almost perfect

By Reynstorm Ranked #335 - Overnight Backpacks (2000 - 2999 cu in) August 12, 2010

There's an awful lot about this pack I really like. The main compartment is plenty roomy for rope and a pile of other gear, the duffel zipper on the back gives easy access to snacks, guidebooks, first aid kit, and maybe a light jacket, and the big mesh pocket inside holds all the stuff you take out of your pockets (phone, wallet, keys--and then some. It's a BIG pocket) when you get to the crag. Heavy-duty material on the back of the pack ensures it can take a lot of abuse.

But there's also a few vital features it lacks. I've use it twice. The first time was on a day hike, just to check it out, and I know that's not the intended purpose, but I still expected more. The pack has no support of its own, and lumps up against your back when the stuff inside pulls it down. Throw at least a little frame in there to make it easier to carry. The second time I used it was the afternoon I took some inexperienced friends climbing and packed it full of top-roping essentials. We didn't have to hike far, so it wasn't a great test, but with the pack crammed full of rope and webbing, it was solid enough to hold itself up, though if you don't pack it wisely, you can still get uncomfortable lumps grinding against your back.

My only other complaint is carrying water. The side pockets are *barely* big enough for Nalgenes. I had to wrestle bottles in and out when hiking, and always had to take the pack off first. I'm sure that high on a multi-pitch, it would be nice to know your water won't fall out and plummet hundreds of feet, but I wonder whether, in trying to force the bottles back inside, I might end up dropping them anyway. The way the bottle pockets take up space inside the pack is nice for avoiding snags when hauling it up behind you, but it means losing space in the pack, and you have to fight both the pocket itself and any gear already in the main compartment to get the bottles back in. It's nice to have the sleeve for a Camelbak reservoir, but again--if you use it, you lose space in the pack.

The whole reason I got this bag was to avoid carrying one pack with my gear, lunch, and water, AND a rope bag. But I feel like this pack makes me choose between water and rope. I haven't decided yet whether I'm keeping it.

View Details: The North Face Fulcrum 35 Backpack - 2200cu in

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes