Teton Sports Scout 3400 Backpack Review

While many of the best backpacks are a little challenging on the bank balance. However, if you are a budget-conscious light backpacking hiker looking for a reliable, internal frame backpack that’s large enough for all your gear, the Teton 3400 backpack might just become your new best friend…

Teton Sports Scout 3400 Backpack TL:DR Review

Teton Sports Scout 3400 Backpack Full Review

The Teton Sports Scout 3400 is an upgrade from the Talus 2700 and just a little more low-key than the Explorer 4000.

The Teton Sports Scout 3400 internal frame, hydration compatible backpack offers 55 l of space, decent lumbar support, zippered pockets, and a hip belt that ups the comfort.

Teton Sports aims to provide top-quality outdoor gear, and with the Teton Sports Scout 3400, they’re providing just that, at a great price point! Unlike most other bags (which are also much more expensive than this one) the 3400 comes with a built-in, bright yellow rain cover! It is also large enough for all the gear you could need for a multi-day hike.

In this review, we’ll have a look at the Sports Scout’s capacity and variety of pockets. Hosting up to 55L, it’s enough to fit everything a hiker could need for a multi-day trip. The 3400’s internal frame is also super sturdy, which we’ll explain in detail.

We’ll also be looking at the backpack’s packability and how the mesh pockets and bungee storage allows you to store an array of items without deducting from the internal capacity.

Although this bag isn’t 100% waterproof, but pretty resistant, it’s still made of thick and sturdy material. To demonstrate the quality, the Teton Sports Scout 3400 comes with a lifetime warranty, which isn’t something budget packs are known for.

The Sports Scout is surprisingly comfortable, which is yet another impressive feature of this budget pack. You can adjust the fit of the bag on your bac depending on the size of your torso, which means it’s flexible for people of all sizes and ages.

With cool features like a sleeping bag compartment, compression straps on the sides, bottom, and front, a BUNCH of pockets, and a built-in rainfly, the Teton Sports Scout has you covered on all the basics and then some.

Here’s a look at the features in detail

Getting Started

The Scout 3400’s internal frame provides a solution for hikers on a tight budget that still need a large and sturdy pack. This 55 l, 4.5 lbs backpack offers more than enough space to pack everything you need for a multi-day hike and other backpacking trips.

Unlike most other budget packs, the Teton Sports Scout comes with an integrated water-resistant rainfly. The bag is also very versatile and comes with a bunch of cool features and pockets to help optimize packability and comfort. during backpacking trips.

The Sports Scout is adjustable to fit just about anyone and offers a torso length adjustment of 15 to 19.5 inches. It also comes with a variety of padded and adjustable shoulder straps to keep the pack securely in place while you’re navigating tricky terrain.

Keep reading below for a full review of its main features…

Fit and Adjustability

One of the most prominent features of the Scout is the fact that it can be adjusted to fit a wide range of body sizes. Getting this done all starts with the shoulder straps and then focusing on your torso length. You have complete freedom to adjust the pack as needed around your shoulders, waist, torso, and chest. Since the torso can be adjusted between 15 and 19.5 inches, it’ll work well for teens and most adults too.

Comfort

Featuring a back panel designed with loads of padding, the Teton Sports Scout pack aims to offer optimal breathability and comfort. The pack sports contoured, cushioned straps along the shoulder, waist, and lower back area to reduce pressure and muscle tension.

The waist belt and straps also assist with suspension, balancing the weight across your body instead of keeping it mainly on your shoulders. To help keep the bag from swaying around while you walk, the compression straps and waist belt keep it cinched tightly.

It can be challenging for men with a smaller build to find the right size backpack. Since the Teton Scout 3400 is small and super-adjustable, it works well for women and men with a smaller frame.

We have to mention that the suspension on this pack is pretty basic, and the foam on the lower back can become a little uncomfortable during long days with heavier loads.

The shoulder straps on the pack also have some abrasive fabric, which can be a real pain when taking your pack off and putting it on again during the hotter summer months. Wearing this pack without a t-shirt protecting your skin might end up being a less than fantastic experience, so keep that in mind.

Durability

For a budget backpack, the Scout is pretty well made. Unloaded, it weighs in at 4.5 lbs or 2.04kg. Now to be perfectly honest, that’s a bit heavy, but it’s not a deal-breaker.

The pack’s shell is made of 600D Diamond ripstop and 600D Oxford Canvas. In Layman’s terms, this means that the bag is made of durable and solid polyester. We like the fact that it’s breathable and water-resistant, thanks to the built-in rainfly.

It also comes with a lifetime warranty, so if your bag malfunctions, Teton Sports will repair or replace it without an issue. We reviewed the hunter green option, but there are two colors to choose from, the other option being mecca orange.

Packability and How to pack the Teton Sports Scout 3400

The Scout’s storage capacity is 55 liters (3400 cubic inches), so you can get a lot of gear in there. It also features a lot of individual side pockets, aside from the main compartment, so this is a backpack that was designed with organization in mind.

We like the fact that the large, high-quality zippered side pockets are waterproof across the sides, making them perfect for storing your phone and other gadgets. The large mesh pocket along the front gives you storage for items you’ll need quick and easy access to on the trail. Add that to the space in the main compartment, and you’ve got a LOT of space.

The Sports Scout pack also comes with lower gear loops and loops on the sides of the bag. On top of that, the pack also boasts a 8 x 8 x 12-inch sleeping bag compartment at the bottom of the pack. This compartment is a zippered pocket and is separated from the rest of the bag.

For on-the-go hydration, the 3400 comes with a hydration sleeve space that can accommodate a 3-liter hydration bladder. With two front-loading spaces in the main compartment, it’s easy to pack and access your gear when you need to.

Pro Tip: Pack your big items in some of the external storage spaces. If you’re taking a tent, put it in the side or front strap. Place your sleeping mat in the lower gear loops. After that, make sure you use all the pockets, compartments, and compression straps to balance the load of your gear and food in your bag.

On The Trail

We were extremely happy to find a pack in this price range that fits a smaller frame. The pack itself is small and narrow, and it’s adjustable for shorter users.

The internal frame ensures that the bag keeps its shape even when it’s fully loaded. There really is a lot of usable space in this bag, even though it has a narrow frame.

On the inside of the bag, you’ll find a removable divider. This gives you even more options when it comes to packing your gear and water bottles.

But like all things manmade, this backpack does have a few shortcomings. First off: it’s not the lightest option on the market. Then there’s the water bottle holder that’s questionably placed. The hip pockets, which are the ones intended for water bottle storage, are just too low to comfortably reach without taking your pack off.

Overall, the Teton Sports Scout 3400 backpack is a well-thought-out and durable bag that gives you an abundance of options at a great price.

Other Stuff

What about those other features that you would not expect to find on a budget pack? Surprisingly there are quite a few

Sleeping Bag Compartment

We’ve mentioned this before, but since it’s kind of a big deal, so we’ll touch on the subject again. Having a bag to store your sleeping bag separately from your other gear is both practical and comfortable.

With the Sports Scout 3400, you don’t have to worry about whether your bag is hanging around or pack, or adequately positioned. The size of the compartment is 12 x 8 x 8 inches or 35.5 x 20 x 20cm, making it ideal for most sleeping bags.

Multiple Internal Pockets

Having separate storage compartments inside your pack improves its packability and ease of use. We especially like the big, zippered pocket inside the lid that has oodles of space. According to customer reviews, the mesh pocket variety is also pretty handy.

Lumbar Pad

The Sport Scout 3400 offers a great fit thanks to the open-cell lumbar pad with molded channels. This provides cushioning for your back and ensures that airflow is always adequate, so you don’t sweat excessively during your hike.

Tool Attachments

The 3400 has two gear loops on the straps, two on each side, and another two at the bottom of the pack. It also comes with a fully adjustable trekking pole and ice axe loops at the front of the pack, near the mesh pouch. Keep in mind that the tool attachments on the 3400 are very basic even though they look more technical than they are.

The Not So Good Stuff

Back support isn’t sufficient with the water reservoir in place.

Like a lot of hiking backpacks, the 3400 is compatible with a hydration bladder. It features an internal pouch on the back panel of the bag where you can slip a bladder in. but, there are two downsides to this design.

First, there’s not enough support when you’ve got a full bladder in the pouch. You’ll feel the shape of the water reservoir and the way it sloshes around as you’re walking.

Secondly, there isn’t really a dedicated pocket for a water reservoir. Higher-end backpacks have zippered compartments for water bladders, but the 3400’s pouch can only be accessed from inside the main compartment. This can potentially become a pain if your bag is filled with a lot of gear that you have to remove every time you want to access your reservoir.

Summary

We’ve just shown you what one of the best budget packs the market looks like and how it performs out on the trail. Regardless of whether you like light hiking or you’re a multi-day hiker, this bag offers superb value for money and is the perfect pack to start off with if you’re just getting into hiking and have a limited budget.

All in all, we were impressed with the Teton and its features. For a smaller, internal frame pack, it offers more storage options than one would think. It also stands on its own, which is always impressive.

Even when the 3400 is fully loaded, it holds true to its shape and doesn’t get top-heavy.

But there are some flaws too. Firstly, the water reservoir doesn’t have a dedicated pocket. This means you have to scuffle through your gear (or take it out) to access your water bladder, and it can be uncomfortable against your back on long hikes.

We also reckon the sleeping bag compartment could have been better, although we love the idea of having a separate compartment for our sleeping bags. Instead of trying to squeeze your medium size sleeping bag in the dedicated compartment, we reckon you’d be better off using that space for something else and just strapping your bag onto your pack with the compression straps.

One thing we can’t deny is that the Teton Scout 3400 offers amazing value for its price. It’s made of durable materials and still fares pretty well out on the trail.

The Teton Sports 3400 might NOT be for you if…

• You’re an average size man. The 3400 works well for women and men that are smaller in build. If you need something bigger, with more capacity, and a pack that’s more comfortable, we’d recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65.
• If you don’t travel light. The Teton Sports3400 isn’t the biggest or most comfortable hiking backpack on the market. If you need more space and carrying capacity, opt for something along the lines of the Osprey Aether 70 or 80 instead.
• You’re looking for a female-specific bag. This thing is perfectly sized for a woman, but it might not appeal to your preferences since the design is that of a classic hiking backpack. If you need something more feminine that was designed to suit the female frame, you might want to consider looking at the Gregory Deva 60 instead.