TETON Sports Scout 55 vs TETON Sports Explorer 65
Quick take: The TETON Sports Scout 55 costs $9.99 less; the TETON Sports Explorer 65 carries more (65 vs 55 liters); the TETON Sports Scout 55 is lighter (4.5 vs 5 lbs).
Which one to buy
Measure your torso before anything else, because these two TETON packs are sized for different bodies. The Scout 55 adjusts on a 3/4 frame sized for shorter torsos, which fits teens and smaller adults and makes it a family hand-me-down, though TETON publishes no range for it. The Explorer 65 adjusts from 19 to 23 in. If you're under about 19 in, the Scout is the pack built for you; if you're over, it's the Explorer.
Beyond fit, they're built on the same idea: budget 600D polyester ripstop, an integrated rain cover, a sleeping-bag compartment, a hydration sleeve and a lifetime warranty. The Explorer adds 10 L on an adjustable aluminum frame and a waistbelt that reaches 70 in on the 65 L, which matters for larger bodies, at 5.0 lbs against the Scout's 4.5.
The Scout has clear limits. Past about 30-35 lb, the budget suspension collapses onto your shoulders and the thin foam hipbelt folds. A BV500 bear canister won't fit horizontally, so canister trips mean strapping it outside. Many owners outgrow it within a season or two, which is the point: it's a cheap way to learn whether you like backpacking. TETON publishes no load rating for the Explorer, so don't assume the bigger bag carries more comfortably just because it holds more.
TETON Sports Scout 55
For first-time backpackers, teens and anyone with a torso under 19 in who wants a cheap, proven way to try the sport.
TETON Sports Explorer 65
Best for taller beginners with torsos of 19 to 23 in, or larger waists up to 70 in, who need a 65 L bag with a rain cover.
| Spec | TETON Sports Scout 55 | TETON Sports Explorer 65 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 | $109.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Traditional Pack | Traditional Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 55 L | 65 L |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs | 5.0 lbs |
| Max Load | 35 lbs | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | Adjustable; 3/4 frame sized for shorter torsos (range not published) | Adjustable, 19-23 in; waistbelt 28-70 in (65 L) or 30-65 in (75/85 L) |
| Material | 600D ripstop polyester | 600D polyester diamond ripstop |
| Back Panel | Open-cell foam lumbar with channeled airflow | Foam-padded back panel on an adjustable aluminium frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | Yes | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | TETON limited lifetime warranty | Teton Lifetime Warranty |
Pros & cons
TETON Sports Scout 55
- ✓The default 'is backpacking for me?' pack in owner discussions — many owners call it the cheapest sensible way to try the sport.
- ✓An integrated, sewn-in raincover at about $100 embarrasses packs costing four times as much.
- ✓The adjustable torso and multi-position sternum strap fit teens and smaller adults, making it a family hand-me-down staple.
- ✓An enormous owner base built up under its long-running Scout 3400 name gives it arguably the widest real-world sample 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.
- ✗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.
- ✗Many owners outgrow it within a season or two of regular use — it's a gateway pack by design.
TETON Sports Explorer 65
- ✓$109.99 for 65 L with a raincover included is a fraction of what name-brand packs cost.
- ✓Adjustable torso from 19 to 23 in, plus a waistbelt that reaches 70 in on the 65 L.
- ✓Separate sleeping-bag compartment and a hydration bladder sleeve.
- ✓600D polyester ripstop is heavy-duty for the price.
- ✓Backed by TETON's lifetime warranty.
- ✗5 lb empty is heavy; mid-range 65 L packs typically weigh 4-4.5 lb.
- ✗The torso range starts at 19 in, so shorter hikers are better served by TETON's Scout.
- ✗No published load rating.
- ✗The page lists two different weights for the 75 and 85 L (5.5 vs 5.6-5.8 lb).
TETON Sports Scout 55 vs TETON Sports Explorer 65: common questions
Which TETON pack fits my torso, the Scout 55 or the Explorer 65?▾
Measure first. The Scout 55 adjusts on a 3/4 frame sized for shorter torsos, though TETON publishes no range, and the Explorer 65 adjusts from 19 to 23 in. Shorter hikers and teens belong in the Scout; taller adults in the Explorer, which also has a waistbelt reaching 70 in.
Does the Explorer 65 carry heavier loads than the Scout 55?▾
TETON doesn't publish a load rating for the Explorer, so there's no promise it does. The Scout's suspension collapses past about 30-35 lb, so keep either pack's load modest until you've tried it on the trail.
Do both TETON packs come with a rain cover?▾
Yes, both have an integrated rain cover. Deploy it early on the Scout, since the 600D ripstop body isn't meant to stand up to repeated storms uncovered.