Bob DeVore
2003-06-06 22:48:17 UTC
Jansport Scout External Frame Backpack
Owners Review by Bob DeVore
Name: Bob DeVore
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Height: 5'6" (1.68 m)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Email address: bobATfreeland.dhs.org
City, State, Country: Aliso Viejo, CA
Date: June 6, 2003
Backpacking Background: I began backpacking two years ago as an adult
leader with my son's Boy Scout Troop. I enrolled in the High Adventure
Training Classes offered by the local council of the BSA. This is a
crash-course in all things backpacking including the proper selection
and upkeep of backpacking gear.
In the past two years I have spent over forty nights on the trail,
mostly with the scouts. I have enjoyed the beauty of the California
mountains from the Angeles Forest to the San Jacinto's to the Southern
Sierras. Future trips are planned for the High Sierra's, Philmont Scout
Reservation and the Canyonlands.
I'm beginning to replace my gear with lightweight alternatives that
allow me to hike farther on the same old legs. I enjoy experimenting
with ultralight gear and introducing this concept to the scouts and
their parents.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Jansport
Year of manufacture: 2001
URL: http://www.jansport.com
Specifications:
Fabric: 420d Packcloth with 450d RipStop trim
Dimensions: 22.5" H x 20" W x 11" D (57 cm H x 51 cm W x 28 cm D)
Torso Length: 13" - 17" (33 cm - 43 cm)
Hipbelt Size: 20"- 46" (51 cm - 117 cm)
Capacity: 3850 cu. in. (63 L)
Extended: 5850 cu. in. (96 L)
Listed weight: 3 lb 8 oz (1.6 kg)
Actual weight: 3 lb 8 oz (1.6 kg)
Product Description:
The Jansport Scout is small external frame backpack aimed at beginning
backpackers. I ordered one for my son two years ago from an online
retailer. It arrived undamaged in a plain brown carton. The Scout
follows the classic external backpack design: a rectangular fabric pack
attached to a longer rectangular frame. The pack body is made of blue
nylon packcloth with heavier gray packcloth trim where it attaches to
the frame. The body consists of two main zippered compartments that open
from the front with u-shaped panels. The upper panel has two rows of
daisy chain loops. The lower compartment panel has an additional
zippered stash pocket. Attached to the body of the pack are four
zippered outer pockets: one large and one small on each side of the pack.
The frame is made of aluminum tubing. It has a crossbar that the
shoulder straps attach to and a u-shaped bar near the top that gives
support to the body of the pack while acting as a shelf for bulky items.
The frame extends above and below the pack body, providing room to lash
items such as a sleeping pad and a tent to the frame. A black mesh foam
pad extends across the back of the frame as a cushion. The padded,
adjustable length shoulder straps are straight. The hipbelt is also
padded. The zippers are heavy duty metal and all feature brightly
colored pulls.
The shorter torso range and smaller hip-belt size are ideal for young
adolescents. The pack is easily adjusted to follow the growth of the
wearer. Size adjustments are made simply by moving the position of the
crossbar that holds the top of the shoulder pads. The shoulder pads also
have a width adjustment to accommodate narrow or wide-shouldered wearers.
The Scout's capacity is adequate for an adolescent on a weekend trip. My
son once used it on a five-night trip with the Boy Scouts. He carried 30
lb (14 kg) in the pack. In our troop we follow a rule that pack weight
should not be more than 25% of the wearer's weight.
Field Information:
My son used this backpack on ten two-night backpacking trips and one
five-night trip in several mountain ranges of California. He also lived
out of the pack for two weeks during summer camp and on numerous
overnight scouting events. On the backpacking trips we traveled over
established trails through terrain that varied from scrub-sage to alpine
meadows and deep forests. I estimate it was carried over 200 trail miles
(320 km) with pack weights ranging from 22 - 30 lb (10 - 14 kg). The
elevation of the trails ranged from 3500 ft (1000 m) to 8500 ft (2600
m). The pack was used in temperatures from 20 F (-7 C) to 95 F (35 C).
It has seen blazing sun and driving rain. It has been left outside,
covered by a large plastic trash bag, in sub-freezing temperatures.
Through all these different environments the pack has held up well. It
has not suffered any rips, tears or holes caused by my son or other
small animals. The frame shows no damage other than scratches on the
lower bar from being placed on the ground. The shoulder straps and
hip-belt are intact. The zippers all zip.
Summary:
The capacity of this pack is adequate for a young scout. The four outer
pockets provide plenty of room to stuff items such as a poncho, a
trowel, a water filter or a first aid kit. When I bought the pack the
description boasted that the daisy-chain loops allowed you to easily add
on any of Jansport's 'Modular System' pockets. I contacted Jansport in
December of 2001 asking about these modular pockets. I was told they
were no longer available. The pack's specifications list an extended
capacity but I am unable to figure out how this extension happens. The
3850 ci (63 L) is there. That's all.
The pack performed exceptionally well. Lightweight and durable, it stood
up to the abuse and disrespect handed out by my teenage son. I found the
design functional but too austere for my tastes. I added a sternum strap
and a buttonhole in the back to accommodate a hydration bladder and
hose. The pack has no load-lifter straps. These are probably not 'must
have' features for younger backpackers but they do add comfort. The
Jansport Scout is an ideal starter pack for youngsters entering the
world of backpacking.
--
Bob DeVore
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/d5y3">freeland.dhs.org</a>
Dedicated to Wild Places
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Owners Review by Bob DeVore
Name: Bob DeVore
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Height: 5'6" (1.68 m)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Email address: bobATfreeland.dhs.org
City, State, Country: Aliso Viejo, CA
Date: June 6, 2003
Backpacking Background: I began backpacking two years ago as an adult
leader with my son's Boy Scout Troop. I enrolled in the High Adventure
Training Classes offered by the local council of the BSA. This is a
crash-course in all things backpacking including the proper selection
and upkeep of backpacking gear.
In the past two years I have spent over forty nights on the trail,
mostly with the scouts. I have enjoyed the beauty of the California
mountains from the Angeles Forest to the San Jacinto's to the Southern
Sierras. Future trips are planned for the High Sierra's, Philmont Scout
Reservation and the Canyonlands.
I'm beginning to replace my gear with lightweight alternatives that
allow me to hike farther on the same old legs. I enjoy experimenting
with ultralight gear and introducing this concept to the scouts and
their parents.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Jansport
Year of manufacture: 2001
URL: http://www.jansport.com
Specifications:
Fabric: 420d Packcloth with 450d RipStop trim
Dimensions: 22.5" H x 20" W x 11" D (57 cm H x 51 cm W x 28 cm D)
Torso Length: 13" - 17" (33 cm - 43 cm)
Hipbelt Size: 20"- 46" (51 cm - 117 cm)
Capacity: 3850 cu. in. (63 L)
Extended: 5850 cu. in. (96 L)
Listed weight: 3 lb 8 oz (1.6 kg)
Actual weight: 3 lb 8 oz (1.6 kg)
Product Description:
The Jansport Scout is small external frame backpack aimed at beginning
backpackers. I ordered one for my son two years ago from an online
retailer. It arrived undamaged in a plain brown carton. The Scout
follows the classic external backpack design: a rectangular fabric pack
attached to a longer rectangular frame. The pack body is made of blue
nylon packcloth with heavier gray packcloth trim where it attaches to
the frame. The body consists of two main zippered compartments that open
from the front with u-shaped panels. The upper panel has two rows of
daisy chain loops. The lower compartment panel has an additional
zippered stash pocket. Attached to the body of the pack are four
zippered outer pockets: one large and one small on each side of the pack.
The frame is made of aluminum tubing. It has a crossbar that the
shoulder straps attach to and a u-shaped bar near the top that gives
support to the body of the pack while acting as a shelf for bulky items.
The frame extends above and below the pack body, providing room to lash
items such as a sleeping pad and a tent to the frame. A black mesh foam
pad extends across the back of the frame as a cushion. The padded,
adjustable length shoulder straps are straight. The hipbelt is also
padded. The zippers are heavy duty metal and all feature brightly
colored pulls.
The shorter torso range and smaller hip-belt size are ideal for young
adolescents. The pack is easily adjusted to follow the growth of the
wearer. Size adjustments are made simply by moving the position of the
crossbar that holds the top of the shoulder pads. The shoulder pads also
have a width adjustment to accommodate narrow or wide-shouldered wearers.
The Scout's capacity is adequate for an adolescent on a weekend trip. My
son once used it on a five-night trip with the Boy Scouts. He carried 30
lb (14 kg) in the pack. In our troop we follow a rule that pack weight
should not be more than 25% of the wearer's weight.
Field Information:
My son used this backpack on ten two-night backpacking trips and one
five-night trip in several mountain ranges of California. He also lived
out of the pack for two weeks during summer camp and on numerous
overnight scouting events. On the backpacking trips we traveled over
established trails through terrain that varied from scrub-sage to alpine
meadows and deep forests. I estimate it was carried over 200 trail miles
(320 km) with pack weights ranging from 22 - 30 lb (10 - 14 kg). The
elevation of the trails ranged from 3500 ft (1000 m) to 8500 ft (2600
m). The pack was used in temperatures from 20 F (-7 C) to 95 F (35 C).
It has seen blazing sun and driving rain. It has been left outside,
covered by a large plastic trash bag, in sub-freezing temperatures.
Through all these different environments the pack has held up well. It
has not suffered any rips, tears or holes caused by my son or other
small animals. The frame shows no damage other than scratches on the
lower bar from being placed on the ground. The shoulder straps and
hip-belt are intact. The zippers all zip.
Summary:
The capacity of this pack is adequate for a young scout. The four outer
pockets provide plenty of room to stuff items such as a poncho, a
trowel, a water filter or a first aid kit. When I bought the pack the
description boasted that the daisy-chain loops allowed you to easily add
on any of Jansport's 'Modular System' pockets. I contacted Jansport in
December of 2001 asking about these modular pockets. I was told they
were no longer available. The pack's specifications list an extended
capacity but I am unable to figure out how this extension happens. The
3850 ci (63 L) is there. That's all.
The pack performed exceptionally well. Lightweight and durable, it stood
up to the abuse and disrespect handed out by my teenage son. I found the
design functional but too austere for my tastes. I added a sternum strap
and a buttonhole in the back to accommodate a hydration bladder and
hose. The pack has no load-lifter straps. These are probably not 'must
have' features for younger backpackers but they do add comfort. The
Jansport Scout is an ideal starter pack for youngsters entering the
world of backpacking.
--
Bob DeVore
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/d5y3">freeland.dhs.org</a>
Dedicated to Wild Places
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/Lj3uPC/Me7FAA/ySSFAA/V4TolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
BackpackGearTest-unsubscribe-***@public.gmane.org
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/