Great Pack at great value, for some reason the Inversion is always on sale somewhere. I go backpacking often and this pack fits my slim body very well. It is very comfortable on my back, and is easy to adjust. It carrys heavy weight well, and is very adaptable to almost all pack accesories.

Customer Service

TNF plastic clips seem to break under pressure easy, but TNF has replaced them every time no questions asked, they are a big company, that seems to be really down to earth and personable!!

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None

I had this pack for a year now and used it on extended trips lasting for over 5 days and this pack performed great. It is built like an ox. The bladder pouch is great and the volume just right. This pack is very comfortable and would compare to packs costing twice as much. I never had a problem with the water bottle pockets but if you do just buy two pockets that add onto the belt. No complaints from me this pack gets and a in my book. I have tons of TNF gear actually all of my gear is TNF. Feel free to email me if ya wanna chat my email address is hiker9@hotmail.com and my icq# is 67448576.

Customer Service

TNF is a very easy company to work with they helped me get a pack cover I wanted.

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Hi my name is Brian Sampson and I just want to tell you personally why I think the North Face Inversion is the one of the best packs out there. I picked mine up this year at REI on sale for $159.99! Retail value $265. I have wanted an internal pack for a long time and I am so glad that I got this one. I do a lot of backpacking with my friends (also in the winter time now) and I go hunting with my dad a lot. I started going winter camping a few years ago and I am hooked! It is one of my favorite outdoor activities. I do a lot of hunting with my dad. I have been hunting for moose, caribou and mountain sheep. Whenever you go hunting you always need a big pack to carry out the meat and this is the perfect pack to use to do that. Since I will be doing a lot backpacking for years to come, I needed a tough pack that will last me a lifetime. That is exactly why I picked up a North Face product. All their products have a lifetime warranty to last a lifetime. That's how I know that I got such a great deal. This is going to be the only pack that I will need to purchase and I plan to use it on countless expeditions. I have used it three times already. Twice on winter camping trips and the other time to carry all my luggage to house-sit for someone. The first time I used it, I just fell in love with it. This pack has so many great features that I could keep talking about it for hours. One of my favorite things about this pack is that it has so much room for carring just about anything. It is very sturdy and made out of thick material. The zippers on this pack are great. I love the fat zippers that it comes with. It just makes it a lot easier for me to access my gear whenever I need to get something out of the pack (especially when I go winter camping. You need zippers that are easy to unzip when it get's around 25 below zero so that you can keep your gloves on. I would have to say that this is one of the easiest packs to use because it is designed very well. You will not have to worry about the zippers getting caught on something because they likely won't. The shoulder pads on this thing are very comfortable because it has a soft foam type material that it's made up of. It is a perfect fit for me and I'm sure it it would feel the same way for you. The pack has a very nice feel. It doesn't feel like it's pinching your shoulder after a long hike like some of the other packs that I've tried. I haven't felt my muscles cramp after I've used it because it sits nice on my back. There are a lot of loops so that if you run out of room, you can tie something on the outside of the pack. There are tons of straps so that you can tie your skies, sleeping pad, or whatever else you need, nicely so that everything is tied down securely. That's always how I like my gear to be; tied securely. With the Inversion you will be able to access your gear easily if you have it arranged neatly. The only thing I don't really like about this pack is the two water bottle carriers on the side of the pack. I tried putting my Nalgene water bottles in it and they don't seem to hold very well. They will slip out if you lay your pack down. So be careful not to lose them when you take it on a trip. I hope that my review has helped you out in any way. I recommend this pack highly! Enjoy the outdoors.

This is an incredible pack! I've used mine to haul my skis, downhill boots, ice axes, and avalanche shovel, plus all of my backpacking equipement. Very stable for alpining. The pads/frame mold into the body well. Very well engineered design for practicallity and comfort. I would put this pack up against any of the $400+ packs! (I picked mine up new for $160 it was 40% off!)

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Osprey Finesse, Dana Designs Bomb, Gregory Shasta Pro.

This pack is built strong as an ox. The construction is virtually bombproof and will withstand years of abuse. As for space, it can easily swallow 10 to 12 days worth of gear/food without a problem as long as you pack smart and use every inch wisely. The frame is extremely comfortable and seems to become one with your body. The mesh padding on the frame wicks away sweat like a champ and is a godsend on hot summer treks. The sleeping bag compartment also kicks butt! I'm able to fit my North face ""Cat's Meow"" bag in there plus my fleece jacket, windbreaker, and 2-3 pairs of socks! Wow! And that's only the sleeping bag compartment! Another cool feature about the Inversion are the seemingly endless daisy chain loops along the back of the pack. Perfect for latching a pair of Teva's, mugs, and extra water bottles. The pack has internal compression straps as well to help keep the weight close to your body to provide superior stability. The external compression straps are simple to use and again, do an excellent job of kepping things neat and tidy. You can also use the external straps to latch extra side pockets onto. I recommend putting additional side pockets on each side of the pack for extended trips. The only flaws on the Inversion are the poorly designed water bottle holders on either side of the pack. You can barely squeeze a quart-size bottle in there and even when you do, it's virtually inaccessible when you're actually wearing the pack. To solve this minor problem, invest in a hydration pack and strap it into the bungee cord webbing on the back of the pack. I find that a 70 Oz. bladder pack fits perfectly and securely in there. From there, just run the intake hose along the side of the pack and you're in business! Besides, who wants to lug around water bottles while hiking anways?! The pack actually has an internal bladder but I found that it takes up precious cargo space with a full hydration pack. The only other flaw is a smallish top pocket compartment but, It makes up for itself by doubling as the most comfortable fanny-pack ever! Perfect for day hikes! Overall, the Inversion is simply top notch. If you're looking to spend less than $300 on a pack than go for it! It's built to last, versatile, comfortable, and confidence inspiring. The key is to pack smart and efficiently with it.

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This is a great rugged backpack. I have used from NH to Africa. It wears well and has many features which work well in all climates and terrain. I snugs up nicely when not full and supsension is adjustable which is handy depending on the terrain. I am glad I spent the money

Great Pack for the $$$. Research quite a few packs before purchasing the Inversion. Talked a buddy into getting one too! I have taken this pack to Isle Royale a few times, AT a few and out west. It balances the load very nicely, and hugs your back very well (important on tough vertical ascents through the Smoky's). If you can find this bag anywhere I would suggest getting one,although not recomended for people with smaller frames 5'7". The panel load is great and it holds a ton of gear. Only downfalls are the hip belts, they take a couple of trips to break in, it seems to squeak a bit, and slightly heavier than some other bags, but it's a big bag and virtually indestructable. Tread Lightly

Customer Service

The North Face was very helpful in helping us locate another bag when my friend decide to buy one.

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Camp Trails - Catskill, Great beginner pack

I got this pack for Christmas last year and since then it has only been the greatest thing that has happened in my backpacking career. It has everything for half of the price of a close competitor (such as many Gregory packs). I can't say enough good things about this pack. It has the looks, the ease of use, the comfort, and the affordability that you won't find anywhere else . Plus you get the North Face warranty, monicker, and (yes I know, terrible) bragging rights that you have more of their equipment.

If there is one downside, it would be that the pack is just a little heavy, but the comfort it provides easily outdoes any weight problems. Wonderful pack. Must at least look at.

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For the most bang for your buck, this pack is an extraordinary find. I searched for the right pack to fit my needs and budget ($200-275), and this met all the qualifications for versatility, size and special features.

Aside from the wing pockets and numerous compartments, you can load top and front. The convertible waist pack is very convenient as well as the option for toting a hydration bladder in the main compartment.

As far as I could tell, this beat all others in its class for comfort too. Carrying 50 lbs. in this bag is far better supported by TNFs durable padding both in the shoulders and back than my old Lowe, which tends to wear out quicker. If you see a good deal for it, take it, by all means.

Customer Service

Broke a buckle early on and it took some time for TNF to replace (which is unusual for them), but it shouldn't hide the fact that TNF stands by their products.

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L.L. Bean Mt. Washington
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For the most bang for your buck, this pack is an extraordinary find. I searched for the right pack to fit my needs and budget ($200-275), and this met all the qualifications for versatility, size and special features.

Aside from the wing pockets and numerous compartments, you can load top and front. The convertible waist pack is very convenient as well as the option for toting a hydration bladder in the main compartment.

As far as I could tell, this beat all others in its class for comfort too. Carrying 50 lbs. in this bag is far better supported by TNFs durable padding both in the shoulders and back than my old Lowe, which tends to wear out quicker. If you see a good deal for it, take it, by all means.

Customer Service

Broke a buckle early on and it took some time for TNF to replace (which is unusual for them), but otherwise TNF stands by their products.

Similar Products Used:

Lowe Alpine Snowpeak 50
L.L. Bean Mt. Washington
REI