Big, Dry Comfy

By Thomas Lowenthal Ranked #115 - Weekend Packs (3000-4500 cu in) November 7, 2008

I've only had this pack for a few months, but I love it. Contrary to other reviewers, I was perfectly capable of finding the two nalgene-sized side pockets. The one large back pocket (with zip pocket) is great (depending on the circumstances) for your raingear, wallet, keys, or the ting that your hiking partner can't be bothered to put in the main compartment. The Compression straps work great, not only for crushing your stuff, but also for attaching things (like rolls of duct tape) to the outside of the bag. The brain is made from waterproof material, to keep your bits-and-bobs dry. As a whole, there's a lot of use of waterproof fabrics (though no pressure seal), so this pack does well in rainstorms, or sitting at the bottom of a boat (though not under submersion), and keeps your stuff dry to boot. The sleeping-bag pocket actually goes into the main compartment, with a retractable diaphragm to separate the two. The suspension is incredibly comfortable even under heavy loads: with a lazy group, I took 80lb up 10 miles and 3000' of elevation. I won't say that I didn't break a sweat, but the pack performed admirably. The airflow is pretty comfortable too. The hip straps use a change in webbing direction to help spread weight comfortably over your hips. The hip-flaps also have a convenient zipped-pocket. Both colour combinations are pretty sweet (though the green is cooler).

View Details: The North Face Primero 70 Backpack - 3950-4600cu in

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No