N Nevo Rhino 65+5 Backpack Assessment

Backside Line

The N Nevo Rhino has a tempting low worth, however it’s not the finances backpacking backpack you hoped it could be.

Open air gear can get costly, so it’s legitimate to ask, “why would I pay $300 for a backpack when this one on Amazon does the identical factor?” Good level. Looking for a hidden gem, we dug by way of the pages of listings to discover a aggressive internally framed backpack, and the Rhino was the closest we discovered. We hoped it will carry out nicely and doubtlessly supply nice worth, however it ended up performing about as we’d count on for the worth.

The Rhino has lots of the similar options as dearer backpacks, however we obtained the impression throughout our testing that it was assembled by somebody who didn’t perceive backpacking that nicely. For instance, we found the hip belt pockets weren’t supported, the again stretch pocket unclipped at a tough to entry location, and the sleeping bag compartment was marketed as a spot to retailer footwear. On high of that, the hip belt and shoulder strap consolation had been first rate, however the again panel was uncomfortable and never one thing we’d need to endure for hours on finish.

Possibly subsequent time we’ll discover a diamond within the tough on Amazon, however this finances pack was a swing and a miss. For the standard you get right here, most individuals could be higher off getting a used backpack or saving up for one more finances decide in our information to the greatest backpacking packs.

How We Examined

We took the Rhino on native trails in Minnesota in the course of the winter whereas we had been overhauling our total backpack gear information.

Consolation

The great factor is that the hip belt stunned us. When loading up the pack with 30 kilos, we tightened down the buckles and felt an honest quantity of help and luxury. That is largely because of the broad foam belt design that does a superb job distributing the load right here. Sadly, consolation fell aside shortly as soon as we shifted our again round. 

That is half of a bigger feeling we obtained with the Rhino we’ll come again to, however it looks as if the designers of the pack weren’t backpackers themselves. The again panel is a superb instance of that. You see, many backpacking packs have a spot between the 2 pads that relaxation on the again. That is generally executed to advertise airflow but additionally to regulate torso size. It appears the designers of this pack needed to repeat that design, however made the hole too broad, leading to foam pads that really press into the again with their corners. This ends in a really unusual feeling of the froth padding creating strain factors – the precise reverse of what you’d need them to do!

If we stood completely upright and simply let the burden relaxation on the shoulder straps and hip belt, the consolation was really first rate. However as quickly as we moved about, the again panel would remind us this isn’t a pack designed for lengthy distance consolation.

Options

Like quite a lot of low finances packs, the Rhino makes an attempt to throw the whole lot in to make it enchantment to as many individuals as potential. We get giant hip belt pockets, an adjustable torso, rain cowl, sleeping bag compartment, facet zippers, U formed zipper, high lid, facet straps, and stretchy ice axe attachment cords, together with others. 

To numerous levels, all these options work nicely. However there’s an total feeling like there was no room for refinement on any of those options. 

A superb instance of that is the flap of cloth that covers the massive U formed zipper. It’s purported to lie flat and supply rain safety. As a substitute, it sticks straight out, nearly perpendicular to the pack physique. This feels just like the design accommodated for a chunk of cloth on this location, however didn’t check how the material would match or how the stress of the material would trigger it to behave. 

There are quite a few different examples of this across the pack. As an illustration, the hip belt pockets float round in a free manner, the highest lid is oddly tall, and the again stretch pocket connects to some extent on the pack that’s often lined by the highest lid, which makes accessing it tough except the lid is unclipped.

As we talked about within the consolation part, it appears the designers of the pack had been merely aiming to repeat present packs with out a lot thought for a way the items all match collectively. Nowhere was this extra obvious than within the advertising and marketing for the underside sleeping bag compartment. This can be a widespread characteristic in lots of conventional packs, however on the advertising and marketing web page for the Rhino, this compartment is marketed as a “Separate Shoe Compartment.” In case you’ve by no means been backpacking earlier than, a separate pocket like this will appear much like fitness center luggage that characteristic a shoe pocket. Nevertheless it looks as if this pack was put along with all of the components of a backpacking pack however with not one of the intention.

Sturdiness

As a finances backpack, we count on to see a decrease stage of sturdiness. Sadly, the Rhino doesn’t present a lot confidence right here. 

A lot of the cloth feels decently thick, however there’s no manner of realizing what high quality of cloth N Nevo used. Once we loaded up the pack with 30 kilos, we immediately began seeing seams flexing and exhibiting threads, which isn’t a superb signal for long run sturdiness. These seams will solely flex an increasing number of because the pack is used, finally failing. 

We do need to admit – the general high quality is barely increased than we had been anticipating, given the worth. However this pack seems to lag behind different backpacking in potential sturdiness. The addition of mesh on the water bottle pockets and again stretch pocket additionally makes us really feel these could be the primary to fail. This isn’t a pack we’d need to tackle a via hike for concern of it failing on us halfway by way of.

Ease of Use

With so many options, the Rhino finally ends up being a little bit of a sophisticated beast at occasions, however it stunned us by being manageable. 

There are just a few notable negatives. The water bottle pockets are too excessive to be usable whereas carrying the pack. Plus, the again stretch pocket clips to some extent that’s lined by the highest lid in case you cinch it down, and the hip belt pockets are a bit far again and unsupported. 

The excellent news is these hipbelt pockets are a few of the few that we examined that may be opened and closed one handed. The pockets are additionally decently giant. Even so, they weren’t our favorites as a result of they flopped round a bit. Fortuitously, the underside zipper, U formed zippers, and high lid every operated simply.

Ought to You Purchase the N Nevo Rhino 65+5 Backpack?

Typically, no. In case you’re somebody who wants a backpack – any backpack – for one or two journeys, this will probably be advantageous. It received’t be the perfect, you’ll be combating it generally and received’t go away the perfect impression, however you’ll be advantageous. Nevertheless, we don’t suppose it provides an incredible long run worth. Even worse, we concern {that a} pack like this would offer a poor expertise for newbie backpackers – to the purpose they could bitter on backpacking completely. As a substitute, contemplate a superb, used backpack. Good high quality packs will final years of use, and the used market is usually stuffed with packs that also have a ton of life left in them. For the same worth, these used packs supply a a lot better funding and can last more.

What Different Backpacking Packs Ought to You Think about?

For higher long run worth, please see our full information to the greatest backpacking backpacks or contemplate the next choices:

REI Flash 55 Assessment – The finances purchase of our total lineup is a superb decide for knowledgeable or new backpackers alike. With strong development, high quality supplies, and an incredible characteristic set, the Flash impressed us throughout testing.

REI Trailmade 60 Assessment – The second most cost-effective backpack in our checks, the Trailmade isn’t fairly the deal that the Flash is, however it does the whole lot the Rhino does with a a lot better expertise at a a lot decrease weight.

Granite Gear Crown 3 Assessment – The Crown 3 is a a lot better starter pack than the Rhino as a result of it really works for each conventional and ultralight backpacking and carried out nicely in a lot of the classes we examined.