I first came across The North Face Matthes Crest 72 about a year ago when I was starting to look about for a backpack for my trip to Mont Blanc. As it turned out it was a bit too big for my needs but I still liked the look of it.

It seemed to be pretty new to the scene then and I forgot about it. However, I came across it again while doing an unrelated search online and thought I’d add a closer look up onto the site.

Summary

Our Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 

Price: Check price

Available Colors: Summit Gold / Asphalt Gray

Review

The North Face Matthes Crest 72 Pack is an Athlete Pick from The North Face. It’s a relatively recent addition to The North Face family and it looks like it means business.

Designed to be used all year round, as its The North Face, you know it has the quality, durability and reliability to meet all your backpacking needs.

At 72 liters, it’s perfect for backpacking trips and longer treks where you need plenty of room to carry all your gear and kit.

This state-of-the-art fully featured pack is designed with an Opti-Fit™ X suspension system for a dialed fit that improves large-load control without sacrificing ventilation. This means your weight is spread appropriately across your body and the ventilation functionality should prevent heat spots from forming.

There is an Integrated X Radial™ frame which is supportive while encouraging freedom of movement across technical terrain. This is an internal frame pack. If you’re not sure what an internal frame pack is, click here.

The pack has a shoulder harness which easily slides up or down to match the user’s back length and locks in place. To create a snug-fitting hipbelt, flip down the lumbar pad and adjust the cams located at the base of the pack. This more or less means you can adapt it to fit your body as required and is a must these days on any serious backpack.

Pros

• 5 points of contact from the pack on the shoulders, iliac crest of the hips and lumbar support maximizes ventilation.
• Customizable fit for a range of body sizes.
• Water resistant material used throughout pack body.
• Removable top lid and easy access to pack via top loader and front zip.
• Hydration sleeve inside the pack
• Multiple gear attachment points.
• At 72Liters this pack has plenty of space.
• Modern state-of-the-art look.
• Men and women specific versions available.

Cons

• This pack is a bit pricey, but you know you’re getting quality so I reluctantly put it as a con.

Specs (at a glance)

• Proprietary Opti-Fit™ X technology provides unparalleled fit and ventilation
• Next-gen X Radial™ frame is light and strong yet provides superior carry
• Top loader with an additional panel zip opening for quick access to gear
• Opti-Fit™ adjustment system ensures perfect fit
• Interior pocket and gear-attachment points
• Removable top lid
• Ski carry loops
• Fabric: 210HT geo ripstop nylon, 630D ballistics nylon
• Avg Weight: S/M: 5 lbs 11 oz (2580 g) / L/XL: 5 lbs 13 oz (2637 g)
• Volume: 4393 in3 (72 liters) – note: other sizes are available

Other Points

• Guarantee: Lifetime Warranty

Conclusion

This is a very technical pack for the serious backpacker or trekker. If you’re planning a major trip, especially into harsher conditions then this could we worth adding to your review list.

It’s a big pack at 72 Liters volume, there’s an 85 liter option available too, so you should be able to stay away for long periods at a time with the amount of gear you should be able to get into this backpack.

There are some nice features and from what I can tell, there seems have been a lot of research and effort put into getting a design that is balanced and comfortable for a large backpack.

Have you ever used The North Face Matthes Crest 72 Backpack? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below.

Today I want to review a Gregory Backpack, the Z65 Internal Frame. I mentioned in a recent post that I need to get a new backpack for my trip to Mont Blanc in June so the hunt has begun for a suitable pack for the trip. I have already decided that an internal frame as opposed to an external frame pack is the best way to go for this particular trip.

Summary

Our Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Available Colors: Ember Orange (Pictured), Navy Blue

Where to Buy: Check Price on Amazon

Review

The first thing I want to comment on about this pack, is that it’s ideal for extended multi-day hikes. With a capacity of 65 liters, it is a multi day backpack. Good for a few days wild camping where you need to carry a fair bit of camping kit with you. With that in mind, it is not really suitable as a day pack, just too big in my opinion. This is something to factor in if the majority of your hiking is day hiking. It may not be a great idea to buy a pack that is best suited for extended trips.

The next thing to comment on that many folks complimented this pack on, was it’s airflow ability. Internal frames can be known to cause your back to get very sweaty so to read that this one has a good airflow via the JetStream LTS construction, one that works I hasten to add, is really good. The pack also has moisture-wicking mesh and breathable foam throughout.

Next, we  move on to storage. One of the cons of this pack I feel is that it could have more pockets. However that is really down to personal preference. There is ample space in the main compartment and the pack comes in three sizes, small: 3539 cu.in (58 Liters), Medium: 3906 (64 Liters) cu.in and Large: 4272 cu.in (70 Liters).

The main compartment is accessed by an all-access front zip which means its handy to get into the pack. This is very useful to get at stuff further down in your pack after it has been packed up. Otherwise, you need to take stuff out to get at the contents below.

The Gregory Z65 backpack also has quick access waist-belt pockets which are good for things you need to keep on hand. To conclude on the storage capabilities, the Z65 also has dual hydration ports and sleeve so you can easily carry a hydration pack.

The zippers throughout the pack are welded and water resistant to prevent rain drip through them so your gear stays dry. I highly recommend  always putting the contents inside your pack into either bin liners or dry bags, to help keep you kit dry. If you’re hiking in winter type conditions, or climbing a mountain like Mont Blanc, you can take advantage of the ice axe loops on the Gregory Z65. There are additional attachment options available on the pack as well.

Moving on, a key function I want in a backpack is good weight distribution so I can carry all my gear on the trail as comfortably as possible. The Gregory Z65 has a lightweight framesheet made with a hollow aluminum stay. This design enables easy support of heavier loads while keeping you as comfortable as possible as you move. The weight is further catered for by the exterior compression straps that ease the weight load on your back. The dual-density lumbar foam pad transfers weight from your back to your hips, and the adjustable waist belt has a plastic HDPE stiffener for a better carry.

The pack has an auto-fit harness system which can be adjusted to fit comfortably. These generally speaking work quite well in my experience. The harness is also specially designed to eliminate hot spots which can develop in many packs. Finally, It’s worth mentioning here that this pack is designed to be used by both men and women.

Pros:

• Good suspension – secure, stable and comfortable
• Allows good airflow to your back (A common problem with internal frames)
• Easy to load and good capacity

Cons:

• Could have more pockets available

Specs (at a glance):

• Pack material: 210 denier double-diamond ripstop nylon and nylon twill
• Frame type: Internal
• Frame material: HDPE framesheet and aluminum stays
• Hydration compatible: Yes
• Pack loading: Top and front
• Recommended use: Backpacking Multiday
• Volume liters: 58 to 70 liters
• S:
• Dimensions: 28x12x11″
• Pack capacity: 58 Liters (3539 cu.in.)
• Weight: 3 lb. 15 oz.
• Fits torsos: 16-18″
• Fits torsos: Small: 16-17-½” Medium: 18-19-½” Large: 20-21-½””
• M:
• Dimensions: 30x12x11″
• Pack capacity: 64 liters (3906 cu.in.)
• Weight: 4 lb. 3 oz.
• Fits torsos: 18-20″
• L:
• Dimensions: 32x12x11″
• Pack capacity: 70 Liters (4272 cu.in.)
• Weight: 4 lb. 7 oz.
• Fits torsos: 20-22″
• Pack style: Backpacks
• Pack gender: Men,Women

Conclusion

The Gregory z65 Backpack is a popular pack and ticks many of the boxes I need for my trip to Mont Blanc. The key attractions for me for this are good air ventilation to the back when carrying, as well as good suspension and weight distribution allowing easier weight carry. The easy access zipper into the rucksack from the front is also a nice feature (Getting into your gear can be a real pain in some backpacks if it’s packed at the bottom!).

Overall, this pack looks and acts the part and has a a lot of positive customer feedback to support it!

Have you used Gregory backpacks before? How did you find them? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.