TETON Sports
TETON Sports Scout 55
The Scout is the Amazon phenomenon of backpacking — a sub-$100 internal-frame pack with tens of thousands of reviews and a cult following among beginners testing whether they even like the sport. Long sold as the Scout 3400 (cubic inches), TETON now labels it the Scout 55 for its 55 liters. It includes an integrated raincover and an adjustable harness unheard of at this price.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓The default 'is backpacking for me?' pack on Reddit — nearly everyone agrees it's the best sub-$100 way to try the sport.
- ✓An integrated, sewn-in raincover at $90 embarrasses packs costing four times as much.
- ✓The adjustable torso and multi-position sternum strap fit teens through adults, making it a family hand-me-down staple.
- ✓Tens of thousands of Amazon reviews (under its long-running Scout 3400 name) averaging 4.4+ give it arguably the largest verified user base of any backpacking pack.
- ✓600D ripstop and double-stitched stress points hold up far better than the price implies.
- ✓The sleeping-bag compartment and compression straps teach beginners classic load organization.
- ✓TETON's warranty team has a surprisingly good reputation for free replacement parts.
- ✓Resale/hand-me-down loss is trivial — worst case you're out less than a nice dinner.
Cons
- ✗The suspension is honest about its price: loads past 30-35 lbs collapse onto the shoulders quickly.
- ✗At 4.5 lbs empty it weighs as much as premium 65L haulers while carrying much less comfortably.
- ✗The foam back panel soaks sweat on any sustained climb.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets, and the belt padding is thin foam that folds under heavier loads.
- ✗The 55L body is smaller than the old '3400 cubic inch' name suggested once the sleeping bag bay is in use.
- ✗Zippers and buckles are the known weak points — the classic failure stories involve overstuffing.
- ✗A BV500 bear canister does not fit inside horizontally; canister trips require creative strapping.
- ✗Most owners outgrow it within a season or two of regular use — it's a gateway pack by design.
Compare the TETON Sports Scout 55
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