User Review: The North Face Prophet 65

Summary

This pack is light and roomy, but compared to older versions this pack is lacking. I cannot recommend this pack unless TNF brings back the adjustable torso length shoulder straps.

I have the medium sized prophet from 2012. I have used it a few times including trips to the summit of Mount Adams, Cashmere Mountain, and Mount Rainier.

It accommodates all my gear quite well. I like the abundant compression straps. It has three on each side.

At first the pack was very uncomfortable. But I was able to adjust it and make it work. Still I'm disappointed that the straps are sewn directly to the pack instead of being part of an adjustable suspension package like on previous models. I feel like this compromise really hinders the pack from transferring weight from the shoulders to the hips, especially with a heavy load.

I think that some competitors make a better pack for the weight. Better as in more features. I don't have any complaints about the quality of construction it seems to be sturdy enough.

Bottom line if I were to do it over I would have bought an Osprey pack and the main reason is the lack of a torso adjustment and the functional compromise this creates in the way the pack cannot handle weight transfer from shoulders to hips as well as previous systems TNF has implemented.