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.