll ask him if he's got any paperwork left from that project.

Don't send it back to Kelty looking to get it fixed, as they don't have the patterns or the materials to do it...I'm sure they'd be extremely helpful, but I wouldn't expect a miracle.

The pack has one frame stay inside the pack bag and the nylon belt , all plasic buckles and a few web straps are white. The packs main nylon trim is all yellow. The pack also has two vertical strips of white velcro sewn inside of the main packbag that i still cannot identify the function of. Also , the ice axe holders are made of the Spectra cloth , not nylon like in the pictures.

That would be awsome ! Thanks for the help. O.K any ideas where i could send it for quality repairs ?

For repairs, talk to PennyS who is a moderator here at TLB, She repairs all kinds of gear. I suggest sending her a PM.

Here is the link to her site.
Specialty Outdoors

Thanks for all the help , guys. Unfortunately , every question that gets answered creates two more .

It's been 6 months and the pack is awesome....get one if you have a chance. Highly recommended !

http://www.freewebs.com/bigfootpictures/thekeltycloudpack.htm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bigfoot,
There were two compression straps across the back that also strapped skis against the pack <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />- I guess probably somebody cut the ski loops off too eh, and the climbing tool loops - which you don't need? The daisy chains were for Himalyan climbing use - you don't need them. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
I had an original white cloud and now I have a cloud 6500.
Does it have the top pocket? Otherwise all you need is one compression strap. Side pockets were never stock on these packs, only as add-ons for backpackers because of course these are climbers packs. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yep...pretty stripped. Only the bare essentials but that's o.k with me...it's really all you need <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> It does have the top pocket and will probably be willed to my son someday...if i'm not buried with it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bigfoot - or buried in it...
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

More likely , i guess <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bigfoot,
in1988 I bought white cloud serial number 40. Around 1990 I was in Western Mountaineerings shop in San Jose Cal and I saw another white cloud for $100 that had been used as a haul bag on El Capitan <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />and they had trid to destroy it. So I bought it and sold it to my BP buddy for $150. Anyway the waterproofing started flaking out of mine and I returned it and they sent me a new cloud 6500. Well I was talking to my friend and he has stopped using the pack because of the water proofing flaking off and I've offered him $20 to get my old pack back. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />I will turn it inside out and wirewheel the stuff completly off - that or paint stripper? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I would most probably use the smaller White Cloud with the titanium stay for my climbing pack <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />and the larger Cloud 6500 in the Winter, and in the summer since its modular summer weight is only 29 ounces and a white cloud weighs 51.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />Jim

Jim,
It sounds like you are getting a sweet deal...one for summer and one for winter ! I'm gonna have to make due with a Cloud in winter and go slummin' in summer with a Granite Gear Vapor Trail <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> If you ever come across any more Clouds, let me know, ok ? It seems you have a knack for finding them <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />