The North Face Terra 65

Hello Everyone,

I guess I will be the first to review this item. I want to go over in detail on the extremities I put this backpack through and what I have planned for the future with this pack.

I went on a 2 day hike with my father-in-law up the Estrella mountain in Phoenix, AZ. The mountain peak is over 4500 ft in elevation and base starts at just around 1100 ft. I purchased this backpack specifically for this trip and I am glad to say I will be using this backpack more in the future. I don't take hiking lightly and this backpack held up to my specs. If you are interested in the conditions I put this backpack through than read the next paragraph. If not than skip to the pros and cons below:

As previously stated my father-in-law and I went on a hike that was around 3500 ft change in elevation. We were in the dead middle of the desert hiking this mountain. There are no streams, rivers, or lakes nearby. We had to carry everything from water, rope, tent, sleeping bag, weapons (rattle snakes, coyotes, mountains lions, etc), change of clothes, food, etc. . The trip was routed for around 12-13 miles in total hike, 45 lbs packs (each), and all rocky terrain. This backpack has some pros and cons I would like to cover. This backpack was placed on the rocks and was pressed against the mountain as we were resting.

Pros:

Great Padding

Great back support

Great hip strap

Great chest strap

A lot of space

Lightweight

A lot of options for adjustments to get comfortable

Solid and reliable material

Cons:

It would be nice to have quick access pockets on the hip pads

The mesh material to hold water bottles on the sides of the backpack do not work well if the backpack is full

The storage area for the water reservoir (camelback) is to low and serves no point as the hook for the camelback sits up much higher. (It does work well for back up camelbacks to be stored).

I gave this product 4 stars and would suggest this product to anyone. I enjoy using this backpack and I am soon going to be using this backpack on my trip down to the bottom of the grand canyon. I have no fear that this backpack will do me great justice.

After living/working in Africa, Europe, Asia, The Middle East, Central America and, of course, the U.S, having kit that I can rely upon, to function in the best and worst of conditions, is essential. This pack is CAVERNOUS, and holds everything I need for 5-7 days in "the bush", it customizes to my frame easily (5'8" 79kg), dries quickly, and with a little water proofing, keeps things relatively dry. The side zipper is good for access, but not great, and the sleeping bag compartment can hold a blanket NOT a sleeping bag just FYI. That being said, if the zippers were a little heavier, like REI puts on most of their packs, I'd give this bag 5 stars. It's light, strong, durable and worth every penny regardless of how serious/recreational the user might be.

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I just returned from a two day hiking/backpacking trip and the pack preformed great. It's well padded and it had plenty of room for everything that I had with me. I especially liked the stretchy pouch on the outside of the pack. I was able to stuff it full of a lot of extras I needed to keep handy.

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(I am neither a North Face employee, nor an associate, so I don't have to use the "The").

I have been a North Face customer for more than 30 years, during which time North Face changed from a technical outdoors and climbing company to a worldwide mass marketer of urban fashion clothing, daypacks, and yes, technical and climbing equipment which doesn't comprise a big part of their revenue anymore. I have my own fashion, I don't buy North Face for that in fact, if I could pay extra to get their logo off my equipment, I would. I hate being a walking advertisement.

Yes, their stuff is expensive, even the consumer stuff, and is generally well made with attention to the kind of detail that really matters out in the heat, cold and wet. If it is critical equipment, buy the best.

I recently bought the Terra 65 to do a little walking in the US western Cascades range. Haven't had it out yet, but it looks decently made. However, unpacking and examining the Terra raised some issues that have annoyed me for some time.

1. No instructions or advice included with the product.

OK, I know what an ice axe loop is for (salesman identified it as a walking stick loop) and how to use one. The various pockets and straps were somewhat more obscure and took some exploring. Why not include a pamphlet extolling the features built in to the pack so I get them all at once? There's a mysterious plastic clip at the top of the main compartment apparently for a camelbak bladder with a small opening for the mouth tube. It should be a carabiner or other metal fastener -the plastic is bound to break -but the real issue is that North Face does NOT INCLUDE ANY INSTRUCTIONS OR DETAILED INFORMATION with its equipment. The apparent attitude is "we're so good we don't have to explain ourselves if you don't know or can't figure it out, tough toenails". The website is no better very heavy on lifestyle marketing, useful information not so much. The snooty waiter approach, in other words.

2. The European and UK version of this pack comes with a terrific rain cover which wraps around the back and protects the pack from torrential rains. It is not available in the US, either as an option or separate item and not even mentioned on the North Face website. Why? I know it rains in the US, I just came in out of a thunderstorm a few hours or so. Do Europeans get wetter than Americans?

3. The pack comes with an adjustable torso system, but no instructions on how to determine your torso length or how to adjust it (hint: there is a hidden velcro strip behind the frame which must be separated and a cam on the bottom of the pack frame). Again, no instructions included, nothing on the website, but vacuous videos demonstrating how good you and your girlfriend will look on rugged terrain wearing your pack with Opti-Fit technology.

4. The North Face "lifetime guarantee" has turned into a "lifetime of the product" guarantee. A delightful bit of recursion which basically means "when we get tired of fixing it, you're out of luck".

Now some of this information may be on bulletin boards and retailers web sites (and in fact is, if you spend a half hour googling). And it's stuff you can figure out eventually, even if you don't have subscriptions to 7 outdoor magazines full of more lifestyle marketing. But why should you have to??

CONCLUSION:

The pack pretty good

The attitude stinks

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this back pack first of all is simply amazing and highly customizible so no matter if you are 11 or 42 this back pack will fit with alittle ajusting and another thing is theres no problem with the waterbottle holder and no problem with the camelback area it is a great backpack to have for the price and it is also very cofortable and very durable so if you are contiplating on what backpack to buy this is the obvious choice i hope this review was helpful and enjoy your new terra 65 by tnf