User Review: The North Face Primero 85

Before I bought this Primero 85, I would have told you that North Face makes good value day-to-weekend packs, but nothing that would really appeal to the extended-trip backpacker looking for something in the 60+ liter range. So I was admittedly taking a chance on this Primero, but all the reviews I was seeing of it said that its new suspension system was the *real deal*!

The fit was great, and the quality attention to detail better than any other North Face pack I've ever seen. But the true test ultimately comes not in the store but in the backcountry...and that's when I'm happy to report that the reviews don't lie. This baby really can pack on the weight!!

The wife and I spent a week in Big Bend Ntl Park (Texas). Anyone familiar with that place knows that natural water sources are basically non-existent in the backcountry. There are places to cache water but bottom line is that you're going to have to carry quite a bit of water if you want to spend any extended time in the backcountry. At a gallon-per-day and 8-lbs-per-gallon, I couldn't afford a sissy pack! I needed something that could push 50+ lbs for those first couple of days hauling all of that water.

I'm pleased to report that this is the best fitting internal frame pack I've ever taken into the backcountry. I'm always skeptical when a magazine like Outdoor hypes a particular new 'feature' in a backpack, but the hype surrounding the Primero's new suspension system certainly seems to be the real deal.

I contemplated the Argon 85 and Aether 85 packs by Osprey. I still love my Aether 45 for minimalist packing, and both of these packs are good choices. However, I still decided to go with the Primero for two reason: (a) the Aether 85 is comparable in price to Primero 85, but the Primero's suspension seems better if you need to pack over 45lbs, and the overall construction of the Primero just seemed a little better than the Aether; (b) the Argon 85 is a gorgeous pack and had it been priced around the Primero, I would have been 50/50 on which one to get -- both packs seemed equal in comfort when I strapped on 50lbs when trying them on, but with all things being virtually equal in comfort and quality you gotta go with the better deal.

The only thing that I could even find to nit-pick about was the belt accessories. For some reason, they put a zippered mesh pouch on the right side....but not the left (leaving it completely empty). Not sure why they did this.

I had a hard time finding the 85L pack for any kind of a discount. Most of the big outfitters would not accept product codes on this particular pack. One exception was Rock Mountain Trail (http://www.rockymountaintrail.com/detail.aspx?ID=10735) in Colorado. The product was discounted 15% of the $298 list price...and then I took an addition 10% via a product code. That brought the total to $235 (free UPS shipping, no tax).