The North Face pack is a super comfortable pack. It road very well, was easy to adjust, simple and light. Everything was very simple yet well thought out. Some of the things that I would like to see changed are mainly cosmetic. None negatively affected the pack, but rather are more of convenience items and personal preferences. The top pocket only had one zipper. Two zips make it much easier to use. The top lid is not adjustable making it a bit difficult to overstuff. There was no exterior daisy chain. And the ice ax lops were a bit elaborate, fastening with clips instead of the basic nylon loop/ daisy chain combo often found. I used the pack for two days. This would be a welcome replacement to my old bomb pack.

A fairly conventional top-loader, with few unusual features.

Likes - The back panel is very firm, and the pack handles dense loads well. The side compression straps are long enough to use for strapping bulky items to the sides. The volume is adequate for anything I would do in a day.

Dislikes - The outside clip-on points are mostly on the flap, which is about the last place I want gear dangling. The ice tool holders are a bit bizarre. I wonder if they can accommodate the new leashless tools, or for that matter what possible advantage they offer over the conventional bottom loop + shaft strap design. The top lid is firmly attached; it can't "float" to accommodate a tall bulky load. The edges of the shoulder straps seemed to dig into my ribs. It's heavy enough that I kept looking into it even empty to see what I forgot to take out.

Conclusion - A classic case of a good pack with subtle design elements that might make no difference to some users, but might cause others to keep looking.

Pros: Simple, well-executed design. Carries well. Key clip, haul loop.

Cons: No front pocket or daisy chain.

The design keeps it simple (stupid), and it does that well. I had no problem fitting my normal load (one double rope, half a rack, a liter of fluids, harness, chalk bag, helmet and fleece) in it, or extracting it later. Its waist belt was low-profile (which is nice for harness/climbing compatibility), and just cushy enough. The shoulder harness was comfortably adjustable, and the pack's overall fit and carry was well-balanced on its single aluminum stay.

I'd prefer a front pocket instead of bungee loops on the front, but the haul loops (which balance the pack for hauling quite nicely) provided plenty of clipping room, so I didn't miss daisy chains as much as I might have.

Grade: A.