Nothing messes with a good scavenging run in Fallout 76 like hitting that overencumbered wall halfway through a dungeon. You're feeling rich, pockets full of screws and ammo, then boom—you're trudging. If you've ever browsed the Fallout 76 Market for gear ideas and thought, "I just want to carry what I earn," this backpack route is the one that actually changes your day-to-day play. It's a bit of a project, sure, but it cuts down the stash-box commute and lets you stay out in the world longer.
Kick Off The Scout Grind
Start at Grafton Train Station and look for the Pioneer Scouts poster on the wall. Read it to trigger "Order of the Tadpole," then head to the Pioneer Scout Camp and speak to the robot leader. The quest log will light up like a Christmas tree, but don't overthink it. Stick to the Tadpole requirements and treat everything else as background noise until you've got the basics handled.
The Tadpole Checklist That Matters
There are four big boxes to tick. 1) Revive another player: jump into a public event like Scorched Earth or Encryptid and keep a Stimpack ready—someone always drops. 2) Help Pompy: you'll be cleaning up toxic mess at Kiddie Corner Cabins. 3) Help Treadly: you'll turn in insect parts at Dolly Sods, and you usually won't have to roam far because the bugs tend to spawn right nearby. 4) Earn three Tadpole Badges via the Challenges menu; Archer, Athlete, and Medic are the usual "least annoying" trio, and you'll also knock out the little terminal exams while you're at it. Turn everything in and you'll unlock the standard Scout Backpack for an immediate +60 carry weight.
Pushing It To High Capacity
Now for the part that makes it feel unfair in the best way: the High-Capacity Backpack Mod. It's sold at the Possum Vending Machine at camp for 8 Possum Badges, and yeah, those take time. You can run the daily scout quests and Campfire Tales for a chance at badges, but the drops can be stingy. Most players get there faster by targeting Possum Challenges that match their build and routine, then chipping away between normal farming runs. Once you buy the plan, learn it, and mod your backpack at an armor workbench, you'll feel that extra room instantly—less dumping junk, more actually playing, and fewer "do I really need this." moments. If you're trying to speed up your loadout progress or just want to skip some of the slow item hunting, eznpc is worth a look since it's geared around helping players buy in-game currency or items without turning your whole night into inventory management.
