THE DEAN™ 50 Hiking Backpack - 1st Generation

My husband and I used these backpacks on a recent 5-day trek. We are both around 5'9 and had the adjustable straps down to the lowest setting. The packs themselves are very lightweight and comfortable to wear for an extended period of time. My favorite feature was the zippered components on the waist belt. I was able to fit my phone/gopro on one side and snacks in the other. The deep side pockets ensured that my water bottle didn't fall out on the trail. The internal mesh compartments helped keep everything in order and the full open zipper made locating things in the pack simple. The integrated rain cover was helpful when it started to rain. I liked having the front pocket to store our solar panel when it started to rain and the bungee cord on the outside kept it in place during the hike. A great, lightweight backpack!

I am new to the ultralight thing, and in the process of swapping out aging gear for lighter kit. I found it a little tight for a weekend hike with a solo tent, clothing and food, but managed. Pack weight was 26 lbs. 31 lbs. with a non-ultralight camp chair hung underneath.
Pros:
Roomy side pouches will keep your bottles and gear from falling out.
Belt pouches keep trail snacks handy.
Fit and rode well.
Sternum strap adjusts low enough for me.
Roomy center outside pouch fits jacket and more quick access items.
Front access main chamber makes loading and finding stuff quick.
Cons:
While its integral to the front access. I worry about the zipper. It held up fine on my first weekend of use - but it takes a strain. I needed to empty the outside pouches to get the zipper closed due to the extra strain on seams it caused being full.
Top pouch needs rethinking... it opens the wrong direction to access from the pack face. I NEVER reach above my head to get gear out. Why do many designers face the cover opening towards the back of my head??? Could be gusseted to hold items not in the zipper pouches. Again - the inner zippers don't all load from the same side. Half of them are dumping contents out when the flap is open depending on orientation of the bag.

I bought this backpack because of the organization system. I’ve never been a fan of loading my stuff through the top of my backpack and then unloading and reloading it every time I stop. This near zero system works great! My gear fits perfectly, the backpack is light, well made, and the customer support has been fantastic. First trip with the backpack was about 7 miles through Lake Mead National Recreation area.

I have seen in the comments that others had problems with the sternum straps slipping. I did not. . Can’t wait to get back out!

I've been using this backpack for 2-3 day backpacking trips and I've really enjoyed it. The bag is lightweight and has a spot for everything! Also, the way the bag opens up makes packing/unpacking gear very easy after a long hike to a campsite. The con would be the pads are pretty stiff, which I'm hoping I can break them in soon :D. Excited to try more products from NEAR Zero.

This pack was very comfortable, and light off the gate. Used it on a 3 day 2 night overnight hike. The packs open design made it easy to access all my gear, and since this was a test run I intentionally overpacked. The only real con thought I found, was the adjustable straps in the shoulder area would not stay in place. I was finally able to rectify the problem by tying the straps, however that made it extremely difficult to readjust when needed. I also found that the chest strap slips up putting pressure on my neck. Overall a decent pack for the money and I would recommend. I will be using again on a much longer hike shortly and will update my review then.

I have the Dean 55 Liter and it's great but no room for clothes is my biggest complaint. No where do they show you how to fit clothes or vids on whats best to rearrange to fit. The pack is great but if you cant fit clothes it's pointless. Everyone i see looking at this pack has the same thought process.

Amazing bag,Love the fact that you can load your bag with what you need & not what you want,it avoids from me overloading my bag & becoming a Pack Mule

Title says it all. Three pounds and 50 liters of well constructed pack for under $100. Can’t beat that.

This pack is so light but has so much room! I like how everything has its specific place (and labeled at that).

The back pack is solid. It has labeled packing areas for ease of packing your pack.
Loads out and carries well. The model I tested was one of the earlier models, but it was great for me.

Like the front zipper opening, and the division of the inside compartment. The outer attachment points and pockets add the to versatile aspect of the pack.

The only downside is that the backpack is not water resistant or waterproof as it has grommets on the bottom of the compartments..

I have not had a chance to use it but I have plans to do some section hiking on the AT coming up in 2024

All of your Products look very function and of top quality but I don’t see any space to accommodate a change of clothing or personal items

great feeling pack, perfect inside layout to pack equipment and gear

My biggest gripe with backpacking is the lack of organization. I never really liked having to really think about what order I would need things so I could pack accordingly, just to wind up tossing my pack to find something. This bag absolutely solves that problem. The front opening pocket is absolutely perfect. Of course, the near zero tent fits like a glove but my hammock setup also fits with no problem. The labeled pockets are a great touch too, and helps with keeping up with what I need to take for a trip. A couple draw backs I’ve noticed, and they’re very minor. First the strap pads are very firm, like no cushion at all. Now, the goal is to be as light as possible so this isn’t a big deal, but a little more cushion could be a nice touch. Second, if your front open pocket starts to get a little stuffed, the brain storage will suffer a little. With a 2P tent, kitchen gear, sleeping bag, throw and pillow, I was not able to fit a headlamp into the “light” pocket. So, be a little mindful of gear selection with this pack. Of course near zero has all kinds of gear that appears to be taylor made for their pack so when in doubt, you always have that.

Outstanding product! Sturdy yet lightweight.
An organizers dream! Wonderful customer service!

I’m using the DEAN 50L pack for ultra-distance mountain expeditions. I’ve had the pack on my back for days at a time, 8-10 hours a day. It is durable, versatile, roomier than expected - overall a solid pack. Easy access thru the zip system is A++ and the main reason I bought the pack. It does not disappoint. The shoulder pads, hip belt and frame are a bit stiff, but acceptable. The chest strap slips up on the plastic track and shoulder tightening straps also slip slightly thru the plastic cinch - both easy to correct but annoying. It‘s a design flaw - the chest strap track and grip need to be tighter and the shoulder tightening straps need to be wider. All-in-all, for the price, I’d recommend this pack.

I love the organization this backpack has! Everything has a place, and if you don't have gear that fits quite right the dividers are removable. I also love the way it opens. No more digging through your whole pack to reach your sleeping bag at the bottom. The separate place for your water bladder is also extremely helpful when refilling in the back country. The one thing I didn't really like is the straps for tightening and adjusting are not as thick as my other packs and I worry that they might not hold up as well, but this pack has a really great design, and I can't wait to get out there and use it!

The new backpack has motivated me to pack it up and go on a weekend camping trip!

We love the backpack! It is so light and sturdy. The compartments are perfect, why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?! We love how the bag opens so you can see all of your stuff instead of having to dig through a deep backpack. We love it!

Hi Scott, I received the backpack, it's amazing, I only have one thing that I like you to consider in the next designs, that is to add a pocket in the button of the backpack to put your rain coat and have an easy access to it.