Follow
My favorite external frame backpack for Scouts is the Outdoor Products Dragonfly. Almost all of the packs available today are internal frame backpacks. Finding an internal frame pack for Scouts that has the right combination of features for a reasonable price is a challenge.
The best internal frame packs I have found for Scouts are the Scout 3400 and Explorer 4000 from Teton Sports.
Calling something ‘the best’ is different from calling something ‘perfect’ and that’s never more true than when I evaluate camping gear for Scouts. The ‘best’ gear has the best set of features for the best price, and the Teton packs meet the test.
FIT AND ADJUSTMENT
Three decades of taking Scouts backpacking have taught me that most important things about a Scout’s backpack is a proper fit and that it can be adjusted as a Scout grows. A top-of-the-line $400.00 backpack that doesn’t fit properly or grow along with a Scout is not only a waste of money, it’s going to be so uncomfortable a Scout will think twice before he goes backpacking again.
To carry correctly and comfortably a pack needs to fit both torso length and hip size. Torso length is measured along the spine between the base of the neck and the top of the hips and hip size is measured around the top of the hips, (don’t confuse this with waist size).
The Teton Scout 3400 adjusts from 15 -19.5 inch torsos (for people up to 5’9″ in height) and 26-60 inch hips, the Teton Explorer 4000 fits 16-23″ torsos and 26-70 inch hips. This broad range of adjustment virtually guarantees a Scout can use these packs through his Scouting years and into adulthood.
SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The shoulder straps, hip belt and back pads form the suspension system. A proper suspension system includes a lumbar pad, ergonomically curved shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and load adjusting straps, all features of the Teton packs.
PACKING FEATURES
Both Teton packs have side pockets, in my experience Scouts are better able to organize, access and pack their gear in a pack with side pockets. There’s space behind the side pockets on the Explorer 4000 to stow tent poles or other long items, on the Scout 3400 there’s provision for long items in the main compartment by unzipping the side of the divider between the upper and lower compartments. Both have zippered pockets in the lid, a mesh pocket on the back and two water bottle pockets at hip level. There are compression straps help stabilize and compress the load so the pack carries properly.
Both Packs have an upper and lower main compartments. Traditionally the lower compartment is for the sleeping bag, but the less expensive sleeping bags Scouts are likely to own may be too bulky to fit. In that case I recommend packing the sleeping bag a stuff sack, putting it in in the top main compartment and putting other gear in the lower compartment.
OTHER FEATURES
Both models have a compartment for a water bladder (up to 3 liters) and clips to hold the drinking tube on the shoulder straps. There’s also a built in rain cover. that stows in a zippered compartment on the bottom of the pack.
WHY ARE THESE THE ‘BEST’?
Outfitting a Scout for backpacking can be expensive, and a proper pack is a big part of that expense. At this writing the Scout 3400 is just under $70.00 and the Explorer 4000 is about $75.00 on Amazon – that’s an excellent price for packs with these features. Naturally these aren’t just used for backpacking, they can carry gear for just about any camping trip.
The only downside I can see is that these packs are a little on the heavy side (The Explorer 400o weighs 5 pounds and the Scout 3400 weighs 4.5 pounds) but a lighter weight pack is likely to be much more expensive.
 |
 |
Teton Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack  |
|
|
|
| |
 |
TETON Sports Explorer 4000 Internal Frame Backpack  |
|
|
|
These packs aren’t all that easy to find but they are available on Amazon:
Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack at Amazon
Explorer 4000 Internal Frame Backpack at Amazon
After spotting these packs online and reading reviews I requested and received them from the manufacturer for evaluation.
These packs are really heavy for there size. If your scout is under or at 100 pounds, with these packs as a foundation; the scouts total pack weight will be above 25% of his body weight.
Ratio of pack weight to body weight is meaningless. After taking hundreds of Scouts hundreds of miles on thirty years of backpacking trips I can tell you that even smaller Scouts (80-100 lbs) can comfortably carry up to 30 pounds, but we are careful to keep their packs as light as possible, usually in the 20-25 pound range. They are backpacking with a group that shares food, stoves, tents and other gear, so they don’t have to carry as much as a solo backpacker would.
I agree with you on the pack weight ratio I included it in that I thought it was a common scouting reference point and part of the vernacular. I was recently instructed this from my recent Scouting Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training I attended. Being an avid backpacker along with my 80 pound 11 year old son,we have come across too many scouts out on the trail struggling under the weight of there packs.
I find that most scouts are willing to get on the trail with little to no thought about proper adjustment of the straps on the pack. A pack like the one suggested by Clarke has a lot of adjustment and won’t cause sticker shock. This is way better than buying an army surplus pack.
The first trick is to learn how to correctly adjust the pack straps for proper load carrying. There are videos out there that demonstrate this important step. The second step is learn how to properly load the pack for a comfortable carry. Both steps are important and contribute to a successful backpacking trip.
If a scout takes a keen interest in backpacking then they can step up to a better pack and with a little shopping around not spend a fortune. I found a 2 lb pack for $99 when my son went to Philmont. Some of the cottage industry packs made here in the states are not that expensive such as Gossamer Gear.
One additional comment, if you have a particularly small scout check the minimum waist belt size. These are 26″ and 28″ respectively. If you can’t tighten the waist belt the weight will be incorrectly carried on the shoulders. You can tape foam to the inside of the belt to take up space if you already have a pack that does not have enough adjustment.
I see the second pack adjusts for a 70″ waist. That is extremely adjustable. This would allow 2 or 3 scouts to wear the same pack – at the same time.
Adjusting any pack is important, to be sure. The range of adjustments on these packs are really good, I’ll be publishing more about precisely fitting a pack in the near future as well as a review of my choice for the best external frame pack for Scouts.
However I would guess your feet are not growing, you know your feet and you probably buy the same boot every time. Although the Teton has lots of ways to fit someone, that only means that if does not fit everyone perfectly, but fits a lot of people well.
I believe the issue is getting through an experience or developing a love for the sport and adventure that lasts a lifetime. One comes with good, one comes with great.
Not arguing with your logic. But having worked at several pack company’s I would worry about mail order packs.
Most Scout parents need something with the right combination of features that they can get without having to go to extremes of expense or trouble, as I stated in the review calling something ‘the best’ is not the same as calling something ‘perfect’.
Two things you never buy on the internet hiking shoes and backpacks. Fit is the most important thing in both and both are hard to fit, IMHO, by starring at a screen.
I don’t agree, I buy it all online – boots, backpacks, clothes, never have had a fit problem. If you have an REI or big camping outfitter you can go try stuff on, but that’s not an option for everyone (I’d have to drive about an hour to the nearest one), or even the best way to go. Most online retailers have pretty generous return policies too. As for the Teton Packs specifically one of the key reasons I recommend them is because they have such a broad range of adjustment they’ll fit 99.95% of Scouts (and I have fitted a couple of hundred Scouts with backpacks).