Scouting is such a great adventurous experience in life that not only helps to gain knowledge about wildlife adventure but also helps to become a humble and responsible human being.
For a safe and memorable outdoor adventure, while scouting, it is important to carry all of the essential outdoor gear with you.
Choosing the right boy scout backpack is not so easy. You have to understand the weight, features, capacity, and durability of boy scout backpacks.
Don’t worry about that we are here to help you…
In this article, we have listed some of the Best Backpacks For Boy Scouts that can bear with you in your toughest journey and most memorable outdoor adventure.
Recommended Backpacks (Feature Rich)
Table of Contents
Gregory Mountain
- Anti-Gravity suspension system
- Good ventilation
- Reduce the overall weight and make it comfortable to carry.
- large volume less weight backpack.
- Weight: 4.84 lbs
Osprey Hiking Backpack
- Anti-Gravity suspension system
- Available in 3 colors and 3 different sizes.
- distribute weight evenly.
- Very spacious.
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
7 Best Boy Scout Backpacks Review And Buying Guide
1. Osprey Atmos AG 65
Its Features
- Antigravity suspension technology carries more and feels less weight.
- Available in 3 colors with 3 different size.
- Sleeping bag compartment.
- Material: Premium quality cotton canvas with Pu Leather.
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
- Warranty – 1 Year
This is the backpack for those Scouters who want to hike and camp for a week or more. The backpack is well-made and has a large space to keep your scouting gear safe and organized.
There is always a chance to become dehydrated on your outdoor camping and scouting trip as you have limited space to carry water in the bag but there is no such problem with this bag.
The backpack comes with an internal hydration reservoir sleeve that can carry up to 3 L of water on the go. you can buy a separate Hydraulic reservoir(view on Amazon) for that.
One of the main highlighted features of this scouting backpack is that it has a lower zipper sleeping bag compartment at the bottom with a removable divider. Overall this is one of the best boy scout bags on our list.
What We like
- Antigravity suspension distribute weight effectively.
- Internal hydration reservoir sleeve.
- separate compartment for sleeping bag.
- Comes with lots of compartments with durable build quality.
Point Out
- Nothing.
2. Vintage Style Backpack From Witzman
Its Features
- Well-padded mesh shoulders strap that can be removable and adjustable.
- Available in 5 colors with 2 different size.
- Material: Premium quality cotton canvas with Pu Leather.
- Weight: 3.09 lbs
- Warranty – 1 Year
This boy scout bag is made of high-quality thickened canvas with Pu leather that is durable and looks new after a long time of usage.
One of the downsides of most of the scout’s bags is that they have poor quality zips but Wintzman vintage backpack zips are made with zinc alloy.
Its handle is made of high-quality leather ribbon that feels comfortable on the hand. Its shoulder straps are well-padded and can be adjustable if needed.
The backpack comes with multiple compartments for carrying all of your scouting gears well organized and 1 separate compartment for the laptop making it perfect to work while you are on an outdoor adventure trip.
You could choose this vintage boy scout backpacking backpack as it offers three carry options:
- Boy scout duffel bag or shoulder bag.
- backpack
- Carry using the handle.
What We like
- The combination of High quality canvas and leather is fashionable and sturdy.
- You can carry it in 3 ways.
- Well padded and adjustable straps very comfortable on shoulders.
- Comes with multiple compartments, roomy and spacious.
Point Out
- Nothing.
3. Kelty Redwing 50 Backpack
Its Features
- Best for one-day hiking or Overnight stay.
- Available in 4 unique colors.
- Comes with a well-designed suspension feature.
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
This is a perfect solution for those Scouters who don’t want a bulky backpack for their scouting trip.
The backpack is perfect for one-day hiking and overnight stays. The fitting and adjustment become simple due to its perfect-fit suspension system.
To take care of your comfort it has a dynamic airflow back panel and its aluminum stay distributes the load evenly for easy and comfortable hiking.
Its front pocket has lots of separate compartment to keep needy things well organized and the front stash pocket create extra space that can be close by a hook.
Even Scouters can carry their laptop by using their well-padded hydration sleeve. Overall this could be the best backpack for scout boys who want a feature pack backpack in a small size.
What We like
- Well designed comfortable and easy to setup.
- Comes with lots of separate compartment.
- Dynamic airflow back keep dry your back.
- Good for overnight and a day hiking.
Point Out
- Some times you can face issue with tightening the waist strap.
4. Teton Sports Explorer 4000
Its Features
- Integrated Rainfly.
- Available in 4 unique colors.
- Capacity: 65L, Weight: 5 pounds
- Sleeping bag compartment.
- Material: 600D Squared Ripstop / 600D PU
This Teton Scout backpack is the most affordable backpack for scout boys. The backpack is made of high-quality material that is durable and long-lasting.
Sometimes it is very difficult to protect your hiking gear on a rainy day, that’s why this backpack is introduced as it comes with an integrated Rainfly.
The sleeping bag compartment is helpful to sleep well during your scouting trip to energize you for the next day’s adventure.
On a hot day, it is necessary to remain dry. Its open-cell foam lumbar and molded channels maintain proper Airflow at the backside and help to be dry the whole sunny day.
The backpack has enough room for your needy gear and its fully adjustable straps help to carry the load it is a perfect fit for each body size.
What We like
- Most affordable and durable.
- Separate compartment for sleeping bag.
- Integrated rainfly helpful in rainy day.
- Comes with multiple compartments with adjustable straps.
Point Out
- The adjustment of hip belt yourself may be difficult.
5. Kelty Coyote 60L
Its Features
- Available In 4 size from 60 L to 105 L.
- Available in 4 attractive colors.
- Perfect fit suspension.
- Weight while empty: 5lbs
This boy scout day pack is best for older Scouters. If you are planning a long hiking or camping trip that needs lots of outdoor gear to carry, here a normal backpack doesn’t manage your requirement.
Kelty Coyote comes with a huge capacity that can carry more gear for your long trip. Its weight is 5 lbs while empty. It is quite heavy than others but it is made for long hiking trips that require a sturdy and durable backpack.
The backpack comes with Fit pro technology that perfectly fits the torso, hips, and waist.
Amp flow helps to dry up your back on a sunny or hot hiking trip as it maintains the proper airflow at the backside.
To evenly distribute the weight of your backpack, it has an Aluminium stay in the external frame that makes your journey comfortable and pleasant.
What We like
- Huge space for your long hiking and scouting trip.
- All the essential features are here like Fit pro, Amp Flow and Aluminum stay.
- Comes with lots of separate pockets with a sleeping bag compartment.
Point Out
- The backpack is heavy as compare to other.
6. Gregory Mountain Scout Backpack For Long Trip
Its Features
- Available In 3 size small, medium and large.
- Available in 3 attractive colors.
- Waterproof sidebar for smartphone.
- Material: Heavier ballistic type Nylon.
- Weight: 4.84 lbs
If you want a backpack that can deliver everything required for long hiking and scouting trips so the backpack from Gregory Mountain is the Best Backpack For Scout Boys.
It has enormous features that are really helpful to tackle difficult situations during hiking and scouting.
It has a well-measured torso length that can transfer load from your main body structure to your hip. Its hip belt is designed in such a manner that can easily be adjustable with every body type.
The Watershield pocket is really helpful to protect small electronic gadgets on a rainy day. It has a side-mounted water bottle holder that is easily accessible.
U zip access is very useful to access the main body contents in a very short time. Overall even though this backpack is heavy as compared to other backpacks still this could be the best choice for the older Scouters.
What We like
- Number of zipper opening helps to grab things on the go.
- Waterproof side detachable pocket.
- easy accessible side water bottle.
- Rain cover included.
Point Out
- The weight could be heavy for some boys, good for older one.
- Side water shield pocket is small in size.
7. Terra Peak Backpack
Its Features
- Available In 2 sizes.
- High capacity and lightweight.
- Waterproof backpack with rain cover.
- Sleeping bag compartment with devider.
- Weight: 4.73 lbs
If you want to buy a backpack that has huge space but carries less weight then the backpack from Terra Peak could be the one choice for scout boys.
The backpack is available in 2 sizes, the first is 65+ 20L and the other one is 85+20L. The weight of a 65+20L empty backpack is 4.73 lbs.
The backpack is best for hiking and camping as its internal adjustable frame system effectively reduces weight for a long trek and relief from muscular stress.
Its dual butterfly expansion pocket with two compression straps keeps your hiking gear separate and easily accessible. Although the backpack carries high capacity still it is lightweight and comfortable.
The backpack has multiple pockets and its 8 compression straps can be used to hang the sleeping bag, hammock, tent, and other needy things.
Its main compartment has a water bladder sleeve that helps to carry extra water for your long trip.
The backpack is not fully waterproof means you can carry it in light rain but for heavy rain, you have to use its rain cover hook.
What We like
- Huge capacity with less weight.
- Well design internal adjustable frame distribute load evenly.
- Multiple separate compartments with adjustable straps to carry more gears.
- Comes with Rain cover hook for heavy rain.
Point Out
- Nothing
(FAQ)
Q.1 What are the 10 essentials For Boys Scouts?
There are 10 essential cub scout backpack packing lists that must be considered:
- First-Aid helps to tackle any kind of injury that happened on backcountry hiking and scouting trips.
- A knife and other small cutting gears help to clear the pathway from bushes and also help to cut the rope for making tents and other stuff.
- Airtight food container keeps food fresh and eatable for your long journey.
- Water bottles keep your body hydrated which is very necessary for outdoor scouting trips. Some backpacks have one separate water reservoir compartment to carry extra water for your long journey.
- Matchbox or Firestarters helps to light the fire in the sunset and they also keep you safe from wild animals.
- Rain gears help to keep your essential gear safe from being wet like electronic gadgets, food items, clothes, etc.
- You should keep a map and compass with yourself that helps to complete your hiking and camping journey within your scheduled time and also helps if you lost your path.
- A flashlight helps to find your path in the dark and also helps to figure out important things at night.
- It is also a good idea to keep some extra clothes to be fresh and motivated for your tough journey as sweaty and dirty clothes create a bad odor that can demotivate you.
- Always use a backpack that comes with multiple separate compartments to keep your belongings well organized as it saves you time.
All the above 10 cub scout bag essentials are necessary to carry in a cub scout backpack.
Q.2 Is osprey the best backpack?
Osprey is a well-established brand founded in 1974. The owner and founder of osprey are Mike Pfotenhauer. The backpack is known for its design and durability.
Normally osprey backpacks are roomy in size but light in weight. They also experiment and introduce some innovative technology to make their backpack more durable and lightweight that won’t hurt your shoulders and back.
Q.3 What size backpack for boy Scouts is suitable?
Size really matters most especially when you are planning for your backcountry scouting trip or hiking trip.
The size of the scouting backpack should be neither too small that you have to carry your essential gear outside of your backpack nor too big that you just put unnecessary things and increases your backpack weight.
Normally a scout backpack should be big enough to carry 50 to 60 L of clothes and other scouting gear for a one or two-week-long scouting or hiking trip.
Detailed Buying Guide
Scouting is a somewhat challenging and adventurous trip in every scouter’s life. It might become a terrible experience without having the proper gear.
One of the most important things is your backpack. Choosing the best scouting backpack for boys is a difficult and costly decision.
If you are a newbie, it would be better to borrow a backpack for your first scouting trip. You can also ask about your friend’s experience with their scout backpack.
Here are a few things that must be examined before making a buying decision:
Size:
Normally a 50 to 70 L backpack is perfect for your one or two-week scouting journey. The mentioned volume is perfect for holding your clothes and other hiking and scouting gear well organized in one place.
Going above or less this is a total waste of money as small-size backpacks can’t carry essentials inside so you have to carry them outside with straps that are not good.
Big size scouting backpack is also not a good choice as you will put some useless things inside and increases their weight which will make your hiking journey troublesome.
Easy To Carry And Perfect Fit:
During your hiking, you may face difficulty if your backpack is not the perfect fit. Most of the scouting backpacks come with adjustable straps. You have to learn how to adjust straps properly.
If you are in a store for buying a scouting backpack so must try to wear a backpack with at least 20 pounds of weight.
You don’t notice any fitting issues in an empty scout backpack. You have to be aware of the working of multiple pockets and straps on your backpack. This is necessary to quickly access the neediest gears when needed.
The back of the scout backpack should come with perfect ventilation to keep your back dry on a hot and sunny day.
For outdoor hiking and scouting, it is necessary to keep your sleeping bag with your backpack. Most backpack provides a separate compartment to carry a sleeping bag.
Other Essentials:
You may face rainy weather on your hiking or outdoor trip so it is very essential to carry a waterproof cover with your backpack that covers your backpack completely and keeps your hiking gear safe and dry.
Some backpack comes with a water reservoir sleeve so you can carry extra water for your long hiking trip to maintain the proper water level in the body.
Types of Scouting & Hiking Backpacks:
If you are going to buy the best hiking or scouting backpack from an online or offline store, you have a little knowledge about its different types:
- External Frame Backpack
External frame backpacks were introduced years ago, and now they are very rare.
It is made of a metal tube in which some fabrics were attached to give the proper shape. They are not in fashion right now.
There are some advantages and disadvantages of the external frame backpack.
The external frame backpack is easy to pack and it also provides perfect fitting. The backpack distributes heavy load evenly throughout the back and hips. It is also easy to hang things outside of the backpack.
The external frame break when Scouters throw away it and due to the external frame the bag tear off by thorn bushes and trees.
- Internal Frame Backpack
The internal frame backpack is designed by using a large external frame (plastic or metal frame). The external frame is made smaller by using aluminum and embedded inside the backpack fabric.
the packing of such a backpack is quite difficult but they fit perfectly with shoulders and are also very lightweight than an external frame backpack. Currently, they are the most commonly used backpacks on the market.
- Ultralight or No Frame Backpack
This is another variation of the internal frame backpack. The ultralight backpack is made by wrapping the fabric around a very simple frame, this way the bag becomes lighter than others.
The ultralight backpack is available in different sizes. Its weight is only 2 pounds without load and can hold up to 30 lbs when fully loaded.
How To Pack A Boy Scout Backpack?
Your outdoor hiking or scouting journey becomes pleasant and memorable when your backpack is well-packed.
Most of the Scouters make mistakes while packing their backpack as they don’t have proper guidance about how to do this.
This is a simple process that takes a little bit of time to arrange your gear inside your backpack perfectly.
The lower part of the backpack is for those items that you don’t use while exploring your hiking trip so you can put your sleeping bag and some tent gear into this section.
The middle part of the scout backpack is for heavy gear. This section is designed in such a manner that it can evenly distribute the overall weight and create a balance.
The upper portion of the backpack can be used for throwing the neediest things inside it. You can easily access these frequently used gears on the go.
Conclusion
I hope this article really helps you to figure out the best backpack for boy scouts.
Among the 7 best backpacks for hiking and scouting, we personally like Osprey and Gregory Baltoro. Both backpacks come with a durable and sturdy build. They are equipped with tons of pockets and separate compartments to carry all the essential gears well organized.