N Nevo Rhino 65+5 Backpack Assessment

Backside Line

The N Nevo Rhino has a tempting low value, nevertheless it’s not the funds backpacking backpack you hoped it may be.

Outdoor 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 means of the pages of listings to discover a aggressive internally framed backpack, and the Rhino was the closest we discovered. We hoped it could carry out nicely and doubtlessly provide nice worth, nevertheless it ended up performing about as we’d count on for the worth.

The Rhino has most of the similar options as costlier 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 sneakers. On prime of that, the hip belt and shoulder strap consolation have been first rate, however the again panel was uncomfortable and never one thing we’d need to endure for hours on finish.

Perhaps subsequent time we’ll discover a diamond within the tough on Amazon, however this funds 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 an additional funds choose in our information to the finest backpacking packs.

How We Examined

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

Consolation

The great factor is that the hip belt shocked 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 huge foam belt design that does a great 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, nevertheless 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 typically executed to advertise airflow but in addition to regulate torso size. It appears the designers of this pack wished to repeat that design, however made the hole too huge, 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 stress factors – the precise reverse of what you’d need them to do!

If we stood completely upright and simply let the load 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 a variety of low funds packs, the Rhino makes an attempt to throw every little thing in to make it enchantment to as many individuals as attainable. We get giant hip belt pockets, an adjustable torso, rain cowl, sleeping bag compartment, aspect zippers, U formed zipper, prime lid, aspect 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 great instance of that is the flap of material that covers the big U formed zipper. It’s imagined to lie flat and supply rain safety. As a substitute, it sticks straight out, virtually perpendicular to the pack physique. This feels just like the design accommodated for a bit of material on this location, however didn’t take a look at 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 example, the hip belt pockets float round in a unfastened means, the highest lid is oddly tall, and the again stretch pocket connects to a degree on the pack that’s normally coated 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 have been merely aiming to repeat present packs with out a lot thought for the way the items all match collectively. Nowhere was this extra obvious than within the advertising and marketing for the underside sleeping bag compartment. It is a frequent function 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.” If you happen to’ve by no means been backpacking earlier than, a separate pocket like this will likely appear just like fitness center luggage that function a shoe pocket. But it surely 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 funds backpack, we count on to see a decrease stage of sturdiness. Sadly, the Rhino doesn’t present a lot confidence right here. 

Many of the cloth feels decently thick, however there’s no means of realizing what high quality of material N Nevo used. Once we loaded up the pack with 30 kilos, we immediately began seeing seams flexing and displaying threads, which isn’t a great signal for long run sturdiness. These seams will solely flex increasingly because the pack is used, finally failing. 

We do need to admit – the general high quality is barely increased than we have 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 through hike for worry of it failing on us halfway by means of.

Ease of Use

With so many options, the Rhino finally ends up being a little bit of a sophisticated beast at instances, nevertheless it shocked 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 a degree that’s coated by the highest lid if you happen to cinch it down, and the hip belt pockets are a bit far again and unsupported. 

The excellent news is these hipbelt pockets are a number 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. Luckily, the underside zipper, U formed zippers, and prime lid every operated simply.

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

Generally, no. If you happen to’re somebody who wants a backpack – any backpack – for one or two journeys, this can be wonderful. It received’t be the most effective, you’ll be combating it typically and received’t go away the most effective impression, however you’ll be wonderful. Nevertheless, we don’t suppose it affords an awesome long run worth. Even worse, we worry {that a} pack like this would supply a poor expertise for newbie backpackers – to the purpose they may bitter on backpacking fully. As a substitute, contemplate a great, used backpack. Good high quality packs will final years of use, and the used market is often stuffed with packs that also have a ton of life left in them. For the same value, these used packs provide a significantly better funding and can last more.

What Different Backpacking Packs Ought to You Take into account?

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

REI Flash 55 Assessment – The funds purchase of our complete lineup is a superb choose for skilled or new backpackers alike. With stable building, high quality supplies, and an awesome function 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, nevertheless it does every little thing the Rhino does with a significantly better expertise at a a lot decrease weight.

Granite Gear Crown 3 Assessment – The Crown 3 is a significantly 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.