I live in the Allegheny mountains in West Virginia and hike twice a week into Hillsboro to buy groceries and check my mail. A round trip is 8.5 miles. I usually go out empty, except for cash, and come back with 20 to 50 pounds, depending on what the pack is filled with.

The Perseverance is a good pack for what I do with it. It rides well both loaded and empty, and I haven't had any particular problems with mine.

There is a potential source of trouble, however, which I recognize even if it has not affected me yet. The shoulder straps are adjustable, which is good, but the adjustment part, inside the back cushion, is anchored with velcro. This is OK only until the velcro gets gunked up with something (like lint, dust, wool fibers, etc.), at which time the anchorage for the shoulder straps will probably fail under load. It may be possible to stitch the shoulder straps in place, but this will sacrifice the adjustment feature, so anyone who does this should make sure the shoulder straps are perfectly adjusted to his back beforehand.

I have not used the hydration. The water bottle pocket is okay, though I have to twist my right arm around too much to get my bottle back into it after drinking.

A good thing about this pack the easy of access to the main compartment. There's three ways in: from the top, from the back near the top, and from the bottom.

And, like I said, it rides well, provided that it is adjusted the wearer's length of back. If the shoulder straps are set an inch or two short, the pack will put pressure on the back of the wearer's head and make him walk slightly hunched forward, which gets tiring after a few miles. The adjustment feature is a good idea, but North Face should find a better way to secure the shoulder straps at the adjustment end.

Customer Service

I haven't asked for any customer service.

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Gregory Reality
Western Pack HK-3

An EXCELENT PACK!!!! This is the most versitile pack on the North Face line today and I love it! For instance, I can expand the pack to around 4900 cubic inches and go on week long hikes or size it down and strap a pair of skis on the mule nor pod and go hike a mountain and then ski down it. The torso fit me without having to much adjusting at all. It feels really good. The unique X-FRAME suspension really handles well when you have a heavy load. I would STRONGLY advise any mountaineer/ skiier/ hiker to get this pack. It kicks ass!!!!

The worst gear decision I have made to date! I baught the pack for a 250 mile trip on the At, and it lasted three days. The first three days the pack fit great and I loved it, but soon the wait of the pack overcame the ability of the velcro shoulder straps to support the wait, and the pack was hanging off of my body. After several discussions with NF and one trip to the repair shop, we decided that it was a manufacturing defect--I believe that it is a design flaw--and I am recieving a new NF badlands pack at no charge. I hope it proves more reliable.

Customer Service

Dealing with this pack, I got to know one represenative very well, she did all she could to help me out, but it was still a major headace and I lost a week on the trail.

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North face has gone down hill. I have gear made before I was born, and it rocks. The new stuff probable won't last 5 years.

This is as close to the perfect backcountry pack as one can get. There's more than enough room for a 4-5 day trek, lots of pockets and places to which to lash gear, and the fit and adjustability of the pack are excellent. 30 pounds will feel like nothing on your hips and back, and the pack will carry up to 50 pounds comfortably. North Face is always a little pricey, but I got this pack on sale (closeout) and it compares favorably to others I've used in the $250-$350 range.

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Marmot Muir

This is an entry-level pack
at professional/custom-fit pack price.
This pack is the exception to the rule
that you get what you pay as far as gear. TNF Should lower the price of this pack to $120, which is about as much as it's worth. Save some money and buy a Jansport, they are about the same quality and features!

Customer Service

If you don't mind waiting 30 minutes on hold. . . .

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None

This pack is awsome. Tons of space. Enough pockets to organize, but not so many that you've got stuff all over the pack. It handles large loads quite well. The hip-belt is bombproof. The suspension is very adjustable. I have only two gripes (albeit, very minor ones) 1. The hole for the hydration system tube is a little on the small size making it a challange to feed the bite valve through. (I usually leave the tube in anyway so it's not that big a deal.) 2. The water bottle pocket on the side is too small to easily get a Nalgene bottle in and out. Especially while you're wearing the pack. (This is offset by the face that the pack has a hydration bladder pocket inside making the need for water bottle access unimportant.)

Customer Service

I have called The North Face regarding other products in the past and have had excellent results.

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None

The backpack is great with a huge space to pack everything you need on your vacations. The employee that helped me to choose the backpack told me that this one was perfect for me, because I'm to spend two months in Europe next summer. This is like the LORD of the backpacks!!

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This pack worked great. It has enough capacity for a weeks worth of winter gear, and the norpod is great for holding snowshoes, a tripod, snowboard or whatever.
The lid comes off quick and is big enough to work has a daypack.
It's got tons of strap on points, and compresses well. Doesn't wobble and it carries great.
It's got the features and capacity of gregory and dana expedition packs for about $150 less.

Customer Service

TNF is still pretty reliable

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REI greatstar, TNF badlands

The Perseverance is an excellent pack with a cavernous interior that can seriously tempt you to try and overload yourself with stuff . The X-Frame is very stable and keeps items from jabbing you in the back, but also shifts well with your movements. I found the pass through hole for the hydration system to be too small for most bite valves, but then again I really don't care to put a water bladder inside my pack so it really doesn't matter. The sleeping bag compartment seems to be a little larger than most, allowing me to stuff my GIGANTIC SynCat (REI) winter bag inside.
I have enjoyed using this pack for my winter outings, I'll review it during the hot Virginia summers later.

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Marmot Scree

The North Face Perseverance is an excellent pack. I have tried many packs and this one has been the most versatile and the most dependable of all the packs I tried. It has a good size area to pack all of your gear and the sleeping bag pouch is very conveinent. The front and top loading feature makes the gear in your pack easily excessible also.

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The North Face Stamina