REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Simple
Zipper access to main compartment
Inexpensive
Water resistant
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
No lid
Only available in one non-adjustable size
Mountainsmith Scream 55 Review
A great option for the hiker that wants a simple, lightweight pack capable of carrying moderate loads
The Scream 55 feels at home in the mountains of Colorado.
Credit: Sam Schild
RELATED: Best Budget Backpacking Pack of 2024
Our Verdict
The Mountainsmith Scream 55L is a great design for minimalist backpackers with its simple, no-frills design that will have you ready to hit the trail with no distractions. It features a roll-top opening for shoving your gear in and a U-shaped front zipper to access exactly what you need. It features unique double front pockets that can fit snacks, clothes, or any other items that you might keep in the lid of a more traditional pack from our best backpacking backpack review. This pack can carry around 35 pounds comfortably, which is pretty on par with many backpacks that weigh more than this. This pack's design will keep your gear snuggly cinched onto your back so it doesn't swing as you hike quickly, scramble, or climb along ridges. With great features and a great price, this budget-friendly pack feels like a premium backpack. To see our other favorites, check out our full budget backpacking pack review.
Editor's Note: This pack was retested in its updated version, and this article was revised to reflect our results and comparisons on August 3, 2023.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Mountainsmith Scream 55 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Minimalist Design |  Best Overall Men's Budget Backpacking Pack | Best for Serious Adjustability |  Best Bang for the Buck | |
| Price | $160 List $159.95 at Amazon | $139 List | $179 List $179.00 at REI | $99.95 at Amazon | $90 List $89.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Simple and rugged, this ultralight pack is capable of carrying a surprising load | As comfortable and feature-packed as packs twice its price, this pack is great for your back and your wallet | This pack has an adjustable torso and will fit many different body sizes | This affordable backpacking pack is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable, but it lacks the external pockets we'd want for hiking all day | While not the lightest or most comfortable, this model is a super affordable option for someone just dipping their toes into backpacking |
| Rating Categories | Mountainsmith Screa... | Decathlon Forclaz M... | REI Co-op Trailmade 60 | Kelty Outskirt 50 | Teton Sports 55L Scout |
| Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Weight-to-Volume Ratio (20%) | |||||
| Adjustability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Mountainsmith Screa... | Decathlon Forclaz M... | REI Co-op Trailmade 60 | Kelty Outskirt 50 | Teton Sports 55L Scout |
| Measured Weight | 2.8 lbs | 3.7 lbs | 3.4 lbs | 2.7 lbs | 4.5 lbs |
| Weight per Liter (Full Pack) | 0.81 oz/L | 0.99 oz/L | 0.91 oz/L | 0.86 oz/L | 1.30 oz/L |
| Advertised Volume | 55 L | 50 L + 10 L | 60 L | 50 L | 55 L |
| Measured Volume (Main Compartment) | 40 L | 35 L | 50 L | 35 L | 50 L |
| Access | Top, front | Top, side, bottom | Top, bottom | Top, bottom | Top, bottom |
| Hydration Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Materials | 210D Robic Dynajin nylon ripstop UTS, 210D recycled nylon SD Oxford PU | 100% Polyamide | 100% Recycled nylon | 600D Polyester Oxford | 600D Polyester Diamond Ripstop |
| Sleeping Bag Compartment | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
As Mountainsmith's name suggests, the Scream 55 is built strong and thoughtfully made. This pack's unique roll-top design, paired with only two zipper storage pockets, keeps it simple and easy to pack. We like the minimalist roll-top style on this pack, which is usually only seen in cottage brands. But we also love the supportive frame and full zipper access that you usually only see on larger, heavier backpacking packs. And you get all these features at a great price. Mountainsmith recently updated this pack, and we think the newest version of the Scream 55 is the best one yet.
Performance Comparison
The Scream 55 feels at home exploring the mountains of Colorado.
Credit: Sam Schild
Comfort
The Scream 55 uses a thin aluminum stay that wraps around the back panel to create a suspension system that we found comfortable to carry loads up to 35 pounds. This curved aluminum stay creates some space between your back and the pack, with additional air channels carved out of the foam. This allows for increased airflow across your back and makes the pack more comfortable during long days on the trail. The foam back panel is soft yet firm enough that the pack doesn't compress while you're wearing it.
The shoulder straps and hip belt are made of dense foam that is supportive but could use a little extra cushioning to improve comfort while carrying heavier loads. They each feature a 3D mesh face fabric that allows for extra breathability. The pack does not wobble from side to side while walking. Instead, it feels firmly planted on your back. So even with this pack loaded to capacity, we didn't feel it sway from side to side as we hiked, climbed, and rock hopped.
The Scream 55 features a soft, yet supportive back panel, shoulder straps, and hip belt and the frame works to distribute weight across your back, shoulders, and hips.
Credit: Sam Schild
Ease of Use
Built with a no-frills attitude, the Scream 55 is quick and easy to use. There aren't straps dangling all over the pack, and there aren't extra features that don't make sense, adding extra weight and unnecessary confusion. The back of the pack is built with two large zippered pockets that are great for everything you'd need throughout the day on the trail. We stored extra layers in one pocket and used the other as we would a brain, holding our headlamp, maps, water filter, sunscreen, and other small items we need regularly. These two pockets sit one above the other and are accessible from either side of the front of the pack.
The U-shaped double-zipper front opening makes it easy to find larger items in the pack's main compartment without opening the roll-top. Since this opening has a zipper on either side, you can get into the exact area of the pack you need to without fully opening the flap. The top of the U-shaped opening doesn't extend into the roll-top section. This means that if the pack is completely full, there will be some gear above the zipper that may be hard to access without undoing the roll-top. However, if the zippered opening went further up, it would get in the way of the roll-down closure system, so we're okay with this compromise.
The U-shaped zipper opening flips down from the top of the pack to make almost everything packed into the main compartment accessible.
Credit: Sam Schild
The two hip belt pockets are big enough for a large smartphone, plus some extra room for an energy bar or two. The zipper is easy to pull and operate with one hand when the pack is on your back. Both pockets are made of the same durable fabric as the rest of the pack.
The Scream has multiple front zipper pockets to keep your gear organized.
Credit: Sam Schild
Two compression straps on each side keep the pack cinched down close to your body. The roll-top buckles onto the sides of the pack to further compress the load. The roll-top can also be buckled to itself if the pack is full to its maximum capacity.
The Scream 55's hip belt pockets are big enough for a large smartphone, plus more.
Credit: Sam Schild
The two deep stretch side pockets can each hold two 1-liter Smartwater bottles or a filter bottle and tent poles. The pockets are angled forward, which makes grabbing a water bottle from the pocket while wearing it much easier. Also, the stretchy material makes it easy to remove and reinsert a bottle. This pack has a bladder pocket, a hydration tube port, and webbing to hold the tube in place.
The side water bottle pockets can each fit two liters of water and are accessible while wearing the pack.
Credit: Sam Schild
The Scream 55 also has buckles on the bottom of the pack to attach a sleeping pad or other large items externally. These buckles, along with the top-side compression straps, make attaching bulkier items to the outside of the pack easy.
The Scream 55 has straps with buckles on the bottom of the pack to attach a sleeping pad or other large items on the outside.
Credit: Sam Schild
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
Weighing in under three pounds, the Scream 55 is one of the lightest packs we tested. With a total volume of 55 liters, the Scream has a weight-to-volume ratio of just 0.81 ounces per liter — one of the lightest in this lineup. This pack won't weigh you down but doesn't sacrifice durability for the lower weight, either.
The Scream 55 is made of a very durable 210D Robic Dynajin nylon ripstop fabric. This isn't the lightest material, but it balances durability with low weight. Though it's not quite an ultralight backpack, this low weight-to-volume ratio is still impressive both for this lineup and for this price point.
The Scream is one of the lightest packs we tested.
Credit: Sam Schild
Adjustability
The Scream 55 lacks the adjustability of some other packs. It only comes in one size, and the only way it can be adjusted is via the shoulder straps and hip belt. We measured the hip belt to fit waists from 30 to 45 inches in circumference. Load lifter straps and an adjustable sternum strap add some additional adjustability.
Unless you fit the 20-inch torso length of this pack, this pack probably isn't for you. Our testers have torso lengths that range between 17 and 19 inches, though, and we were all able to make this pack work for us. But if you fall too far from the recommended torso length, this pack simply won't be comfortable, so be sure to measure your torso length correctly before hitting that purchase button.
The Scream 55 only comes in one size and has no torso length adjustability.
Credit: Sam Schild
Should You Buy the Mountainsmith Scream 55?
The streamlined design of the Scream 55 won't overwhelm you with organizational options, begging for a minimalist approach. If you're ready to simplify your backpacking with a roll-top bag, this is a great budget-friendly model to try. And unlike many roll-top packs, this one won't punish you for forgetting an item when packing up camp, thanks to the large u-shaped zipper access. The Scream is a great choice for anyone who is a gram counter on a budget and appreciates a simplified approach to packing.
The Scream 55 is a great and affordable pack for the ultralight curious.
Credit: Sam Schild
What Other Budget Backpacking Packs Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a full-featured pack with lots of external pockets and a mesh trampoline back panel, we think you should check out the Decathlon Forclaz MT500 Air 50+10. If you want a lightweight pack but don't love the roll-top design, consider the Kelty Outskirt 50. If you want a pack with serious adjustability and solid features, you should check out the REI Co-op Trailmade 60.
—Sam Schild
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